Alcove Cafe & Bakery

09/10/09

Gourmet breakfast, Casual setting

by bkbigfish

Been here for breakfast and late evening desserts/drinks. Great menu selection...priceyness reflects quality food. Nice ambiance. Good place to take an out of town guest.

• Pros: Distinctive menu. Breakfast. Desserts.
• Cons: Pricey

04/14/09

5 Star Ambience & Service, 3 1/2 star food

by dottingpromise

We've been here twice now. Love the little brick bungalow and the outdoor patio setting is fantastic. Both during our weekday lunch and Easter Sunday lunch, there was a long line but it moved quickly, the guys who were in charge of seating us did so very efficiently (why can't all restaurants use their method?), food arrived very quickly for the size of the crowd, and the service was phenomenal. Enjoyed the fresh air on the outdoor patio, little birds happily singing and hopping about... food presentation is awesome although the taste of the food could be better given the prices. Turkey burger was good, not great. Veggie burger was the low point - too moist and falling apart, grilled cheese with tomato was a winner with the kiddie, salmon breakfast platter was again good not great, fish & chips was beautifully presented but fish was a bit mushy, chicken & waffles - good but waffles were not cooked all the way through. What made up for it was the dessert - we sampled the raspberry cheesecake - not too sweet & quite yummy, the strawberry shortcake was light and just right, the lemon tart with berries was delicious. So all in all we will definitely be back but will stick with simpler stuff (sandwiches) & coffee & dessert. Glad we found this spot. We'll be regulars for sure.

• Pros: Desserts, service, ambience, outdoor patio
• Cons: Food could be better for the price, parking

03/29/09

Takes an hour+ to get your food. Served us a RAW burger

by jordysmith

I have never been to this place and not waited over an hour for my food. We waited for an hour and twenty minutes for a burger and a sandwich this weekend.

When the food finally came, the burger was severally undercooked, ALMOST RAW. And the manger refused to refund our money because the person I was with had eaten a third of it before she realized.

My sandwich came with the wrong side item and was smothered in cheese, when I specifically asked for no cheese (allergies).

This place is a train wreck. Don't go here unless you want to light two hours on fire and are cool to roll the dice on food borne illness.

• Pros: Too few. Not worth it.
• Cons: Bad, slow service. Served RAW burger. Wouldn't refund our $$

02/04/09

Overpriced, Bad Service

by sjp711

I won't lie to you, The Alcove makes some damn good salads. And it's pretty there, a very pleasant place to have lunch.

However, I don't understand the prices or the service. A chopped salad with chicken isn't worth $15 at a place where you wait in line to place your order and take a number (picture your high school cafeteria, only fancy and riddled with hipsters). And about that line...this place has too many people behind the counter and too little action. Nobody seems to be able to multi-task. Went in there recently for dessert. Ordered, paid for it with the cashier lady. The cashier does NOT get your dessert, that is out of her job description. She has overly bored underlings to do that for her. Yes, it's sitting right there in the case just inches from her hands, but fair enough. I'll wait. Then some guy comes in behind me, gets the attention of the aforementioned bored underlings and they give him the last piece of the cake (the one I already paid for ) -- no waiting. Nevermind that he came in AFTER ME. Nevermind that I ALREADY PAID and that my order is already on paper, waiting to be filled. Nevermind that no one bothered to tell me my order was NEVER COMING. Finally I inquired, "Uh, my cake?" "Oh, we sold out of that. Can I get you something else?" Yes, of course you sold out of it. I watched you SELL IT to the guy who came in AFTER ME. And I do want something else, but your total lack of regret or responsibility is infuriating. And this is the THIRD TIME (why do I bother) this has happened to me. Yes, it's just cake...but it's also service. And I was stupid enough to read the sign about how hard they work there, even on to-go orders, so "please tip" -- and I tipped in advance for that dessert they never gave me, b/c we all work hard, why not?! Fool.

I learned my lesson. If you must eat at the Alcove -- order it to go. Call ahead. And double check your order when you get it.

• Pros: Nice atmosphere.
• Cons: Overpriced. Bad counter service

11/23/08

can't go wrong with whatever you order

by ruberta

I so enjoy bringing new people to try this place as well as return with people I have brought. So much to choose from, eggs benedict the best, veggie burger superb,BLT superb, shrimp salad,as well as most salads, great. not to mention the desserts usually brought home because we're to full. Oh yeah, can't wait to bring another friend tomorrow. It's definately one of my fav's. worth the wait. great prices for what you get.

• Pros: not one bad thing on the menu
• Cons: crowded but worth the wait

08/06/08

Gross Baby Incident

by Visitor1980

My friends and I were visiting from London, and overall loved the food and atmosphere. But ahead of us in line, a woman was poorly managing a wriggling baby and kept allowing it to stand on the small counter space where food and drinks were ordered and then served. She finally just sat it in the small space between the registers while she perused the menu, where it scooted its diaper all over the counter and ran its bare feet and grubby hands up and down the stacks of cup lids and napkins, grabbing them with its toes and fingers. She was oblivious, but the staff didn't say a word (this went on for several minutes) and when she left did not clean the counter or replace the lids which had been vigorously rubbed by the child's feet. Thank God my food was packaged in the kitchen and handed to me in a bag, unlike the next person, whose cup was topped with one of the lids, and whose meal was slid across the counter and served with some of the napkins. Horrifying.

• Pros: Lovely setting, delicious food
• Cons: unclean counter

07/01/08

Romantic, cozy, blissful pastries

by doll83

Indulge in delectable treats of this bakery and have the perfect start into your weekend. I went there on a Saturday morning, it was a sunny day and we sat on the cozy patio. I ordered hot organic oatmeal with brown sugar, caramelized apples and raisins (milk came alongside) plus a spicy Chai-tea. My friend had pancakes with strawberries, banana slices and maple sirup. The staff was very friendly, attentive and filled up our coffee mugs on every occasion. I would highly recommend to go there for their delicious and lenghty breakfast menu.

• Pros: Food, service, kid and family friendly, good for romatic breakfast or brunch

06/17/08

good food and healthy too :)

by Zdenka111

I like this place because its in great neighborhood and I can eat well , good food healthy ,but also indulge in great deserts and go there after my yoga class @ Karuna ,or before meditation @ the White Lotus.

Or do some shopping in clohing stores near by.

• Pros: great location , great food
• Cons: don't come in hurry

05/28/08

I am in LOVE

by wam08

So I have become a little obsessed with alcove over the last year or so. I love bringing people here, especially who aren't from the area. It is such a cute atmosphere and great for a casual date, family or friends. The food is fresh and comforting and great for breakfast lunh and dinner. They have a good variety so i can always find something i want. and the desserts!!!! there is no way to describe, if you are too full to try then get one to go! And very importantly the customers aren't pretentious and the staff is very friendly and helpful unlike some other similar outdoor cafes in the LA area.

05/02/08

great food

by dthstar

it's just like urth cafe. you order and pay for it 1st (which i personally find annoying). perhaps this place has slower service than urth, but the food/desserts more than makes up for it. there's a cheese&meats store connected to the place so while you wait for your food to come out to your table (which takes forever), i recommend checking out samples of their cheese selection- the guy behind the counter is really friendly and helpful. their fig cakes are delicious too! anyway, the food at the alcove will not disappoint. it's good to sit out at the patio & watch occasional celebs hang out & dine. but again, the food is GREAT!

• Pros: GREAT food
• Cons: takes too long!