Novel Cafe

03/15/08

Great Food, Inexpensive, Wonderful easy going college coffee house feel.

by ravendreamer at Citysearch

I really enjoy coming here. It reminds me of the Coffeehouse on Illinois State's campus back in a time when Starbucks didn't exist and you could spend all day tasting different foods, coffees, and listening to the world go by. I don't come here enough because I forget about it due to its location but coming across it today, I definitely will come more often! Don't change!

• Pros: Tasty food, fresh, nice coffee, fantastic atmosphere and inexpensive. Great breakfast!
• Cons: parking.

02/16/09

Whatever Happened To Curteous, Friendly, And Polite Customer Service?

by DavidGlen1010 at Citysearch

Sure, the Novel cafe is a quaint place to hang out, drink a coffee, and have some decent chow at a very reasonable price while you are working on your next blockbuster script or studying for an exam. That is why I have been a regular customer for at least a decade and spend several thousand dollars in the cafe each year on food, beverage, and tips.

So why does the short order cook "Martin" feel he has the right to continually be rude and insulting to myself and other customers. And, when asked about why he is rude reply, "I joke like that with everyone."

I have never had a problem with any of the other cooks or counter people. Most of them are very personable, friendly, polite and professional in their conduct. The Novel Cafe makes a great Mediteranean Plate, great chili, and great turkey quesadillas. It is generally a relaxing down to earth place to eat and study.

Unfortunately, it only takes a dozen or so insults from a short order cook to sour a long term customers taste for an establishment. I for one no longer feel comfortable ordering food when I see Martin is at the grill. If he is openly rude to a long time customer out front , what might he be doing in the back?

Hopefully preparing food properly, but I'm not taking a chance. Maybe he will get some retraining on polite and friendly customer service in the near future.

Besides that, I would recommend the Novel Cafe to anyone. The prices are very reasonable, the atmosphere relaxing, and the customer service is just fine most of the tiime!

10/22/08

Great Place to Get Some Work Done

by ItsNotDelivery at Citysearch

So I stumbled upon this place in Santa Monica off of Main Street. I wish it were in a better spot. Its not out of the way, its just that nobody can really see it from the road. But I guess that is to my advantage because if it was, it would be PACKED. There are books lining the walls. I go sometimes now just to pick up a random book and read for a few hours. There are tables both inside and out. Usually busy but never too crowded. They have great drinks, really anything you could want and a good selection of sweets and sandwiches/small meals. If you are looking for a spot to plug in your laptop, grab a cup of coffee and a slice of cake, and peacefully get some work done, this is it. I heard that there are book clubs held there as well.

• Pros: Wi-Fi, Books, Quiet, Plugs everywhere
• Cons: Parking

03/26/07

Nice atmosphere

by thelwani at Citysearch

Although we got lost getting here because we thought it was on the Pier in Santa Monica (go figure) I really liked the atmosphere. We studied upstairs to where it felt like a basement/attic. Parking is a hassle as it is anywhere in LA. Pretty big and cool coffehouse to study or hang out at.

Brooding bookstore and cafe for literary and liquid nourishment.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
This casual, coastal coffeehouse doubles as a used bookstore and village square, where local literary types come to type, talk, log on or read without being bothered by the trendy, Main Street masses. Secluded nooks in the upstairs lounge offer enough peace and quiet for writers to freely commune with their muses. Lunch fare includes the veggie sandwiches and turkey roll-ups. Sweets like pies, chocolate cake carrot cake are also available.

10/10/06

Great atmosphere, good food

by sreeroy at Citysearch

I held a book club meeting here on a weekday evening, and it was the perfect place. The food was yummy, and everyone (staff and the other patrons) was very courteous. The only weird thing is that it was really hot upstairs in the loft-area for a while, but it cooled down before we left. Need to know: they only take cash. There's an ATM in the cafe.

• Pros: atmosphere, food
• Cons: parking

07/15/06

Cafe Perfection

by mikedurand at Citysearch

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what I like so much about this place; the drinks are great, the food is tasty, the people are all Santa Monica eccentricity, but friendly. I think what pulls me back is just the overall character of the place - used books line shelves on both upper and lower levels, and on both sides of the wall that clearly used to divide the room into separate restuarants. The used book ethos is perfectly complemented by intriguing local art, the smells of local (Groundwork) coffees and freshly cooked omelettes and sandwiches, and the perfectly subdued but never dull chaotic din of people talking and ordering. Whether you're looking for a place to soak up the energy of other people studying for class or a good ambiance for a casual tête - à - tête, this is it.

07/13/06

great service, fun atmosphere

by santamonical at Citysearch

I LOVE this little cafe. It's just what I was looking for when I moved to Santa Monica! An ecclectic cozy little place near the beach, but off the main drag so that you don't get a ton of the tourist crowd.

The staff is friendly and I swear they must hire some of the most beautiful girls on the beach! Stop by and say hello to Lane, Jessica, and Angie.

You can snuggle into their cozy couches with a book from one of the shelves or challenge a friend to a game of chess at one of the sidwalk tables. It's a perfect cross section of Santa Monica culture.

You MUST check this place out...but make sure you don't have anywhere to be...it's hard to leave.

• Pros: atmosphere, service, food
• Cons: no parking lot

04/19/06

Great place to unwind and relax

by wlpaek at Citysearch

We stumbled upon this cafe on the last night of our vacation to Santa Monica. It was the end of the day so they ran out of practically everything my fiance wanted so they gave us their last glass of lemonade for free. Low key, quiet, great place to unwind and hang out.

01/12/06

Best Coffee Town

by gygy140 at Citysearch

The novel is one of the best coffee places in town. The service is the best, the staff is very friendly. I had the previlege to talk to the manager, and complimented him for what a great job his doing. The place is unique, with so many books and somewhat antique furniture it gives a feeling of relaxation, while drinking your coffee.

• Pros: friendly, good environment