Brunch in the City :

Los Angeles has a reputation for being a playground for celebrities, a haven of spiritual living, and a relaxed counterpart to the bustling East Coast.   Indeed, the life of leisure is embraced here, so why not spend a few hours lounging L.A. style at brunch?   It’s a great way to soak up the sun while sampling L.A. cuisine; plus with no reservations or a dress code, it’s stress-free dining.   Here are some neighborhood joints where you can fill up after a canyon hike, recover after a late-night at Hollywood hotspots, or fuel for an afternoon of sightseeing.  
 
Hungry Cat
In LA, a town where looks are everything, some of the best restaurants are actually housed in generic surroundings.   Take Hungry Cat, a wonderful seafood restaurant, which is located in a non-descript corner complex of chain stores and apartments.  In spite of this mall setting, the restaurant has a loyal following and serves up some of the best fish in town.  While Suzanne Goin, of Lucques, A.O.C., and Tavern fame, is the co-owner, it is her husband, chef David Lentz’s, show, and he wows with East Coast-inspired dishes.  For brunch,  start of with a basket of fresh-baked pastries, including Pain au Chocolat and Monkey Bread, a tasty treat reminiscent of two breakfast faves: cinnamon rolls and donuts.    Next, an old brunch standby, Eggs Benedict, gets an oceanic boost with savory Crab Cakes replacing the usual English Muffin.  The French-inspired Tweety’s Scramble is simply served with crème fraiche and refined fresh herbs .  The insanely good breakfast potatoes, dotted with earthy garlic and rosemary, are some of L.A.’s finest.   For a more lunch-like meal, the Fish & Chips and Pug Burger both offer superlative versions of popular pub fare.  Plus, the fries are double-fried to perfection.   Hair of the Dog, anyone?  There are a handful of Bloody Mary options-- including the Maryland with an oyster garnish and rimmed with Maryland spice mix -- which feature tomatoes from the adjacent Sunday farmer’s market. The Blanche de Bruxelles--a citrus-y, Belgian white beer--is light enough for a midday quaff. 

Side Dish: Catch a flick at Arclight Hollywood, a modern Cineplex featuring mainstream and indie films, including an over-21 theater where you can booze while you watch and the historic Cineramadome, a geodesic theater  who’s ginormous screen brings action films to life. 

Hungry Cat
1535 Vine Street Hollywood, CA 90028
323.462.2155

Gjelina
While Venice still has its share of hippies and artists, in the past few years, the beachside community has become increasingly chic, with high-end boutiques, design-heavy shops, and culinary hotspots flooding the neighborhood.  In spite of this influx of the cool and gorgeous, Venice has still maintained its relaxed charm.  The epicenter of this new Venice is at Gjelina, the über-popular restaurant on the main drag, Abbot Kinney Boulevard.  Inside,  Gjelina looks like that warehouse loft in Brooklyn that your art director friend owns.  It’s industrial/rustic chic – brick floors, salvaged wood, exposed pipes, a giant, communal table, vintage metal stools, and old-timey bulbs.  For brunch, try and snag one of the sofa seats outside for a leisurely meal in the sun.  Although Gjelina could get by on looks alone (chef Travis Lett is model material – check out his spread in Vogue Jan. 2010) the food is fabulous, featuring farm-fresh veggies, wood-fired pizzas, and earthy, comforting, Italian-inspired dishes. Fried eggs, nutty arugula, prosciutto, and romesco sauce gives a culinary boost to classic eggs and ham.  The P.E.I. mussels with chorizo, tomato confit have a heavenly white wine broth begging for bread to be dunked.  The famous wood-fire pizzas showcase an array of tasty toppings like guanciale, hen of the woods mushrooms, fresno chili.  Make it a breakfast pizza by adding a sunny-side-up egg on top and soak up the gooey yolk with charred pizza crust.  For a healthier option, the farro salad with feta, arugula, and cherry tomatoes tasteslike it just picked from the garden.   There is a killer brunch cocktail menu;  the ginger lime pilsner is a refreshing, theraputic spin on a shandy and the bloody beer (aka a michelada) is fresh tomato juice served alongside a can of Tecate.  

Side Dish:  Nobody walks in LA, but in Venice, a stroll along Abbot Kinney Blvd is a must.  Pick up unique home goods at A & R, (1121 Abbot Kinney), hip, designer duds at Heist (1100), and a caffeinated boost at Intelligentsia Coffee (1331). 

Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd Venice, CA 90291
310. 450.1429

Local
For a taste of L.A.'s East Side, head to Silver Lake, an artsy, bohemian 'hood that has been dubbed the center of the hipster universe.  Here, you'll find Local, a laid-back café featuring homey, tasty, and often organic, grub.  Whether your brunch cravings are healthy, hearty, or ....