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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, American (Traditional) [Edit]
12081 Wilshire BlvdMake your reservation for a romantic Valentines dinner at our full service Bar & Grill where we'll be offering special dishes for two.
Mon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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One of the best cafes I've been to, and I've been to a lot.
I used to come here all the time when I was practicing interviews. I've never been disappointed with anything I had. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, or dessert, Literati has always delivered. It is also apparently the favorite spot of many UCLA graduates and students -- it doubles as a library! Unfortunately, this sometimes causes some waiting and hoovering for a table.
Tips: Can be difficult to find a seat. Valet parking.
there was a period of three months when i came to literati 5 times a week. i would go to work, hit the gym for an hour, then hole up at literati with my testmasters LSAT workbooks till 11pm.
literati's the best study spot in west LA. trust me, i'm one of those people who can't study at home...i'll gather all my study books, pencils, water, and sit at the dining room table, only to notice a little smudge on the glass. i'll get up to clean it. then i'll check on my laundry. and catch a bit of tv that my brother is watching. then i'll check email, which inevitably leads to checking facebook which then leads to a little chatting and then lookie here, it's time for bed!
so i've yelped and studied at almost EVERY CAFE there is, and literati is one of the best. what makes it so great?
*free wifi
*bright lights
*lots of outlets
*delicious food
*large selection of yummy baked goods
*well-made lattes and teas
*friendly staff
*happy ambiance
my favourite eats here include the turkey meatloaf (the sauce they serve it with is bomb), chicken caesar wrap (best value for the $), creme brulee cheesecake (i've never seen this anywhere else), and chocolate chip cookie (the best i ever had...crispy, crunchy, chewy, soft).
it's on the expensive side though, so i only think the prices are worth it if you're going to stay awhile.
Like many others I drive past this place often and have never ventured in. Well today we took out the beach cruisers and made the trek from SM - 2 miles each way - so while I can tell you we didn't see any bike racks, we chained our bikes to a pole and have no parking woes to speak of.
The place is very cute and festive if you will; we opted to sit outside to cool off from our bike ride. The tables for two are super tiny and fairly close together, but it works.
I don't know if we can rave about the food per se because we stuck to the basics (egg, bacon, toast and bagel w/lox) but the food was delicious for what it's worth and the mimosas tasty. It was a bit pricey but $21 worth of drinks will do that to your brunch I suppose.
I would love to come back and try out some of the delicious foods I was eyeing on both the tables around us and on the lunch menu!
Why aren't I here more often? I live just down the block! For some reason, the outside of Literati cafe has just never been welcoming to me. It's on the corner of a horrendous intersection - Wilshire and Bundy - and convenient parking is to no avail (unless you cheat and park at Ralph's instead of their own valet). Add traffic and the adjacent unattractive strip malls and you've got yourself one lonely yet high quality cafe. No wonder it's so popular - no competition on its block!
But Literati couldn't be further from my first impression. Literati is especially warm and friendly from the get-go; someone greeted my friend and I within 30 seconds (impeccable timing) and a server came to us with coffee within almost 3 minutes. I was impressed with service alone, and that takes a lot to win me over (I have high expectations when it comes to service - working in restaurants makes me aware of everything!)
The cafe is a great place for book nerds and latte lovers alike, and we were fortunate enough to sit by Dave Eggers signed copy of "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius". Literati is warm, inviting, and chic; it has the comfort of someone's personal library, decorated by someone with effortless good taste - worn leather banquets, hardwood-top tables, framed excerpts from famous authors adorning every free space.
I also could not pass up their delicious organic coffee and selection of pastries. Haven't had a lunch or dinner meal here but I am willing to try. The fresh berries and creme fraiche (MMMM) are to die for! I will definitely be back for a lunch, and with such quality at reasonable prices for the Westside, it is absolutely a place to visit in LA, even if it is a recession. :)
LOVE this place.
They have amazing salads and teas. The breakfast is decent too.
Free wi-fi during the week only.
Just the perfect cafe.
Clean, good sturdy tables for using your laptop or studying.
Good vibe/atmosphere. I've done some very productive work here.
They have a great patio in back where you can sit outside. I had the tuna salad sandwich. It was… Read more »
I went to the counter-order section of this place several years ago and liked it, so recently I decided to try the sit-down area (formerly Literati 2). I went twice this month, and while I like the atmosphere, the service was awful both times. The first time, they were pretty busy, so it was kind of understandable, but the second time, there was hardly anyone there and yet it took so long, the manager himself came to our table (though we hadn't complained) and apologized. The server also took ages getting our check to us. I don't think I'll be coming back anytime soon, at least not when I'm actually hungry right away.
Currently typing away from this cafe. I have lots of studying to do which makes me get out of my hermit cave, also known as my room, to get some shiz done for school. It does get a bit loud in here because there are lots of people talking, so I'd recommend that you bring some headphones to listen to your music (only if you want to, of course). I did to block the outside chatter. Food-wise, I had the turkey asparagus affair which was one of the best sandwiches I have had in a long time! The bread was particularly good. And I got some green tea. I'm glad there is free wifi here. I got lucky and nabbed the seat by the window, which is sort of hidden from the rest of the cafe. I like hiding. The negative is parking isn't that easy to find. I found one on a residential street and walked about 2 minutes to the cafe. Better than paying valet. A good day to study cos of all the rain! Now back to work....sigh.
--
On my walk out, I saw the Ralph's security guard's hawk eyes on me. He's making sure no one parks at Ralph's for this cafe. So to save yourself from feeling all nervous, try to find parking in the residential street. Or better yet, if you have wings, fly away.
I love the tuna melt - especially for the bread it's on. And finding street parking on Gorham has never been a problem for me. It's my top choice for a quick healthy meal near my place.
Dined at Literati for lunch today with a few co-workers and we all really loved it. Since we weren't familiar with the area, our first plan of attack was to circle the block to find local eateries. The first thing we saw was the cute little cafe and we decided to dine there after I mentioned seeing it on Yelp quite a few times.
Upon entering, I realized that I had been here before a few years back during my time at UCLA. Regardless, the atmosphere was divine... especially on a cold, rainy day in LA. We ordered and easily found ourselves a nice table tucked away in the corner. I know it can be hard to find seats but we were lucky! We all ordered the 1/2 soup 1/2 sandwich combo and based on all of our feedback, it was great! I had the tomato basil soup which was delicious and the turkey asparagus on artisan wheat. The meat wasn't overwhelming and the asparagus was cooked and seasoned to perfection. If you like Urth Caffe, you'll definitely like this place too. Same vibe and branding message.
Valet here is $2.50 which isn't bad at all. Great place to try if you're looking for a quick bite around town.
Used to love this place, they have a great turkey meatloaf and fabulous brown bread served with the soups. It's been kind of inconsistent the last few times I was there. Still great for a latte or quick bit to eat.
We stopped in looking for a place to read and get some work done online while having a quick dinner. We were disappointed to find out that they don't offer Wi-Fi on weekends!! The food was mediocre and they charge $2 for a CAN of soda.
What's even more awful is that they offer "Valet" parking which translates into park your own car into the spot that the attendant points to and pay him $2.50.
Avoid this place at all costs!
Not a GREAT place for brunch, just OK.
The food is decent, comes out fast, and is well priced. But the service is lacking. Literati does the "order at the counter and then put the # on your table" deal. The food runner forgot my toast and I had to ask TWO people to bring me some after the fact.
It's not a very comfortable place either, the tables are all smashed together w/ not a lot of walking room between them. A constant flow of lots of people brushing by your arm and almost knocking things off the table or putting their giant purses in your plate. Kind of annoying.
One of my favorite places to go when I'm planning on holing up for a while. It can get busy during rush hours on weekends, but once you get a spot it's a comfy place to settle in to do some work or get some reading done.
One annoying part: wifi is off on weekends and during busy hours on weekdays.
Love the mint lemonade and have had some great salads here. Today I tried the chicken caesar wrap for the first time, and didn't love it. Chicken was kind of dry and the entire thing was kind of flavorless as a whole. No sides come with it, either.
LOVEEE the desserts...the cakes are huge and delicious in the case and beg to be tried. At first I felt guilty getting a huge slice of cake on my own when it's no one's birthday, but soon I saw that most tables had one, so now I feel totally fine with it. I love the apple torte, cheesecake, carrot cake...everything! The cookies are pretty good as well.
The vibe in Literati is always buzzing and happy. Lots of conversations, groups of friends having lunch or brunch, people meeting on coffee dates. A great little hub of good food, coffee, and atmosphere!
I love Literati breakfast. Everything is just so scrumptious and fulfilling. I usually like to stick with Eggs Florentine with Chai Latte, my personal fave.
The downside is that it can get pretty packed, it's that popular. And I've tried some of their bakery goods, they're kinda dry and not so yummy. I'd just stick with breakfast there.
Very cozy, bright cafe in a not so cute neighborhood. There was really no wait on a Friday at 11 am. My friends got the breakfast sandwich (generous portion of egg, bacon, avocado on a toasted roll) and the cinnamon french toast with fruit. They seemed to enjoy it.
My short stack of buttermilk pancakes was heavenly and fluffy--and it was even better topped with strawberries and bananas $6. The syrup was thick and decadent to top it all off. Might be a to go brunch place from now on and can't wait to try their lunch options.
There's valet for $2.50 in a small back lot, Ralph's if the security man isn't watching you with his eagle eye or plenty of street parking on the side streets up Bundy before 6 pm.
It was the Summer of '98, and Santa Monica was a desert wasteland, populated by stray dogs, hobos, and hipsters obsessed with counterculture. I myself had been living on the streets for well over an hour, establishing my home base in a public park bathroom stall and slowly going insane from the lack of constant human adoration, which I nevertheless attempted to obtain from strangers in neighboring stalls.
On one such occasion, a man in the next stall was so utterly offended when I passed him a square of toilet tissue with the words "Tell me I'm sexy" scrawled on it that he chased me on foot for miles, driving me further eastward and ever deeper into the acrid belly of Los Angeles. I ran naked down Wilshire Boulevard until I entered the vicinity of Brentwood. By then, the man had stopped chasing me, but I continued to run because the wind felt good against my nethers.
When I ran out of breath, I pulled a fresh change of clothes out of my backpack (did I neglect to mention I was wearing one?), slipped into them, and wandered into the first eatery that presented itself. As it turned out, the eatery I had entered was actually a hair salon, so I promptly excused myself, and as I exited, I noticed a quaint little cafe next door, situated on the corner of Wilshire and Bundy. I had arrived at Literati.
I kicked open the double doors - an endeavor that failed miserably because the doors only opened outward - and once I brushed the glass shards off my skinny jeans, I found myself face to face with a display of lovely desserts. Then I cased the rest of the joint casually; photos of people who looked famous (but who I could not identify) adorned the walls, CNN was silently playing on the screen suspended in a back corner, and the clientele ranged from elderly couples sharing sandwiches to what appeared to be heroin addicts with Macbooks, sipping from giant coffee mugs and furiously typing. I decided I needed to clean and dress the newly acquired lacerations on my legs, so I headed to the bathroom.
Once inside the bathroom, I was greeted by a found object explosion (is that the rearview mirror from an 18-wheeler?) and an angry yuppie perched upon the toilet who insisted that the lack of any stalls was some sort of indication this W.C. was meant for one person at a time. I politely explained that this was how it was done in Europe and stripped off my bloody jeans to begin tending to my wounds at the sink, but the man continued to protest rather loudly.
Once I was done, I left the bathroom and sauntered back into line at the counter. I ordered a bowl of tomato soup and a latte with foam (which I was informed was an entirely different drink known simply as a cappuccino), then took my seat at a table next to a group of lovely young lady athletes sporting UCLA sweatshirts. As I waited for my order, I attempted to strike up conversation with the girls and asked what sport they played, to which they responded by asking why I wasn't wearing any pants.
Immediately I bounded back to the bathroom - much to the chagrin of the yuppie, who was now finishing up his business - in order to retrieve my bloodied britches before management caught on and approached me about modeling for one of their wall photos. When I returned to my table, my soup and coffee awaited me.
The soup was plain in composition (no potatoes, whole chickens, or parsley garnish to speak of) and a bit like Pepto Bismol in consistency. It looked like the sort of soup one might see farmers slurping out of wooden spoons in an old Italian film, which I found charming. Its flavor was bold and tomato-y, like Rosie O'Donnell, who I also find charming.
The coffee was as strong and bitter as my ex-girlfriend, but more attractive, with a floral design masterfully swirled into my cappuccino's foam. In fact, I tried that once with the ex, and she informed me with a fist to my eye that she wanted me nowhere near her foam.
When I had finished most of my soup and about half of my coffee, I began to play a two-note symphony of spontaneous composition on the bowl and mug. The lady jocks next to me were none too impressed, and when I ended my performance with a belch, they promptly packed up their textbookss and left. On their way out, they pulled a waitress aside to complain, and I was asked to pay my bill, put on my pants (drat! I'd retrieved my trousers but neglected to re-don them), and leave.
It was at this moment that I realized the sort of elitist establishment Literati was: Sure, they'll pretend to endorse the arts by hanging up photos of Martin Scorsese and George Lopez, decorating one wall to look like a full bookcase, and maintaining European-style bathrooms, but the instant a true artist emerges with an avant-garde work, they make haste to stifle its impending greatness.
Thoroughly defeated, I left Literati through its smashed doorway, still clutching my bloody skinny jeans in my toes and vowing to return someday for the turkey breast sandwich.
Literati, I'm sorry. I tried. I wanted so badly to like you, even love you, but something just doesn't click with us...
Look, you have a lot to offer. Your service is impeccable. The counter servers offer recommendations and are very helpful. Your coffee is delicious and strong. It doesn't come with that attractive design Urth's does, but I'm not too much into looks anyway. You have a wide selection of food, from breakfast served all day, to a multitude of cakes in the display case, to soup and panini and salads. And the best part is, you are one of the few cafes that offers a huuuuge working space for folks to buckle down and get shit done.
But...something is amiss.
Your food doesn't impress me much. I had your tuna salad and it so meh for the price ($9-ish). Just some pretty good tuna atop some tossed greens. Nothing special. And I had to pay extra to get some bread tossed in. Your smores bar was even more meh. Are you sure you didn't get it from a package? The spaghetti was something I could have made myself...and I'm not exactly a chef here.
I think we should just remain friends. Please? I need you in my life to study...but you just don't feed my soul.
This place would be great if parking wasn't such an issue. They offer expensive valet but who wants to pay a ton of money just to go have a cup of coffee?
Warning: Studying here will lead to temptations.
I ordered turkey chili with mixed greens and a mint lemonade. Chili was amazing. Not too much beans and it had lots of flavors. I wasn't feeling the hype of the mint lemonade as other Yelpers. Sorry, maybe if it was a mojito. Surprisingly, on a busy and crowded Sunday, I got a lot of work done, 4 hand written single-spaced pages. Must be the chili, it's good focus food.
Then an hour and a half passed and all of a sudden a large latte and pumpkin cheesecake appeared on my table. Cheesecake was decadent but not too heavy. Latte was made very well and had a strong coffee flavor but not bitter or burned (like Starbucks) with a nice thick foam on top. My friend had a Boston cream pie appear in front of her, which was just as decadent/light. I'm sad that I didn't get to try the carrot cake since they didn't have it that day.
Another warning- this is not a Starbucks, people come here to dine as well. So expect a mix of laptops and hungry, chatty people.
I plan to come back and order that chili again and a pot of coffee because I consider 4 pages in 4 hours a miracle. In my opinion, that automatically makes the chili good.
I finally got to eat at Literati Cafe after passing by it on Wilshire for so many years! My friend and I were seated right away, our waitress was friendly and attentive, and the food was delicious. The lighting is dim and gives a nice and snuggly feel. We had:
- sweet potato fries - best i've ever had, big portion and had garlic, YUM
- trout was delic and tendy, forgot what was underneath the trout but remember it was okay for my tasting and a bit greasy
I would definitely want to try other items on their menu if I ever come back!
Whenever I'm in West L.A. I try to swing by this place. Their coffee is the best! The art and pictures on the walls are really cool. They have a wall made out of books which are mortared together like bricks. Overall, it's just a very relaxing place to hang out.
The food is great, the service is great, and the bathroom has always been clean. To me, that's like winning a trifecta, and in L.A. the odds are always stacked against you.
Literati Cafe is my favorite place on the West Side. Hands Down.
When I lived in Westwood, I'd frequent the place two, three times a week. Easily. Breakfast is served all day and you really can't say no/go wrong with their American Special. And their coffee/tea selection? Extensive and spectacular. It's a great place to study if you're the type who prefers a little background noise. Plus, CNN is (almost) always on the tube, so whenever you need that "five minute" break you can devote your time to Anderson Cooper and people watching.
If Tomato Basil is listed under the Soups of the day, go for it. Get a half and half combo with their Turkey Asparagus Affair and I guarantee you will leave smiling and satisified. (Their Turkey Chilli is a great choice too.) And if you have room for dessert, try the carrot cake. They're famous for it. And for good reason.
And finally, if you're out with friends, do a crossword puzzle together. (Yes, that + pencils are provided near the condiments.) Because two (or more) heads are definitely better than one.
ZERO rating for this. Totally not satisfied with the food. My wife order 1/2 turkey asparagus and 1/2 ceasar salad, the sandwich was ok but not as other peoples said, it's nothing spectacular. I order waffles as the menu said it's their special thing! They really don't know how to make waffle as it very hard to cut, it take my mussle to cut it and hard to chew so I don't know if this is my luck or what! Sorry Literati but U have UR stuff together as we spent about 26 bucks just for that plus a cup of coffee and lemonade.
This was a really nice surprise of not just another coffee bar but a real restaurant. I was a little suspect it just being a writers' hangout but writers (read: Yelpers) know their food and drink and surprisingly, Literati delivers. The cappuccino I had was gigantic. Full of thick foam and good, warm flavor. Didn't need another one after that. Entrees look good but I didn't have one so I can't report. Did have the Espresso Brownie and that was about as good as you're going to find in Brownie-land. Moist, loaded with chocolate impact, hard to go wrong. My one beef overall is the parking since you can't really park in the Ralphs Fresh Fare lot (I did but really you're not supposed to) and there's a valet? Well, it's that or the meters. I suggest coming at night once the meters free up and trying the place out. One of the better java junkie establishments I've been to out here.
I had an affair! A asparagus wrapped in turkey Affair on delicious grain bread with pesto and lettuce and tomato and cheese (comes with red pepper too which I passed on). A house special, from what I hear and oh so tasty and oh so pretty with a lovely little crisp salad on the side. My daughter had a chopped turkey salad that looked fresh and delicious (see pics).This cafe was so warm and inviting inside, a good place to eat and catch up with a friend or maybe just read a good book with a coffee and dessert. Now this was the Cafe side, I guess I should have peeked into the Bar and Grill side but alas I didn't so I can only tell you about the Cafe. My daughter and her BF walk to Literati from their apartment and it's a great find in the neighborhood!
Nice clean bathroom too. :-)
When the counter-person brought to me my coffee it contained the print of a flower which was lolly-gagging about the dark waters. I thought this an inopportune time for the gentle-man to proclaim his amorous intentions for me as my wife became upset upon seeing it (though the flower in question was apparently made with a cow's cream and it was not an actual stand-alone floral arrangement).
In any case, the asparagus, turkey sandwich was to my standards and the non-vegan cookies are palatable. Unfortunately this site's scope deals almost entirely with food and decor otherwise I would give this place another star (bringing it to a total of 5) for their curt attitude toward its many patrons.
I like that.
Likes:
Best tuna melt I've ever had, serve alcohol, great coffee/lattes, literature theme/decor, beatnik vibe, just the right amount of people.
Dislikes:
Outdoor seating is less than impressive, feels a little less classy than Urth/Coral Tree, no pumpkin lattes in the fall.
The Literati Cafe is one of the coolest places on the Westside. Take your laptop and sit in the "Jack Kerouc" corner and you'll know what I mean. Just being in the space inspires creativity. You will see many writers flowing away while sipping on the unique Literati blends of organic coffee. If you're not a coffee lover then the Mint Lemonade will blow you away...fresh mint makes this such a special treat.
There is a full and varied menu and far too many favorites to list them all. Spinach salad is one of the best anywhere, the Turkey Asparagus Affair sandwich is just plain fun to eat and it is delicious! You can never go wrong with the soups at Literati. The desserts will definitely taunt you and if you're weak, choose the carrot cake!
The food is fabulous and is such a compliment to the already fabulous vibe you get just being there. Enjoy the inspiration.
I am so grateful for The Literati Cafe Bar & Grill. It has been the perfect place for meeting… Read more »
It's been some time since I have darken these door steps but when I was last I do recall I liked the atmosphere and vibe of the place.
I had the BLTA delicious (to much lettuce not enough bacon), my guy friend had a omelette which he said was very good, the teenage daughter had a breakfast burrito (lots of egg) - very good and the teenage friend had the Tuna sandwich (not the melt) it was by far the BEST tuna sandwich I have tasted in a while. They make theirs without mayo but with light olive oil instead.
Great music the seating is nice they do have a 45 minute table time limit during busy times and ask that you are open to sharing your table I think that is neat and especially appreciate the fact that they have it on the table. Parking is street or valet in the rear and side.
Respectfully Reviewed
We stopped here to have breakfast with a friend of my...I can't bring myself to put it in writing ;)...on our way back down to San Diego.
What a groovy place. The menu was great, and I couldn't quite decide. I ended up going with some awesome granola and berries along with a side of yogurt, topped off with a fresh-squeezed orange juice. None of this carton crap for me!
I am not a coffee drinker, but the giant coffee drink that our friend ordered was actually kind of pretty.
It was a chill spot. The staff doesn't take itself too seriously here, and it's the type of place that just welcomes a relaxing time. I'll be sure to stop in next week when I'm back in Los Angeles.
Be still my heart. We went here for brunch yesterday and I just nearly died. I was the first to arrive in our party of four so I ordered a Spearmint tea, which was delivered in a large press pot (gotta love that). Then one of my girlfriends showed up and the waitress brought us samples of the cinnamon roll and marble coffee cake. MMmmm...Needless to say we ate them all before the other two girls arrived, so the waitress brought us some more :)
Although the Elvis pancakes sounded delicious (with banana and peanut butter) I ordered an omlette with spinach, mushrooms, avocado, with a side of breakfast potatoes and a mixed green salad. My three friends got Huevos Rancheros, Crab Cake Benedict, and a custom Egg White omlette with chicken (see photos).
It was all delicious. I know because we all tasted each other's food...that's how we do it. I'll be honest, I can't wait to go back again. I can't get the food off my mind.
This cafe has the best coffee and customer culture I've found in L.A. Any real coffee connoisseur… Read more »
I've had some of their sandwiches. They're tasty, but I don't think they live up to a $10 price tage. But I do enjoy going in for lunch to read or write--it's cozy and relaxing and the workers are really nice. I'll be back.
The food is just so-so, but their lattes are pretty darn awesome. :)
Literati Cafe has always been my go to place when I am anywhere near Wilshire Blvd. I pop in for a quick latte to go along with a giant cookie or other sweet treat, or I'll sit down with my computer and a glass of their delicious mint lemonade. I sometimes just go to have a salad and people watch.
Killer turkey chili keeps a smile on my face. Way to go Literati. I eat at the restaurant side too. What can I say? I get around!
It's not as if I needed to be prompted, but ever since the menu changed earlier this year I am an… Read more »
Two words: Carrot Cake.
That's all I can say folks. One slice of carrot cake will last you for at least 2-3 desserts. Their teas and coffees are also excellent, and I find the staff friendly and accommodating. Definitely 5 stars!
The patio is just perfect for summertime happy hour-ing. My friend and I had a lovely time sharing a caraffe of wine and a couple of appetizers (tacos and polenta BALLS). And the prices were just right.
Plus, any place that names its libations after literary heros and masterpieces is A-OK with me (Hemingway and Tequila Mockingbird, I'm looking at you). Nerdy Lit major, represent.
My friends live walking distance from this place and previous reviewers keep talking about how good it is for breakfast...so we decided to check it out.
Everyone keeps raving about these breakfast tacos...I got them and they were pretty bad. Its my fault though because I don't really like scrambled eggs, but I guess they weren't really what I expected. There was such a miniscule ammount of bacon and cheese inside. I was so dissapointed. My friend got the breakfast burrito and he said it was good. We also got a side caesar salad which was pretty darn good! The croutons are SUPER GARLICFEST, but yummy.
I almost -1 star because inside the womens bathroom it was raining and there was about 1" of water covering the floor. That doesn't seem safe or sanitary.
I want to go back and try and sandwich and NOT use the bathroom.
My BF and I went here yesterday for the first time, even though we have lived in Santa Monica for almost three years.
I must admit I was pleasantly surprised!
There were so many options on the menu, it was hard for me to decide.
I went with the BLTA and sweet potato fries, excellent choice by the way! My BF had the Blue Crab enchiladas, also super yummy.
The staff was helpful, friendly and attentive.
The food came out quick, which is awesome if you are on a lunch break.
I was too stuffed to try the deserts or pastries, but I plan on going back very soon to check out their happy hour and patio setting!
The setting is intimate enough to have a business lunch if need be.
I know I over looked this place for years, dont make the same mistake.
Fantastic cheesecake and general array of pastries. Spacious, interesting decor, and nicely lit. A mellow crowd overall, with free wireless during the less busy hours. I love this place for a late night coffee and pastry, or an evening of work.
i had been meaning to eat here for ages and finally got around to it today. we parked behind ralph's so parking was not a problem. got seated immediately. the dining area was decorated for christmas so it made the restaurant feel cozy and like a friendly neighborhood spot. the service wasn't the best, but i have to give literati five stars for how incredible my food was. i ordered the "Three Eggs Any Style" (3 eggs, bacon/sausage, greens/potatoes, wheat/sourdough toast) and both of my friends ordered omelets. my fried eggs were a little greasy, but the yolks were runny so i was a happy camper. there was lots of bacon and it was tasty, sourdough bread was great, and the potatoes were delicious. i cleaned my plate and still wanted more even though i felt insanely full.
a little pricy for my student budget, but i will definitely come back to literati for special occasions and when i'm feeling rich. i got a coffee on the way out from the cafe area. mocha was nothing special, but it came out fast and was relatively cheap.
Neighborhood: Brentwood
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Westwood
Category: Coffee & Tea
Los Angeles, CA
Category: French
Neighborhood: West Los Angeles
Category: Coffee & Tea
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