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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Desserts, Caterers
Neighborhood: DowntownMon-Thu. 6:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 6:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 6:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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You may wander the streets of downtown (I hope not alone!) for a bit looking for this location of Urth, but I promise it will not disappoint. Having visited every single location, I seem to frequent this one the most. Perhaps it's the great service as being the newest in the Urth family. Perhaps it's the fact that it's not swarmed with celebs and paparazzi and just filled with people who want to have good tea and desserts. Or perhaps it's the fact that it's my fave after-dinner dessert place, around 8-10 pm. Hehe.
It's a bit pricey, but I love Urth. Their three berry cake has grown on me, even to levels of that of Sweet Lady Jane's -- it's lighter and I can keep eating it without feeling like I'm covered in buttercream (mmmm...creammmm). The staff is so friendly and generous with refills of hot water for my tea, and don't even mind that I've asked for both milk and lemon (for variety -- not to drink together). They're happy to serve me both, over and over again. Their tiramisu is also light and delightful and my friends love their chocolate cake.
For food, I'm a big fan of their Urth salad -- hearts of palm are my fave! I also love the Nori Plum Rice Wrap. Ume is one of my favorite flavors, and I'm glad to see it welcomed here. So delicious and light paired with the salad. The Urth Tamales with cheese are also to die for if you're in the mood for something sweet and savory. If I know we are going to Urth, I know that I will not be disappointed.
In a far away land, where people are extremely wealthy and enjoy unusually expensive dining, the elusive and rare 40 dollar pumpkin pie can be found. Once the dessert of peasants, the 40 dollar pie frees you from all the normally perceived luxury pies like cherry, and apple, and key lime. Luxury pie, you have eluded me, but now I have found you! Here at Urth Caffe..
I have yet to decide if spending $40 on pumpkin pie could ever be worth it, although yes, the pie was good. I think it's worth an $8 slice or however much you spend for one serving, but 40 bucks! Wow. That's rough.
What I did enjoy was the thai iced tea boba. The boba balls were perfectly cooked and not weird, melty, or too hard. The thai iced tea was not as sweet as normal thai iced tea, but I thought it appropriately met the mark. The cafe itself is overall quite pleasant, although my friends and I are positive we saw a real life witch driving over. Lots of fireplaces and fire lanterns to sit near and keep you warm. No one seems to pushy to get you out even when it's closing time, so I can definitely see myself returning to grab a latte, a table to study, and an evening of stealing pie samples from the counter.
LATTE-ART! i found you!
I've always been searching for latte-arts...i've seen on tvs..heard it from ppl. And i've always wanted to have my own cup of latte-art. And finally i've found it...in LA.
Called up Caroline C. cuz i know she loves these latte-arts too ...i get there and i see her munching on a panini sandwich. Looks pretty good and a good size portion. And i see her w/ a cold drink! what?! i thought we are suppose to get latte-art?! she said it was too hot.
Fine. whatever.. i go and order my own Spanish Latte. I told the cashier that today's my first time here and was wondering if i can request an art. And he said sure and asked me what i wanted ... i told him i wanted something CUTE. he suggests Hello Kitty..i rejected it and i decided on a bear.
$4.00 for a small latte. i was going to order a panini, but seeing the price, i decided not to. I thought it was a bit too pricey for me for panini and after hearing Caroline's opinion of it, nah i didnt need to try it. And i trust her taste buds.
My latte came.. OMG SOOOO CUTE! it was so cute that i didnt have the heart to drink it!
The Spanish Latte was pretty good, i had the strong italia. MMM .. delicious! I read that the Spanish Latte may be a bit too sweet. But not for my taste.. i thought it was fine.
THe desserts look really tempting but i didnt get the chance to order it, perhaps next time. I will come back for sure. I hope to collect all the different latte arts! haha
what a great, quiet place to grab brunch on a sunday afternoon. also great? plenty of delicious vegetarian options, including their sprout sandwich and vegetarian chili (i can't believe there's no meat!).
also, plenty of FREE street parking, including a lot for urth customers, just in case.
The food is pretty good, but overpriced. Espresoo is better than most places and they do latte art. Location is pretty shady.
Some of the best service in all of Los Angeles. These people know how to treat a customer and therefore makes the high cost worth every penny.
Also the green tea latte is gorgeous!
Excellent Spanish latte. Nice staff. Brioche okay. Walnut brownie not so good. Biscotti, meh. Bathrooms very clean.
To start off, I must confess that I am not a coffee person. With that being said, I have still found much to like about Urth Caffe. The experience starts with finding the building itself which is kind of eclectic with its clock tower, and off in the middle of nowhere in the Toy District. Inside, the cafe is very welcoming and homey. Definitely seems like a cool place to have an intimate conversation or do a little reading.
I've tried the green tea and Thai iced tea blended bobas and both were amazing. A little more expensive than your run of the mill boba shop, but it's served by a waiter in a heavy class cup, making the entire experience feel decidedly more sophisticated.
Also, they sell ridiculously expensive pumpkin pies here ($40 a pop) that are to die for. I would never pay that much for a freakin pie, but judging by the three sample pieces I stole off the counter... so worth it if money is no object =]
I am a regular, but they often mix up orders, spill coffee and take a while to get your stuff.... but I guess when you are sipping your latte next to some celebs people don't care.
The food is great, the atmosphere is good but the service is average.
ONE STAR?!!!?? For Effin' URTH???!!???
Say t'aint so, YO!
Hmm, now's one of those times in my Urth Love Affair akin to grabbing the Significant Other and realizing that, 'Babe, we are in serious need of relationship RESCUE.' Yes, it's time for the dreaded COUPLES COUNSELING. (not that i'd know what that's about first hand, just sayin' yo...) :O}P
M'kay, let me qualify. This is a complicated ONE STAR, with plenty of blame to go 'round. Yes, peeps, we have met the enemy, and IT is....US.
Shocker.
In an age of Congressmen shouting 'You Lie' at the POTUS as he addresses a joint session of congress, in an age of these ridiculo 'Town Hall Meetings' where angry old redneck white people scream with hilariously pathetic irony/hypocrisy and (thinly) disguised hatred/racism that the 'America they know' is crumbling and 'Don't take away my Medicare with your Commie Socialized Fascism', when Kanye outbursts during MTV VMAs and Serena's bleepin effin' bleepin' rampages are the order of the day....
CLEARLY we've obliterated ANY and ALL sense of civility in this so-called 'Society' which was only nominally, tenuously 'Civil' by a an arsehair in the first place!
So, yea, yadda yadda yadda blah blah blah whaddyagonna do... tell us something new!
Right. My sentiments exactly.
I may in fact digress...
EXCEPT when I am DIRECTLY affected by the Death of Common Sense and Civility so profoundly that I can't enjoy my decadently sludgy jolt of Spanish Latte and tasty treats at my beloved Urth Caffe because a cadre of selfish, uncivilized Ne'er Do-Wells have created such electrical outlet havoc in the fight to LAP-TOP, that the Urthian powers that be have put LOCK BOXES on all the electrical outlets, thus neutralizing my main creative workspace in the whole fuggin' city for CRYIN' OUT LOUD!!!!
Imagine my abject horror at customarily setting down my lapper and nonchalantly making for the outlet to juice me lapper immediately before i caffeine-juice myself, and to find they're all on fucking LOCKDOWN!!! I frantically sought out Urthians in charge to find out what the eff was up!
The word on the street is that peeps here were so predatory on securing the half dozen or so outlets (apparently the words 'sharing is caring' are pho-reign!) the competition so fierce, that there was a dangerous game of one-upsmanship goin' on on a daily basis (which i NEVER saw, not having been here for a month or so, but whatevs) whereby peeps were fighting over these outlets and escalating hostilities by coming in with long extension cords, and other patrons were trippin' over cords (and 'Trippin' on each other) with the most aggro of demeanors.
So due to a few lousy urban fucktards, apparently it went all the way up to the head cheese, Mr. Shalom Berkman, owner of Urth, who supposedly issued the edict to lock-down all outlets.
Aghast, and incoherent (from lack of normal dose of joltin' mornin' joe), this story was corroborated by Dr. Coffee himself, Mr. Berkman, to me just this afternoon, mano a mano.
I am literally at a loss (well, not for words, as you can plainly see if you are still reading!) and, like a ship lost adrift at sea, like Tommy without his Pam, I am wandering the coffee rails in exile like Napoleon at Elba in the final days.
Yes, Bunker Mentality has taken hold, and I am now holed up in decidedly less delicious, cozy, and productive digs down the street at Groundworks, and me knows not when come I back I....to my beloved Urth!!!....
So, ONE STAR for my unsolicited exile from Urth, or for just being relegated to a 'Grab and Go' at of a pastry, sammich, and or a latte, but no stay to work and play.
On the positive side, Dr. Shalom has promised a full inquiry and will convene an employees summit of the best and brightest minds to determine a fair and equitable solution to this tragedy.
Until then, I'll be broadcasting from the bunker, awaiting for an all's clear to plug in once again.
**AIR RAID SIRENS BLARING, DUCKS FOR UNDERGROUND(WORKS) COVER**
DONE.
EFFIN' FANTASTICO! I've just UnUrthed the magically delicious 3rd lapper outlet!!!!
Howard Carter,…
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I just started work at an office in the area and decided to explore the new 'hood for some noshing options. I've been to Urth in Santa Monica and remembered that it was pretty ok. This location is nestled in between some warehouses. I walked here for lunch and I only feared getting run over by a semi-truck. I finally reach the cafe and it is PACKED with people eating outside. The host is very friendly, he gave me a menu, and pointed out the soups of the day. I think I managed to get there 5 minutes before the lunch rush because there was no line to order, but by the time I finished placing my carryout order there were about 10 people behind me.
Their carryout system is a little chaotic, I went to one counter to get my drink and then just stood around waiting for my order to come up. The space is pretty cramped, and slightly smaller than the Santa Monica location so I was constantly moving out of the way of servers, people getting in line, and diners looking for seats at the windows. I only ordered half a salad and lentil soup, but it felt like I was waiting forever. Once I got back to the office I dived into my soup and salad, having already drunk my green tea with boba on the walk back. The green tea was great. It wasn't too sweet and the boba was tender and not too gummy. My lentil soup was good, but tasted suspiciously similar to Trader Joe's lentil soup in a can. The salad was also your basic mixed greens salad. I'm glad I checked it out, but it was a little overpriced at $17 for soup, salad and a boba tea. Especially when the portion size of the soup was the equivalent of Whole Foods hot food bar, ditto with the salad. Good healthy option if you happen to be in the area, but not worth the trek otherwise.
Great scene and fabulous food. Woo hoo.
Place is definitely a hot spot so be prepared to wait a bit but it is definitely worth it. Sit outside on a nice L.A. day and you will be feeling very grateful. I have to say I did see a few minor celebrities on the day I went which is always fun. The Mediterranean platter was EXCELLENT. I am part middle eastern so I tend to be a pit snobbish when it comes to my hummus but this was right on. Defo recomendo!
Urth caffe, you never fail to make me super happy!! You will have THE BESTEST green tea latte and pumpkin pie in socal for sure.
The staffs here are GREAT. They are super friendly and never forget to brighten your day up with their smiles :D I think Urth Caffe always have great taste in food, drinks, and people!
Loves the green tea latte, and I also tried their ice blended green tea latte with boba for the first time yesterday and it was the companion to drive down all the way to Irvine on a hot summer weather (even though its October now). I also had to get their pumpkin pie as usual. It's something about the crust that makes it sooooo addicting!
I got the pumpkin pie to go and they put the whipped cream in a separate cup for me so it wouldn't melt all over my pie! How considerate :) And yes, the whipped cream was all melted and gooey by the time I got back to Irvine but oh well!
I've also had their portobello sandwich which was also bomb!
P.S. If you need a pumpkin pie for this thanksgiving, order from them now!!!!!
this place is SO hidden! i got lost and had to circle around this place a few times.. but loved the ambience here.. i felt like i was some place else than in LA.. ahahaha i tried their spanish latte, mild... with 1 pkg of brown sugar = perfecto~ i haven't tried their food here yet, ....so far so good~ oh! i tried the sample of their pumpkin pie.... it was tenderly scrumptious~ yumyum
We love Urth! We love Urth!
Fresh?, YES! Top-notch quality? YES! Service? YES! Urth is my favorite little cafe in Downtown. The Arts District is getting spoiled with Urth and Wurstkuche. I can see the building next to Loft Appeal being converted to small shops in the near future.
What I love:
- Mediterranean plate is DELICIOUS but too big for one person. This is a definite share plate.
- Parfait with fresh granola and berries - YUMMMMMMY my all time favorite on lazy weekends or when the bf has a day off.
- Yogurt with granola - this is definitely not as good as the parfait but it's a HUGE serving and has great potential... (tip: ask for honey AFTERWARDS and you can get it free :) )
- Green Tea Latte -- yummmy!
- Cafe Au Lait with Soymilk - OMG.. I die for this! This is by far the BEST Cafe Au Lait I've ever tasted -- better than Starbucks, Pete's, and even Spring St. Coffee.
- Paninis are really fresh so you can't go wrong there.
- Tiramisu is really tasty as well. Share this one!
Urth I love you :) You have made my life complete... kinda. Yes, just a little. We're so tempted to move to Barker Block just... for.... YOU!
It's a cute store. I liked their bread pudding with apples, but not their rather mediocre hot chocolate.
The biggest problem? It's in a sketchy part of town. It's also super noisy by mid-day. I had to yell in order to talk to my friends. There were also flies hovering our table. Yes, it's not an enclosed space and it's late summer, but an "A" grade restaurant ought to have slightly better control over their environment, I think.
Urth is a hipster hangout and one of my favorite work/lounge spots. I usually set up camp in the side room. There's a hefty conference-style table where you can spread out your accoutrements. I'm in love with this room. Fresh orchids and exposed brick. There's free Wi-Fi...but no electrical outlets for public use. Definitely a less than perfect arrangement. The music played is delightfully eclectic. On good days there'll be some opera, some classical guitar. On bad days, African child choirs and Graduation by Vitamin C.
My usual is the Spanish Latte Granita, which tastes like delicious blended ice cream. You can choose between mild and stronger espresso. The mild already leaves me with a heady, floating-bliss feeling. The tea latte is quite good as well. The downside: as my roommate says, you have to pay the Urth premium where everything seems to be priced from fifty cents to a dollar more than it should cost. Spanish Latte Granita + tax is $5.21. Sure, it's ginormous, but I would happily accept a downsize for a discount.
There is a wide election of glossy pastries and they do sell the stragglers left from the previous day at half price (between $3 and $4). I've tried the Duchess of Hazelnut cake and the pumpkin pie. They were fabulous - moist and shockingly delicious. Definitely some of the best pumpkin pie I've had. A warning - a granita and pastry combined have enough sugar to knock you off your feet. The servers are exceedingly kind and accommodating and always a pleasure.
I don't understand why everyone seems to hate the location of this Urth. It's in the arts district of downtown LA - an awesome, offbeat part of town that not a lot of people have explored. The area is fairly industrial; the warehouses surrounding feature some pretty cool graffiti art and it's worth taking a look around. Parking is plentiful - I have never seen the lot full. Knowing that I won't have to circle for ages looking for someplace to put my car is a huge incentive for me to make the trek out there.
Green Tea Latte, so blasphemous. So delicious. I find myself ashamed for wanting you so...
Things that must be consumed when you come here:
1. Pot Roast Sandwich - It's like sopping wet meat that you dip in more meat sauce.
2. Farmer's Salad - Giant Salad with... uh... radish and shit? I have no idea what I'm eating here, but it tastes really healthy. But not in a bad way! And when I exercise, it's totally guilt free.
3. Fill in the Blank.
Seriously though, it's ALL good. I've never had something that disappointed here. One of the only places I like to hang out downtown. It's relaxing on a beautiful day, they're now open fairly late so you can get dinner and a hot drink, and they've got this really cozy fireplace that I'm really looking forward to monopolizing now that Autumn is in the air...
Blake G. approves, incidentally.
I adore almost everything about Urth Caffe except the unnecessary "f" in the name and the over-salted prosciutto. The atmosphere is just indie enough, with the slightly ghetto location weeding out most pretentious sissies after sunset. The tostada is excellent, the Mexican omelet also delicious. The boba drinks are some of the best in LA, and the pastries are to die for, especially the oreo cheesecake.
Prices are a drag, but all-in-all it's worth it. Man up and eat your fruit tart.
Did a drive by here... today for lunch.
I don't like the location, seems like its in the middle of no where... parking sucks too.
Did a phone order... it was ready to go when I got there, so that was great. I love their chicken pesto sandwich with salad and their green tea blended with coconut! Perfectly made by the way.
Great customer service too!
If you're in the area, stop by here for lunch! The outside had yellow tape around the building... so it looks like it's under some sort of construction.
-1 star for parking and high prices.
What I had was very heavy... it was supposed to be a spinache panini, but it was more like pizza. Delicious but very heavy.
The salad was some of the freshest and yummiest I've had! Leafy green, great flavor to the dressing! We couldn't resist trying the Coconut Cake, which was some of the lightest, fluffiest coconut dessert I've had. And the Flourless Chocolate cake was very tasty, not too bitter, and I did not get heartburn like you do with some flourless desserts. Mint tea was very nice as well.
I'd definitely go back again and try other things on the menu, or consider using them to cater something.
The building itself is spectacular. Gorgeous tilework and architecture, and fun atmosphere inside, fireplace and view of bread ovens behind glass. Outside patio, not the nicest view, but really open and cheery.
I love coming to Urth cafe in the Arts District, just because the location is in a random industrial place facing the Barker Blocks and Molina lofts. The location at first may seem sketchy and unsafe, but believe it or not there are LAPD that come to Urth cafe 24/7 to just hang out and chill while they are on break or patrol. Guess donuts are out of the question now lol..
The food is extremely healthy, all organic.
My favorite it the curry sandwhich combo with a salad. Their green tea with boba is awesome too!
If you want to look for a place other than Starbucks, Urth cafe is a much better place to do your reading or computer work :)
You would never think that this little gem is tucked away in an industrial alley in downtown LA near the Toy District, but it is. And this jewel serves some amazing tea and coffee as well as freshly baked pastries.
I ordered the genmaicha, a premium Japanese green tea infused with brown rice; it had a sweet taste to start and ended with an oaky flavor. They make their pastries on site,too. So, I tried the pear danish. Oh wow! It was sooo good - perfectly sweet and flaky.
My friend persuaded me to try the shot of pure green tea with condensed milk at the bottom of the shot glass. Again, this was a winner; I've never tasted anything like it before.
The cafe (and its restroom) is super clean and the attention to interior design is obvious. The busboys ( more like men than boys) constantly cleaned our dirty cups and plates.
The area may seem sketchy at first glance but there is plenty of hired security all through the block, so ladies can feel safe and relaxed. It was an ideal spot for my friend and I to catch up and chat, sip, and enjoy our time on Urth ; )
So, first I was surprised that there was even an Urth Cafe downtown. I didn't realize it until I was invited there for a networking event. Already a fan of Urth in Beverly Hills, I was eager to see where this was located. As I live downtown, it was right in my neck of the woods.
Well first off, its off Hewitt, which a pretty strange location in itself. There's nothing there but industrial buildings, wholesale buildings and a brand new loft building. I was really surprised to see it there. I have nothing but positive things to say about the menu, however, as far as a place to 'work remotely' it isn't really that place. It gets busy around 9:00 am and noisy. There are no outlets to plug in your computer and it was really difficult for me to get online.
Urth is a great place for business meetings, lunch or just coffee; but if you're actually trying to get work done, it's not really that productive of an environment.
I may go by there and do some early morning work with a fully charged laptop battery, but I won't ever be there for more than and hour max. I moved over to Cafe Corsa for a more relaxed and casual environment.
This place has become our hang out spot on those days when we are undecided where to go. I had the turkey burger and I thought it was really good. You can't go wrong with any of their desserts, cakes, and pastries. Also I highly recommend the Spanish Latte.
They also have free wi-fi, but there are no power outlets available, so make sure your laptops are fully charged.
Sorry Urth....but your Jasmine Green Tea Boba over ice was such a disappointment you should just take it off your menu....did you forget to wash the blender because it tasted like... CHALKY COCONUT! Yuck. Coconut Jasmine green tea boba? Barf.
I want to like you. You sell organic fair trade coffee and tea...I love how politically correct you are...but step up your boba game please.
I will give you one more chance and try the food instead.
Update coming soon....
Great place to hang out, especially on a lazy Sunday afternoon with your awesome friends.
The one in Santa Monica is my favorite, but this one is a lot closer to home. It is located a few blocks from the Little Tokyo. It might not be the nicest of neighborhood, but tons of polices drop by, so I guess no worries about safety.
I am not sure if my mind is playing tricks on me, but I secretly believe that the drinks taste better in Santa Monica... nonetheless, I still love love love the drinks here. I crave for the Green Tea Latte every second of my life, but I have been adventurous and tried another things. (Including my friend's drinks) Everything is delicious.
A trip to Urth Cafe is always a special treat. Kudos to the downtown location, which brings charm and tasty organic cafe magic to the artsy yet rough industrial area.
The coffee is 100% fair trade and much less acidic than what we're used to drinking. I'm not even a coffee drinker and I enjoy this coffee. It's smoooooth. They draw pretty flowers and leaves in the foam on top of your chais and lattes.
The pastries never fail to disappoint. Urth has the most delicious pumpkin pie I've ever eaten. Each slice is huge and velvety and framed with a rich, chewy gingerbread crust. Best part is it's available all year round!
I come here for my birthday breakfasts. This year I had eggs benedict wrapped in smoked salmon drizzled in olive oil, which was the most satisfying way to get my Omega-3s, believe you me.
This is the perfect place to take a date, or your mother when she visits from out of town to show her that there are nice places in LA.
This place has pretty much always done me and my dining companions right :)
I absolutely LOVE their turkey burger... I think it's even organic! Mmmm.... moist and flavorful, served on a delicious roll and with a fat, juicy slice of an heirloom tomato too--this little chunk o' heaven is sooo satisfying!
I've loved many different salads, soups and sandwiches here...
Even the cheese-free pesto chicken sandwich is yum!
The environment is very nice, whether you choose indoor or outdoor seating. Staff is always friendly and accommodating...and there's some nice eye candy here too! :)
However, in my experiences the two things to steer away from here are:
*the almond milk used in drinks (I don't know which brand they use but it's not very good from what I've tasted and I LOVE almond milk!)
*the dry, crumbly brownie...(I love me some chocolate but this kinda tastes like barely-chocolate dust and not even as yummy as straight up chocolate drink powder like Ovaltine or Quick was for me as a kid)
Other than those minor caveats and the somewhat high prices, this place is an ABSOLUTE dream! (Remember this is organic/fair trade and/or high quality produce, food, tea/coffee!!)
FYI, if Yelp had half stars, I would really give this place 3.5 stars.
I met up w/ Cherie T. here one afternoon just to try the place out since I've heard so much about it and was really looking forward to a good cup of coffee topped w/ some cute latte art. Unfortunately, it was really hot the day I came, so I ended up ordering a Spanish Latte Granita and a Prosciutto Panini. Since I ordered a cold drink, I didn't get latte art, which did make me a little sad. The drink was good, not the best, but good. You can order it mild or strong. I ordered it mild, but it still kept me jittery and awake until fairly late into the night. The Prosciutto Panini was ok, but it had too many olives in my opinion, and the olive taste dominated the rest of the sandwich. It also came with a side of spinach salad topped w/ 2 candied walnuts. I thought the walnuts were delicious. I wish there had been more than 2. The salad was actually pretty good. Sad to say, but I think the salad was actually better than the panini. While most people round up when wanting to give a half star, I have to round down because it cost me $20 for a panini and a cup of ice blended coffee. I think that's a bit pricey.
As for the location, the neighboring buildings were a bit sketchy, but if you're just looking at Urth, it's a nice place. It's very chill and well blocked from the sun in the afternoon. That's definitely something I look for in a good coffee shop. They must not be facing the west side because I usually stay at a coffee shop until the sun sets (and sometimes after), so I don't want the light from the sunset getting into my way. Service was pretty good too. Nothing to complain about there. Parking on the streets was abundant.
Had coffee with friends this afternoon at this down location.
Loved the selection of coffees and teas as well as the pastries. Turkey burger and salads were good.
I thoroughly enjoyed my mid-afternoon snack/early dinner. and the creative images/designs on the foam of my coffee was really well done.
Street parking available and I think the cafe has its own parking as well.
If you don't know your way around down town LA, you might make a wrong turn into Albuquerque. Don't be afraid to stop and ask for direction.
Will I go back? Most likely to have the cafe granitta! :)
Caught up with my girls over dinner here last night. Had a sweet, smooth non-fat Spanish latte and a grilled chicken salad with pesto. The salad came with a hearty piece of freshly baked bread - soft and warm on the inside and a nice crust outside. LOVE their bread! Altogether, it was a delicious and healthy meal for just around $10.
Interestingly, our food was served almost immediately but coffee took awhile. Maybe it takes time for them to do the latte-art that comes with each cup. We all got different designs! Mine was a flower, but we also got a bird, a dog, and something else we couldn't quite make out. Its just another one of those little things that makes this place special. Btw, service here is really awesome. They take time to answer your questions about the menu, and seem genuinely happy when you enjoy your food.
I know it sometimes get hectic here on weekends for brunch/lunch, and the crowd is more "dressy" (i.e. not the kind of place where you'd just roll out of bed and go get coffee...) Try it for dinner on a weekday. Its nice and really chill - plenty of space to sit on the patio outside and chat for as long as you want.
Check this place out, it's really good.
Drinks have a good mix of classic espresso drinks and their own original drinks. I tend to go for a good capp and they do it better here then any where i've been to. I really like that they choices of espresso, instead of just one. This is not a starbucks or coffee bean but it costs about the same. Their desserts are reallly really good! So far of the three i've tasted, i like their balance of moist and sweet. I'm excited to try their pumpkin and their fruit tarts!
The service is pretty good for a non fast food establishment. Meaning that don't expect to get out of there in 5 minutes unless your getting drip coffee. Yet their customer service is above and beyond most places i've been to. Their manager was more than happy to comp 4 of my drinks that were made incorrectly. I don't mind when coffee shops mess up, but what is nice is when they fess up and and make it better. Now that's service!
Their food is fresh, and plentiful, kinda pricey, but again, this isn't mcdonalds.
I had their tuna sandwich which had small chunks of fresh tuna and was really good, i would dare say the fanciest tuna sandwich i've had!
The place is nice too, slow paced, well kept, clean, and interesting looking.
Parking is good too since there is not much around to crowd out spots.
My review is that this is my new favorite coffee spot, forget starbucks/coffeebean/or groundworks, check this place out if your in the area.
Arrival: Kinda hard to find because it's secluded in an old commercial/industrial area on the outskirts of Little Tokyo and Skid Row. Passing through the quaint outdoor patio seating area (w/heat lamps and all), it feels like you're transported to another world.
Environment: Once inside, everything looks real clean and tidy in contrast with the outside. Employees were really friendly and welcoming, but didn't speak English very well. People studying, cops chilling, large open window showing off their bread machines. Good place to chill.
Food: I had the Pesto Chicken sandwich and Green Tea w/ Boba for a nice fusion type meal. The boba texture was nice and chewy. Not as sweet tasting as a Tea Station boba. All in all, it was clean, filling, fresh, and just really simple on top of it all.
Price: Price is a bit expensive for the type of food. ($16 for my sandwich, small side salad, and green tea boba). The only justification I can make is that the parking was free. There are teams of security on bikes scouring the surrounding streets "keeping it safe". After living in Berkeley during college, this is a little disturbing to me. The cost of gentrification... story for another day.
I really love Urth Cafe. its situated in a weird alley like spot, but they really spruced up the joint. When you come in person the service is always great and the food is good. I work downtown and we sometimes get it delivered, this is where the service flails. They take forever, and they always forget something in the order! But overall the food is great and will come back.
Yum, yum, yum! I have a newfound love for artsy cafes. Seriously, this was analagous to me stepping inside Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. My camera came out in like 3 seconds (to all my friends' chagrin) so I could take pictures of the desserts (I would), but I was stopped by the cashier who had to step around the counter to get me to put my camera away.
This place has such a huge selection of things I want to eat. Cheesecakes, chocolate cakes, vegan desserts, coffee drinks, sandwiches, salads, paninis, soups, and tons more. I ordered the Chicken Curry Sandwich and a Spanish Latte. The Chicken Curry is a mildly sweet concoction of curried chicken, celery, and raisins with spinach and tomato inside 2 slices of toasted wheat bread (or some other bread of your choice). It was just right, not too overly anything! It also came with a side spinach salad.
Then there was the Spanish Latte to which all I can say is OMG. I love coffee and I have never tried anything so good. This drink is a Barcelonian-esque latte with just the right touch of sweetness, and you can either get it in mild or strong. And this crappy description does not do justice to what it really is.
JUST ORDER IT!!
I didn't realize til now that this lunch put me back $16 dollars ($12 for the sandwich and $4 for the coffee) which is why I only gave it 4 stars.
AHHHH! Here starts my list of hippie cafes to visit.
Sidenote: this place is also really good for vegans and vegetarians as they have an abundant selection of organic, vegan deliciousness.
I'd rate 65%, or 3 & a half stars if possible.
I work close by, and this is one of my fav morning coffee & pastry spots.
I've been visiting this location many times throughout the course of a year (or since they opened).
I'm usually here around 8am, and it's never too packed.
Some things are pretty good, some not quite on par.
I love their medium roast coffee for breakfast.
Refills cost extra.
I don't mind paying a buck more over Starbucks, because the quality is there.
Smoothies are great!
Pastries are a generally good, with some better than others.
Portions are very generous, a bit too rich & sweet for my tastes.
It's also more expensive ( approx$3-6 range ).
Most of their pastries are so large, you can share it with another person(s).
Their brioche toast is great.
Croissants are wonderful.
Their bread pudding is excellent.
Their pumpkin pie (seasonal?) is awesome.
I don't like the fact that they only have 3 jams:
Blackberry, raspberry, & strawberry.
Biscotti is decent.
Tiramisu is decent.
Apple pie is ok.
Pound cake is a bit too sweet & bland.
Their sandwiches are a mixed bag.
Prices generally fall into the $10-$15 range and slightly overpriced imo.
I might get a sandwich from them 4 times a year.
I like their 'curry chicken' sandwich & salad.
It's not too overpowering or rich.
Their reuben & pot roast were forgettable.
Service is generally very good,.
Wait times can be off-putting at rush lunch hours.
parking has always been plentiful (a rarity and plus in down-town Los Angeles).
location can be difficult to find the first time.
It's probably 5-15 mins from the 101, 10, & 5 fwys depending on traffic.
Overall it's a nice spot, but somehow their menu is a bit too hit & miss.
I also wish they had smaller size & cheaper pastries.
Overall a solid coffee shop.
Will return again & again.
5 stars for the Japanese tea latte but 3 stars for the Omelets. The omelets here are around $11 and comes with a side of salad (extra for potatoes or fruit). The side salad was good but the omelet was not so great. The cheese on top of the omelet was hard by the time I got it.. and the omelet itself looked like it was microwaved... definitely not worth $11. Next time I go here, I'll stick to the Japanese tea latte and a croissant.
I've been several times while I lived in LA and come back when I visit. The food has always been consistent, which is nice, but nothing very exciting. I do like that they offer fresh juice and a healthy vegetarian menu. It has great outdoor seating and nice for long lunches with friends.
I was told that they have good desserts, so I had to come check it out, despite being stuffed by my veggie mexican chipotle sausage and Belgian fries with white truffle oil at Wurstkuche. I got the Bavarian cream fruit tart from the "bake sale" tray (ie, 1 day old and half price--around $3 instead of $6!). It was quite good, with good quality berries on top, nicely done vanilla pastry cream below, and a good puff pastry crust that wasn't overly buttery or oily. A bit pricey maybe, but I'm always willing to pay a little extra for good quality.
I'll have to try some of their vegan selections.
Easy free parking on the surrounding streets.
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