Novel Cafe

10/22/08

Great Place To Study or Have Lunch

by ItsNotDelivery at Citysearch

So I went to the Novel Cafe on Gayley a few days ago for a early dinner/study session. I was very surprised by the FREE INTERNET and friendly atmosphere. I sat outside on the patio for about an hour and then moved inside. The waitstaff was extremely helpful but at the same time understood that I was studying and gave me some privacy. I ordered a burger which was very tasty, really juicy. I highly recommend the Novel in Westwood. There were people there just for dinner so I guess its not just a study place but a real cafe.

• Pros: Food, Study area, FREE INTERNET
• Cons: A few dollars too expensive

08/02/08

awesome meal, every single time!

by bfyte at Citysearch

its a bit expensive for me as a student but its so good and you get what you pay for, which is GREAT FOOD!!!

• Pros: great food, and i never feel awkward
• Cons: parking in westwood is always a challenge

06/27/08

Yummy, healthy food!! Friendly staff! Cute atmosphere.

by surreal28 at Citysearch

I've been coming here for the past 6 years, and the food is always delicious. It's a great place to read, write, or study - outdoor patio, very cute and comfortable indoor space with bigger tables upstairs. The food is fantastic! My favorites are the Novel Rancheros, Vegetarian Sandwich, and Tuna Melt Quesadilla, which comes with one of the best spicy guacamoles that I've ever had. The portions are generous too. Unless I'm super hungry, I usually have leftovers to go. This is one of my favorite places in Westwood, and the owner is super nice. They serve breakfast all day too.

05/28/08

Great chow, mellow, student/ intelligentsia ambience. Love this place!

by drbon at Citysearch

I'm lived in the Bay Area and Cambridge Mass, and am right at home in this spot. It's so wonderfully non- Hollywood, and with the delicious organic food and great coffees (and fabulous hot chocolate) ,is a place one can really read, study, or have an intelligent conversation.. In its category, which is casual, healthy organic food, this place is perfect. I've written here, met with students, and grabbed lunches and dinnersMy two favorite dishes are: The Chicken, Apple And Walnut Salad with caramelized walnuts, apples, red onions, homemade croutons, sliced chicken, goat cheese, and sweet mango dressing and the .Lean Plate with scrambled egg whites, sliced organic tomatoes, steamed spinach or broccoli and a grilled chicken breast, (or your choice of rosemary turkey patty, or jumbo beef patty.)

I always feel it's a bit of a haven, with friendly wait staff, (though busy) and good light and free internet! . The outdoor seating is excellent with a view of lots of Westwood action. and the food offers good choices for the hearty appetite, the vegetarian, the dieter, the comfort food craver - in short, something for most people. And the desserts are yummy. Free internet. What's not to like?

• Pros: coffee, free internet, healthy comfort food, outdoor seating plus cozy indoors, great for study and quiet conversation
• Cons: busy at prime time, great for study and quiet conversation, not for big, social groups

11/05/07

Good place to study

by ali86 at Citysearch

Novel cafe is a good, laid-back place to catch up on reading or studying. Wireless is free, and there are lots of tables and nooks to camp out at. Food is a little expensive, but all organic and pretty good. Overall, a good place to chill.

10/27/07

BLEH

by archicalgal at Citysearch

Ive eaten here a couple of times. I only went back because I thought they had maybe made a mistake with my order the first time. Basically, they are charging 5 times as much for the food you can get at the place across the street (which in my opinion tastes better). The service was awful, the food was awful. They try to lure you in with the whole 'organic' menu... dont fall for it - its not worth it. The only upside to this restaurant: lots of outdoor seating.

• Pros: plenty of outdoor space
• Cons: everything else

Branch of popular Santa Monica bookstore and cafe offers literary and liquid nourishment.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
This casual, Westwood coffeehouse doubles as a used bookstore, where local college types come to type, talk, log on or read without being bothered. Secluded nooks offer enough peace and quiet for writers to freely commune with their muses, outdoor patio features prime people-watching. Menu includes veggie sandwiches, omelettes and turkey roll-ups. Sweets like tiramisu and carrot cake accompany their large array of organic hot and cold coffee drinks.

07/14/07

An appetizing menu

by thelwani at Citysearch

I'm actually writing my review while I'm here. A few people as it is sat. morning. Nice and quiet-I really like the music. A mellow atmosphere I really like the upstairs. More of a cafe than a coffee shop though. Very friendly service signs posted all around telling you what you can and can't do but they seem very "cool" about everything especially when it's not crowded.

• Pros: Free wireless, wide menu, friendly
• Cons: PARKING!

07/05/07

Cafe that isn't Starbucks or Coffee Bean!

by stastheboss at Citysearch

Like the other reviewers have said, this place is a great, quiet place to study, especially when your house or apartment is too distracting to concentrate, which, as any college student would tell you, is most of the time. Novel is the kind of coffee shop you would find in San francisco or seattle... the coffee isn't starbucks and doesn't need to be flavored with sugar to taste any good. They serve breakfast and lunch, both meals offer delicious options... the pancakes for breakfast are huge and melt in your mouth! They have all organic foods too, as well as offer egg whites for your omlette, which is always a plus for me. THis is the type of place where the owner remembers your face if you go there a lot... and he is always nice about letting studiers stay there for hours, even if they don't order much. All in all, it is one of the most quality places in westwood, especially because it is one of the only non-chain restaurants there.

• Pros: coffee, lighting, windows, clean, spacious

06/17/07

Good place to catch up with an old friend or read

by h2o86 at Citysearch

Wide variety of delicious and healthy food. The service is a little lacking - one server messed up my order and then acted a little put upon when I asked her (very nicely) to bring me what I ordered instead. The food and the ambiance make up for it though - I could spend hours sipping my coffee chatting with a good friend, studying or perusing through their many books.