POINT FIVE ESPRESSO BAR
ITALIAN ESPRESSO BAR MEETS AUSTRALIAN CAFÉ
I’m a big fan of all-day breakfast—or brunch if you prefer. And at posh Point Five Espresso Bar on Melrose Avenue, Italian espresso bar meets Australian café and the result is hit for seasonally inspired good eats.
At Point Five, owner Anton Ianni, who is of Italian descent but hails from Sydney, Australia, has created a relaxed eatery serving all day brunch from locally harvested, seasonal ingredients.
During our recent afternoon visit, we started with breakfast and absolutely loved the Uovo Sandwich with fried egg, white cheddar, Benton’s Smokey Mountain Bacon, truffle aioli, baby arugula on a toasted roll. Now this is how to properly start a day.
Another sure-fire favorite is the Italian Scramble Eggs with free range eggs, fresh basil, shaved parmesan, tomato and pancetta served with toast. Consider this a great and guilt-free option.
If you prefer a more classic breakfast, then you may want to go with the Buttermilk Buckwheat Pancakes served with market fruit and Republic of Vermont organic maple syrup. I look at this as a weekend breakfast staple item as the egg sandwich is just a grand slam—think of it as a must have.
If you’re feeling more like lunch, the P/5 Bagel with griddled chicken, chipotle cream, avocado, heirloom tomato, pickled red onion and alfalfa sprouts on a toasted plain bagel is a great way to go. It’s hearty yet not too filling—and tasty as all hell.
While I’m not the biggest coffee drinker, the carefully curated coffee beverages are prepared using beans from Bar Nine in Culver City. Choose from all of the caffeinated classics including espresso, piccolo, (1:1 espresso to milk) cappuccino and filter. And since the owner is Australian after all, there is, of course, Bundaberg Ginger Beer.
A hybrid where espresso bar meets a full-service kitchen, the amicable Anton Ianni is eager for locals and tourists to get to know Point Five.
