Square One Dining

(323) 661-1109

4854 Fountain Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90029 34.09542 -118.29499

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Neighborhoods: Wilshire Center / Koreatown, Central LA

SQUAREONEDINING.COM

Hours:

Monday To Sunday From 08:00 AM To 03:00 PM

Price:

$

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Breakfast, Quiet, Outdoor Dining, People Watching, Lunch Spot

Cuisine:

Californian

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Square One Dining

Featured Review

Martha Burr

Contributor

In Short – A bright, clean room awash in buttery saffron is tucked prettily into this quiet, friendly haven for Eastsiders, Scientologists and slackers. Art dots the walls, folk-rock plays low, and a spacious, leafy patio is shaded with wide umbrellas. Baked egg dishes like fava beans with shiitake-mushroom ragout on grits with feta is indicative of the kitchen's ambition. Other choices are Benedicts, omelets and pancakes. Lunch offerings include roasted beet salad with blue cheese, house-cured salmon sandwich, burgers and pressed-ham baguette.

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
The kitchen uses seasonal, organic, locally sourced ingredients and produce when possible, and all of their meat products are hormone-free.
Look Good:
The staff is warm and accommodating with kids--weekend mornings see many babies parked alongside tables sleeping in their strollers, and the spacious patio is an especially good family place.
Save Money:
Beware of split charges, but also be advised that gourmet add-ons and a la carte items are very reasonable; most dishes come with a choice of sides.
ambiance
80.0% positive
  1. “parking is bad.”
  2. “would definitely go back here because of the unique (possibly healthy) breakfast offerings and the nice, friendly, relaxed atmosphere and service.”
  3. “The entire experience was great - from the good food, the friendly competent service, the relaxing atmosphere.”
  4. “The food was amazing, the staff great and the ambience was perfect.”
  5. “The place has a nice unassuming comfortable vibe and our waitress was pleasant and helpful but.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “Great soup, great desserts and great sandwiches.”
  2. “go there every weekend for my french toast with bourbon vanilla whipped cream and pecans, or delicious buttermilk pancakes with fresh fruit.”
  3. “their muffins and cakes they freshly bake are awesome.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “also had a refreshing morrocan ice tea (yum!)”
  2. “The coffee is good though.”
  3. “Good service, a good bottomless cup of coffee and the food was delish.”
food quality
91.89999580383301% positive
  1. “The sandwich was pretty tasty.”
  2. “My omlette was tasty and moist; my wife's baked egg meal was kind of dry and disappointing; my daugher's pancakes were pretty good (yes, I ate my share; the syrup was good quality maple, too).”
  3. “This place has perhaps the most incredible french toast I've ever inhaled.”
  4. “the french toast was delicious, pancakes as well.”
  5. “It was an interesting to contrast the difference between eating in and taking out- the food was fresher and nearer the correct temperature range with take out.”
  6. “At first glance the people are very welcoming and the food is good.”
  7. “Great soup, great desserts and great sandwiches.”
  8. “Okay food, slow service”
  9. “ordered a pressed egg sandwich one day and it was not only cool but runny on the inside - not a good combination and it didn't feel safe to eat.”
  10. “Their French toast is amazing, and I also love their baked egg dishes.”
  11. “Everything is extremely fresh and you can taste the freshness with each bite.”
  12. “We were tempted to get the french toast as we kept seeing big gooey syrupy plates go by but we opted for eggs instead.”
  13. “they also have lunch options with yummy salads and hot and cold sandwiches.”
  14. “The food was amazing, the staff great and the ambience was perfect.”
  15. “The muffins, eggs, ommlets, and orange juice are great too!”
  16. “Omelettes are soft and full of flavor, and the accompanying potatoes are fashioned with a crispy exterior and soft, starchy interior; cooked to perfection.”
  17. “The entire experience was great - from the good food, the friendly competent service, the relaxing atmosphere.”
  18. “You have to try the french toast with their fresh fruit toppings.”
  19. “Good service, a good bottomless cup of coffee and the food was delish.”
  20. “The eggs benedict with salmon does not disappoint, neither do many of the other dishes.”
  21. “What a perfect sunday breakfast, both food and service were impeccable.”
  22. “The brioche french toast is a favorite, as is the beet salad, and anything with the delicious Nueske bacon.”
  23. “Fresh clean food”
  24. “the food is EXCELLENT.”
  25. “The applewood smoked bacon is great (it's thick so ask for it extra crispy).”
  26. “If I were to pick a favorite, the lox bennedict over a potato pancake paired with a side salad is just amazing.”
  27. “tried to make due but after eating a third of it, the salad was just dry.”
  28. “The fresh, simple menu includes a baked egg sandwich with arugula, tomatoes, and aioli that I order on brioche and ADORE.”
  29. “ordered the beet salad which was wonderful.”
  30. “even the benedicts (salmon one is my fave).”
  31. “I've had the beet salad which was great (although I'd prefer goat to blue cheese), the breakfast sandwich is also super tasty.”
  32. “go there every weekend for my french toast with bourbon vanilla whipped cream and pecans, or delicious buttermilk pancakes with fresh fruit.”
  33. “Just great food and friendly service and good prices!”
  34. “thought the portion size was perfect: not the huge mounds of food you find elsewhere.”
  35. “My husband and I sat outside on the patio, started with a delicious soy latte with thick and creamy foam, fresh squeezed OJ.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “they also have lunch options with yummy salads and hot and cold sandwiches.”
  2. “The fresh, simple menu includes a baked egg sandwich with arugula, tomatoes, and aioli that I order on brioche and ADORE.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Probably the best breakfast place I've been to in L.A.”
  2. “this is a great new place.”
  3. “possibly the best breakfast place ever!”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “would definitely go back here because of the unique (possibly healthy) breakfast offerings and the nice, friendly, relaxed atmosphere and service.”
service
92.8600025177002% positive
  1. “was less happy with the friendly wait staff.”
  2. “the staff was friendly, helpful, and quick.”
  3. “would definitely go back here because of the unique (possibly healthy) breakfast offerings and the nice, friendly, relaxed atmosphere and service.”
  4. “The food was amazing, the staff great and the ambience was perfect.”
  5. “Just great food and friendly service and good prices!”
  6. “Okay food, slow service”
  7. “The place has a nice unassuming comfortable vibe and our waitress was pleasant and helpful but.”
  8. “and the service is great.”
  9. “What a perfect sunday breakfast, both food and service were impeccable.”
  10. “At first glance the people are very welcoming and the food is good.”
  11. “and wait staff were very friendly, which is so refreshing.”
  12. “The entire experience was great - from the good food, the friendly competent service, the relaxing atmosphere.”
  13. “The staff cannot be nicer: no attitude, helpful as can be, and extremely friendly without being too eager.”
  14. “Good service, a good bottomless cup of coffee and the food was delish.”
value
75.0% positive
  1. “Just great food and friendly service and good prices!”
  2. “thought the portion size was perfect: not the huge mounds of food you find elsewhere.”
wait time
75.0% positive
  1. “Working at one of the nearby hospitals, Square One has long been a favorite to order out from, for breakfast and lunch.”
  2. “love cafes that are great for lunch and keep on serving breakfast long after usual breakfast hours so I went in with high hopes.”
  3. “the staff was friendly, helpful, and quick.”
  4. “Okay food, slow service”
1 Star Rating: Poor

12/28/09

STOMACH VIRUS

by Altonglass

At first glance the people are very welcoming and the food is good. Priced fairly well. However after ordering breakfast with (garlic sausage which I don't recommend) MY WIFE, 2 KIDS and I got HORRIBLY SICK. Several hours later we all contracted a STOMACH VIRUS and when I called to inform them they quickly brushed me off and did not even have the consideration to at least find out what we ate so it could be checked on. That REALLY SCARES ME. Primarily because they just quickly swept my complaint under the rug and my only goal was to make sure no one else gets sick.

  • Pros: Interesting Menu
  • Cons: Toxic foods
3 Star Rating: Average

07/31/09

Good Food- Recommend Take Out

by suncia11

Working at one of the nearby hospitals, Square One has long been a favorite to order out from, for breakfast and lunch. The brioche french toast is a favorite, as is the beet salad, and anything with the delicious Nueske bacon. Today, with some time to spare, i brought an out of town visitor to lunch. In reading past reviews, I'm happy to say there is no longer a plague of flies. I was less happy with the friendly wait staff. We sat for 20+ minutes, finally flagging someone to ask if we could order. Another 25 minutes passed, watching food arrive at tables seated long after us, asked if where ours might be? When it arrived, it had clearly been ready long before the bus boy was tapped to bring it. It was an interesting to contrast the difference between eating in and taking out- the food was fresher and nearer the correct temperature range with take out. After bringing my check in the cute little bucket up myself, i left with the resolution to forgo the misery, and simply phone in future orders. For those of you who found the food less than stellar, try the take out option. Our staff seems to be happy, and I must say there was a significant difference to recommend it- on many levels.

  • Pros: Good breakfasts, delicious bacon, diverse menu
  • Cons: Nonexistent, but friendly service
3 Star Rating: Average

04/27/09

Awful pancakes

by swimologist

I consider a "good" breakfast restaurant one that gets the basic beginner fare right. Namely, French toast, pancakes, waffles. If you can't do that right, much less charge 9$ for 3 pancakes without toppings, you need help. The pancakes I had APR 25 were made from a cheap mix. I could have gotten better pancakes at IHop.

Try Marston's in Pasadena. Way better.

  • Pros: anything not sweet is probably okay
  • Cons: I know the pancakes sucked. God help us with the French Toas
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/03/09

Best French Toast Ever?

by spimeco

Everything on the menu is stellar. The [brioche] french toast will be in your dreams for weeks. My lady prefers the egg sandwich. Coffee/espresso is above average.

  • Pros: Pure deliciousness, good service
  • Cons: Zero
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/24/08

Stellar bacon, Cake-Of-The-Day, Homemade pickles .. always leave me wanting more.

by franimal

Having spent years in hipster dining in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I am delighted to see such a star in L.A. Everytime I visit L.A. this place is a must. Where do I begin? Cake-Of-The-Day - let's start there. Whoever is the pastry chef here has got their thing down, specifically variance, freshness, chocolate, and some actual spice on certain days (ie. cayenne, or the like).

Start with the home-made pickles, choose a bacon dish or just take the bacon as a side (bacon being from a local farm), consider the baked eggs - they are excellent. And finish with the Cake-Of-The-Day obviously - you will not find yourself disappointed.

The only thing missing are Bloody Marys. No matter - for breakfast, this place is pretty close to perfection on a budget.

  • Pros: Pickles, Dessert, Bacon
  • Cons: No Bloody Marys .. yet

The Details on Square One Dining

Place Categories:

  • friendly competent service
  • good food
  • friendly wait staff
  • best breakfast
  • favorite brioche french toast
  • great sandwiches
  • of dry baked egg meal
  • great new place
  • great muffins
  • great beet salad
  • moist omlette
  • nice relaxed atmosphere
  • great entire experience
  • helpful waitress
  • comfortable unassuming comfortable vibe
  • extremely fresh everything
  • yummy salad
  • great cafes
  • fresh simple menu
  • awful pancakes
  • great eggs
  • best fr
  • wonderful cafe
  • like buttermilk pancakes
  • delish good service

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