la.foodblogging

The Alcove
1929 Hillhurst Ave.
Los Feliz, CA
Cross street: Franklin (just north of, on the east side of the street)

This was a return visit to The Alcove - the first time, I had brunch, and this time, it was all about dindin. The location is oh-so-cozy - lots of brick accents, and a very warm and friendly, bring-your-dog kind of vibe. The service is counter-only, but for this style of eatin’, these guys do it up right. The staff is lovely and helpful, and the food is a sight.

It’s a cafe that fits in with the Los Feliz vibe like white on rice - dotted with outdoor tables and mist machines or heat lamps, depending on the elements, and always scattered with hungry hipsters, sipping lattes and planning scripts. But it lacks the pretentiousness of similar Hollywood haunts - this place truly is all-charm.

Food-wise, Alcove has a solid menu - lots of organic goodies, salads to die for, and decent sandwiches. The burgers look so-so, the brunch is above average, and the coffee is yummy. Did I mention desserts? They’re part bakery, afterall, so there are heaps of selections. I sampled the cookies last time - gotta say the textures were spot-on, but the flavor - eh. Just average. The cakes look pretty fantastic, however - will need to try those in short order. I’ve heard *very* good things, I might add.

Here’s the lowdown on food stuffs I devoured –

Drinks:

I had a nonfat iced soy latte - absolutely perfect.
Best friend had a green-tea based iced concoction - also awesome.

My entree:

Summer Shrimp Salad
- Features greens, tri-color peppers, shrimp, strawberries, almonds, and a killer raspberry vinaigrette.
** Definitely a fabulous and refreshing summer dish - and an absolutely gorgeous one at that (see picture above). Flavors were well matched and quite delish.

BFF
Roast Beef Panini
- Featured medium-rare roast beef, caramelized onions, sourdough, tomatoes, and served with a side o’ fries
* Tasty little devil, this one - the sandwich, while not piled-high, did feature very high quality beef, and the onions were tres-tastic. But the fries? Yeah, they’re decent, yet way too chilly. We like ‘em hot + fresh - these did not qualify.

The damage for a latte, iced tea, salad, and sandwich - about $25, before tip.

RESTAURANT REPORT CARD

Ambiance - B
Service - C
Food (Taste) - B-
Food (Presentation) - B-
Wine/Drinks - C+
Value - B-
Overall Experience - B-

Final word - A really lovely outdoor food-haven. Not top-notch, but a great little hang all the same. I’m goin’ back for sure.

By PoetKitty (see more of her posts). You can find more of PoetKitty's writing at her own website OMG Food!