Prama Cafe

Katie Hill

Citysearch

In Short
The less formidable counterpart to heavyweight sister restaurant Republic, this breakfast and lunch café makes for a laidback spot to dine al fresco on healthy comfort food. Providing a pleasant outdoor dining experience, the simple wicker chairs and maple café tables line the sidewalk, some covered by canvas canopy, others shaded by the trees lining this leafy street. Strategically located on the corner of La Cienega and Melrose Place, patrons can hope to catch a glimpse of celebrity shoppers ducking out of neighboring Monique Lluhlier, Marni or Oscar de la Renta. The menu is comprised mainly of contemporary American favorites, with some subtle Asian influences in dishes like the Thai, a breakfast option with scrambled eggs, diced shrimp, Thai chilies and Krapao leaves in lettuce cups. Lunch is traditional, no-fuss food like a dressing-drenched smoked chicken Cobb salad and barbecue braised short ribs. Smoothies made with ingredients like fresh fruit, flax seeds, bee pollen, ginger ice cream and ginseng extract have clever names like "Blues Away" and "Love Jones."

Hits: Tasty, light menu with plenty of healthy options. Cheap eating that is difficult to find in a very upscale neighborhood. Service was friendly and made lots of recommendations.

Misses: There is only one single-stall bathroom, which could be potentially noisy during high-traffic hours.