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How Things Stack Up at The Griddle Cafe
Breakfast, for this LAist, makes for some great bribery material. So recently, when a co-worker and frequent dining companion made some plans with us to do some weekend work they were kind enough to throw breakfast in the deal. Of course, we had to pick the place, using two vital breakfast joint criteria: Somewhere new to us, and somewhere with great pancakes. And that's how we ended up at The Griddle Cafe to see how things stack up.
The Griddle Cafe is a small spot wedged between the Rite Aid and the Director's Guild on Sunset at Fairfax. The telltale signal that you've arrived at 7916 on a weekend morning is the crowd of hipsters and pancake hounds gathered out front. We gave our name to the host and then killed some time (45 minutes, we were told) by whetting our whistles across the street at ye olde Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. The wait wasn't hideous--at least those threatening skies didn't let loose on us--and we got to watch the food being served to the table of cocktail swilling hipsters brave enough to take the one open table on the sidewalk. Before it became unbearable we were ushered to our table, which seemed like a calm oasis in a sea of utter chaos; how anyone could stomach this place hungover is beyond us--the din is sheer cacophony! We were a bit worried about spotty service based on some of the web researching we'd done, but our server came right up to us, made sure we hadn't been seated too long, and got our fantastic pot of french press coffee to us immediately. She was also really helpful when it came time to narrow down our choices from their lengthy menu. Before long, out came our breakfasts.
We'd gone for the "Saturday Morning Fever" pancakes, which has Bailey's and Kahlúa swirled into buttermilk batter and topped with real whipped cream. Our breakfast benefactress selected "Boysenberry Rain"--boysenberry filled flapjacks drizzled with boysenberry icing and sprinkled with powdered sugar. At The Griddle Cafe the pancakes come stacked three high, but something close to three miles wide--they are as big as the plate and could feed a small country! The pancakes were thick and fluffy, and the flavoring curious, but not obtrusive. The whipped cream was absolutely the best part, and if we'd had half a brain we'd have asked for an extra generous helping to take in our doggy bag. And because we could barely make a dent in our stack, the bulk of our breakfast went home with us, with a hint from our friendly server that they turn out pretty great after a spell in the microwave (she was right!).
Although the wait can be brutal, we think the best way to do the Griddle Cafe is in a group, that way you can order a few plates of pancakes and egg dishes, and share them all around, so you can have a taste of this and that and not an endless plate to battle. So if you're up to the task, The Griddle Cafe is a top notch pancake destination.
The Griddle Cafe
7916 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood
(323) 874-0377
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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