American

Marston’s a Must!

A few years ago, I discovered a Pasadena classic. There was a huge crowd in front of a little house. It looked like quite a party. Turns out, it was just a lot of hungry diners waiting for their turn to be seated at Marston’s Restaurant. Of course, I had to know what all the buzz was about. The wait was about an hour, and once seated, the menu seemed pretty basic breakfast and lunch fare. Then the food came, and I was hooked. Today, I returned to Marston’s. It’s good to see that some things just don’t change.

As usual, there was a line of people waiting in front. To be seated, you have to sign in on their clipboard. There were about 6 parties in front of me, but I was determined. There are a few patio chairs in front of Marston’s for the long waiting period, as well as an LA Weekly kiosk if you get really bored. This is also your chance to check out the specials chalkboard, which changes regularly. It just so happened, that a lot of people were finishing their meals, and my entire wait time was about 15 minutes, which is the fastest I’ve ever been seated there. Try to get patio seating if you can. Whether you get a table inside or sit at the counter, it does get a bit noisy and uncomfortable there. The patio seats about 16 people total, which gives you a bit more breathing space. You also get a nice view of the park across the street. Before I knew it, was dipping my strawberry in my mimosa while admiring the view.

Then came the tough part of my dining experience… choosing what to eat. Marston’s is very popular for their pancakes - blueberry, 7-grain, or macadamia nut. I was craving an omelette and ended up choosing The Californian ($10.95). This three-egg omelette consists of chicken sausages, spinach, and tomatoes. It is topped with cheddar cheese, avocado, and sour cream. All but one of their omelettes come with breakfast potatoes. (That one exception is healthier option, The Powerhouse, which is an egg white omelette served with fruit.) The order also comes with your choice of two slices of toast or an english muffin.

One of the good things about dining with others is getting a taste for what they order. My partner in crime of the day ordered the Eggs Benedict ($10.25). What I like about Marston’s Benedict is that it is done the way it should be. While I appreciate chefs getting creative with their Benedicts, I miss the traditional poached eggs on top of canadian bacon and english muffin. Also, I get a bit tired of how so many chefs bury food under hollandaise sauce. Seriously, is it too much to ask for a bit of hollandaise with our entree instead of having it the other way around? Well, Chef Jim McCardy understands what I’m complaining about because there was just the right amount of hollandaise on Marston’s Eggs Benedict. The other pleasant surprise about Marston’s Benedict is the generous portion of Canadian bacon. Most restaurant give one or two thin slices. Marston’s gave three thick slices. The slice that I sampled was excellent.

Marston’s is as good as I remembered. There isn’t anything truly spectacular, but it’s a great place to go for some American breakfast. A constant stream of people waiting from the time we arrived to the time we left proves it. Like I said earlier, it’s nice to see that some things just don’t change.

MARSTON’S RESTAURANT
151 East Walnut St.
Pasadena, CA 91103
Tel: (626)796-2459

HOURS:
Tuesday through Friday: Breakfast 7:00am - 11:00am, Lunch 11:30am - 2:30pm
Saturday & Sunday: 8:00am - 2:30pm (Breakfast all day, lunch after 9:30 )
Dinner: Wednesday - Saturday 5:30pm - 9:30pm

By Pauline (see more of her posts).

© 2006 la.foodblogging.