ELAINE’S BAKERY & CAFÉ
BRENTWOOD CAFÉ OFFERS DELIGHTFUL OPTIONS

With a variable plethora of fine dining options around town, a great go-to spot for breakfast, lunch or brunch is always appreciated—think neighborhood gem where you can go to and start your day or just get a tasty bite and be on your way. Posh Brentwood now has that with Elaine’s Bakery & Café, located in the Brentwood Gardens shopping center on San Vicente Boulevard.

At Elaine’s Bakery & Café, the thinking is simple, eating healthy can be delicious; organic wherever possible, gluten-free if you so desire. And with that, this boutique neighborhood restaurant is dedicated to bringing fresh, seasonal, and wholesome food offerings to the neighborhood. A family-owned business, Elaine Kang has a passion for cooking and had the dream of opening a restaurant that served everyday items such as sandwiches, soups and salads.

The food here is handcrafted on-site and made from all-natural ingredients with no preservatives added. They only use hormone-free chicken in their sandwiches and salads; only use organic cage-free eggs; and source their ingredients from local farms, taking advantage of So Cal’s excellent year-round produce. There are plenty of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options; even their desserts (cookies and cupcakes) include items that are gluten-free, and almond-based.

During our recent visit for Sunday brunch, we made our way to the top floor of the shopping center and had a delightful, carefree meal. We started with the highly recommended Elaine’s Honey Chipotle Chicken –chicken breast prepared with Elaine’s honey chipotle sauce, red cabbage, red onion, provolone, chipotle aioli served on ciabatta. This is a tasty and hearty pressed sandwich.

Another fine and filling selection is the French Dip—prepared with thinly sliced roast beef, garlic aioli, and provolone with au jus. It’s all the better if you’re sharing so you can taste a few menu items, otherwise either of these savory standouts will suffice.

If you’re really hungry and want more, or you’re of the school of thought that it’s brunch, so why not get two meals worth, the Crisp Albacore Tuna Cakes were fantastic. They’re nice and light and won’t leave you feeling too stuffed.

The side items that we tried included the Quinoa, Kale, Golden Raisins and Walnuts salad, which was also light and guilt free—and you know all too well that the lemony kale is good for you. The Beets with Minted Greek Yogurt were delish, even though I’m not a fan of mint.

What I liked best about Elaine’s Bakery & Café is its relaxed atmosphere. Brunch was bright and sunny and the perfect place to chill while enjoying some hearty and tasty dishes.

“Our new restaurant is going to give Brentwood families a delectable experience,” says owner Kenny Kang. “Customers can treat themselves to our signature Honey Chipotle Chicken Sandwich and Lemon Meringue Cupcake while writing their next screenplay, or enjoy our fresh-squeezed Mint Lemonade, all in the comfortable atmosphere that we’ve created.”

Elaine's Bakery & Cafe is located at 11677 San Vicente Blvd. Call (310) 442-2233.

By: Jose Martinez.