Etchea Cafe Bakery & Catering

GET THE CHILI. Its seriouslyyyy delicious. So much love. The "chips" it comes with are greasy and unnecessary though.

The ham and cheese croissant is yummy, comforting, and cheap!

1$ bread is such a score.

Skip the "fresh pressed juice". It's more than half pulp (I actually requested a refund after taking one sip and having no juice left behind).

10% discount for USC students and people that work near by (what's uppppp).

Workers are very mehhh but it's a get your food and go kinda place so that's fine.

Etchea is truly like a safe haven in the middle of bustling DTLA. Located right on Figueroa Street, you can almost miss the quaint café because of all the surrounding businesses and buildings. But the small eatery shares a parking lot with other businesses--I missed it on my first visit there and ended up parking on the street--but the café itself is cozy and inviting. What a great spot to meet with a friend for lunch or have a light dinner if you happen to be Downtown.

Though I've only been to Etchea once, the French-inspired café left a lasting impression in my book, thanks to the warm hospitality of the staff. I went for an early dinner on a weekday afternoon, and I was eagerly helped out by the lady behind the counter, who made several recommendations and was super patient with my indecisiveness.

There are many things I have yet to try from Etchea, but the menu is always changing, depending on local ingredients available and the seasons. Here's what I would recommend from my visit:

"Croque Monsieur": This was the only sandwich I've had from Etchea, but it was so amazing that I wouldn't hesitate to order it over and over again. It features homemade white bread filled with grilled ham and melted swiss cheese, and glazed with the eatery's béchamel sauce for a perfect sweet-and-savory taste. I loved the crisp texture of the white bread, as well as the savory flavors of the ham and Swiss. Much to my delight, there was a sufficient amount of Swiss cheese in the sandwich, and the melted goodness oozed out with every bite. It's not common to find a delicious "Croque Monsieur" sandwich option at many eateries, so even moreso, I'd gladly order this savory option again. It's the perfect size for lunch, but if it were for dinner, I would still probably be a bit hungry.

"Chocolate Brownie with Walnuts": After my delicious "Croque Monsieur," I indulged in this delicious chocolate brownie with walnuts. Though I don't normally like any types of nuts to taint my chocolate brownies, this combo worked because there wasn't an overbearing amount of walnuts within the moist brownie. The brownie itself wasn't super dense and fudgy as it could be--it sported a lighter, more cakelike texture--but I still enjoyed its sweet flavor. The walnuts added some extra texture and crunch to the mix, and the brownie itself was a decently sized square. It was a great treat, and I can't wait to taste the other pastries there one day.

"Egg and Bacon Sandwich": Etchea only serves breakfast from 7-11 a.m., so if I ever happen to be around during that time, I would go with this traditional breakfast sandwich, served on a butter toasted peyo roll. Bacon and eggs (or any type of hash brown) tend to be my go-to if I'm in the mood for a savory breakfast or want a breakfast sandwich, and with Etchea's local ingredients and rustic combos, I'm sure I'd like this morning entrée.

I've been eyeing this place for a while since I live right next to it, so on my way back from stopping by the UPS store, I decided to pop in.

I noticed right away that the pastry selection was small. Even though apple pie was listed on the menu, it was not available. The girl helping me out said that they haven't had it for a while. Okay, so why is it on the menu?

I go the cheesecake despite my reservations since it was sitting out on the counter, not refrigerated. Shouldn't cheesecake be refrigerated? It was $5. Not worth it.

It tasted store bought, the crust was soggy and not good. The custard was a very good texture but SO BLAND!!

Won't be back.

Etchea is a good place for lunch. Service is friendly, food is fresh and it has a cute ambiance. Its reasonably priced for the LA area. they serve basic sandwiches and pastries.

What keeps it from being 4 stars is that while the ingredients are definitely fresh the flavors dont stand out. This is not the kind of place you go out of your way to get to but if you are in the area and want simple sandwiches and salad, this is a great option.

Chicken sandwich (panini pressed) - fresh tasting. It was missing something that would take it from good to great. There are peppers in it but you cannot taste any spice. Its a mellow tasting sandwich (not bland but not bursting with flavors either).

Turkey pesto sandwich - simple sanwich with turkey, lettuce, tomato, and pesto. Again tastes fresh but its missing a kick in the pesto that would have made it stand out. Bread comes out warm but its chewy. I dont like it when i have to pull at a sandwich to break into the bread because it is not crusty enough on the outside to bite through.

chicken pot pie - never tried it. Turns out they only serve this in the winter time. They should note this in their menu. The first time i asked for it the cashier said they ran out and the second time they told me its only a winter item....

Very good lunch spot. Their beef brisket sandwich is delicious, but definitely has a kick of horseradish, if you like that. Not the cheapest place, but the quality is there, so that's not an issue. I've only had bread with my meals or sandwiches, but it's been nice and crunchy on the outside, and soft and warm on the inside. They also have a number of pastries that look great, but I'm not a big sweets person.

Not the greatest location to spot, just north of USC on the Figueroa corridor, so I'm sure they get more phone orders from downtown, but a great little quality cafe with basque influence.

+ one star for being the most convenient place for me. It basically takes me just a couple minutes to walk down the stairs to grab something from here.

+ one star for good sourdough. I was not really a big fan of sourdough until I had theirs (best taste when you get it the moment they open their doors, of course)

+ one BIG star for having all the baked goods (breads and pastries) on 50% off sale after 4 PM.

+ one star for the friendly staff, although there always seems to be more staff than needed whenever I stop by.

+ zero star for the inconsistent closing hours on weekdays.

Great pastries, great bread, great food, great space.
Perfect place to meet for quiet breakfast or lunch meetings.

The only café Bakery I can think of downtown L.A. which
has a REAL recognized chef in the kitchen every morning (Laurent Quenioux)

Great decor and ambience created by co-owner Christine Splichal (co-founder of Patina).

I usually come here during breakfast. I love their pastries and fresh natural juices. For breakfast I like the breakfast burrito, Moroccan style. Super delicious, I say the bacon they put in the burrito is oven cooked the eggs are whipped and cheese is exported. I'm still exploring the menu, as of now the burritos are great :).
#contriveimagination

I was a regular since they first opened. The restaurant was nicely decorated, breads everywhere, lots of pastries, then they were all gone. The only breads on display were the $1 baguettes behind the register.

But, the food was good. My favorite, the soup with Shrimp and the Seasonal Salad. Then one day, my soup was discontinued. I tried others, but it wasn't the same. I still came though to get my Salad. Then one day, they stopped making my seasonal salad. That was it. It's 6 months or more, I haven't been back.

I really want to give this cafe and bakery four stars, but I can't. I've given numerous chances for four stars, but they've failed. I've ordered my share of lattes in hopes that they've improved their barista skills, but it has always hit below the bar. Their croissants are okay, but I've had better. I like their $1 baguette, but not enough to deserve four stars. I've had their smoked salmon sandwich, which was beyond blend.

So, why do I want to give them four stars? Their always friendly and prompt service.