Despite already having dozens of restaurants in LA sitting in my list of resaurants to try, I was…read moremore than happy to go with my gf's friend's suggestion to check out The Sycamore Kitchen for lunch. For one, I'll always defer to a friend's personal recommendation, but also, after perusing their photos on Yelp and seeing how good their food looked, we were immediately sold! Of course, it didn't hurt either that coming here was going to save me from the decision paralysis from trying to figure out which of my bookmarks to knock out first!
Almost as soon as we walked up to this place, I was already enamored with The Sycamore Kitchen. Not only is the front patio area super cute and cozy, but the overall vibe felt so chill and relaxing. Inside, there was a relatively short line to order, but it actually gave us time to check out their display case of pastries and baked goods. However, as tasty as everything looked, we knew we had to order off their menu, which is chock full of dozens of dishes - breakfast/brunch plates, sandwiches, toasts, salads, bowls, weekend brunch specials, daily lunch specials, and so much more. In fact, there were so many things we wanted to try, we didn't know what we were getting until we got to the register (hello, decision paralysis!).
-- WARM ALMOND FOCACCIA FRENCH TOAST with Fresh Strawberries, Homemade Whipped Cream, Maple Syrup...$17
This wasn't much to look at, but this was pretty good! The focaccia was so soft and flavorful and I loved the texture and bit of sweetness from the almonds. Plus, the coating and the thickness of the toast helped to keep it from getting soggy, too.
-- BRAISED SHORT RIB SANDWICH - Griddled Sourdough, Melted Gruyere, Horseradish Aioli, Caramelized Onions, Side Salad...$19
I was torn between so many things, but this was definitely the right call. The sourdough was browned perfectly and the short rib, gruyere, onions, and aioli complemented each other so well. I easily (and gladly) could've eaten two of these!
-- PASSIONFRUIT MINT AGUA FRESCA...$4.75
This was so, so good! The passionfruit in this was so good and I liked how the mint freshened up the flavors a bit. Plus, it was so refreshing and not all that sweet either!
-- GINGER LIMEADE...$4.75
Not quite as good as the Passionfruit Mint Agua Fresca, but no less delicious. The hit of ginger in this wasn't overwhelming and went well with the tartness of the limeade.
Beyond how good the food was and how friendly the workers are, the other thing I liked about The Sycamore Kitchen was how convenient it was to come here. Finding nearby parking was relatively easy and, despite the steady stream of folks that came in here, it always seemed like there was a table or two available. Given all of that, this place is the perfect spot to grab a bite, whether it be for breakfast or lunch during the week or brunch to kick off the weekend!