Cafe Laurent (LV's LA)

Have you ever passed by a place all the time and then just out of curiosity tried it? Cafe Laurent is a cute little French Bistro in Culver City. I have passed it numerous times and one day after an appointment I spontaneously stopped to try it. After weeks of clean eating, holiday detoxing and drinking green smoothies for breakfast every day, I felt like I earned a decadent meal. 

I was not with my usual companions, but the server was very attentive and the intimate atmosphere made dining alone relaxing and pleasurable. This restaurant is only open during breakfast and lunch hours, so be sure to get there before 3:00.

There is a great selection of pastries, sandwiches and entrees, but the quiche and potatoes are noteworthy.  My meal started with a fresh baked loaf of bread and a delicious olive tapenade, that was way more delicious than it looked.

 Lots of great items to choose from

This was a delicious way to start lunch. The fresh crusty bread and Tapenade laced with kalamata olives, a hint of capers and olive oil, made me feel like I was in the Mediterranean.

The quiche is accompanied with a salad of mixed greens and delicious potatoes au gratin that were creamy and flavorful. My quiche was nice and fluffy with generous pieces of ham and lots of cheese. Cheese makes it better, right?  The salad greens were very fresh and tossed in a light balsamic vinegar dressing.

The atmosphere is calm and relaxing with additional seating on the outdoor patio.

I could not turn down the Creme Brulee. It has always been one of my favorite desserts and the burnt sugar topping was nice and crunchy with a mound of creaminess underneath.

The Creme Brulee had a nice flavor, but was eggier than I prefer.  The custard part of Creme Brulee should be smooth and velvety, not overly curdled and eggy. Some of the other items I saw coming out of the kitchen looked tasty and the dishes I tried were solid and I could taste the freshness of the ingredients, but as much as I love Creme Brulee this one was a miss for me due to the heavy egg texture. With such good service and so many other items that were delicious, I will let the eggy Creme Brulee slide. The food here is a great value and it is nice to have a neighborhood French bistro.

This is a nice spot to enjoy breakfast or brunch and they have live entertainment on the weekends, which is always a plus in my book. The relaxed ambiance is also perfect if you have children and want to enjoy a nice restaurant that is welcoming to families and still has a great atmosphere.

Cafe Laurent
4243 Overland Ave
Culver City, CA
310-558-8622