EATZ cafe - Los Feliz Golf Course - late, late breakfast Sunday, Nov 13, 2010

We've eaten here many, many, many times....but, in recent years the ownership has changed so often that you never know what you're gonna get the next time you visit.  Our visit just before today, was a major turnoff, but, because we love the atmosphere and the view of a quaint and hidden 9-hole golf course so much we've continued to give it a try. The view and relaxing atmosphere was always the draw, never the food...I mean, the food was always mediocre coffee shop quality and it still is, but the recent ownership is doin' everything else that makes for a pleasurable brunch experience right.

successes:

•  friendly and accommodating waitstaff
•  yes we're nuts, fantastically flavored water (great for brewing hot tea)
• simple and relaxing environment inside and out
• indoor and outdoor seating
• consistent, although, unadventurous menu
• lots of coffee refills

failures:

•  brought English muffin well after rest of meal, and it was cold by the time it made it to our table
• admittedly few to report this time

Few failures to report this time and an overall positive dining experience.  Although not the most amazing food ever, we will keep giving this place a go.
Overall Rating:  * * *  / 5 *s

Due Campari Nuovo on the Food Network

Due Campari Nuovo on the Food Network

Sister: "This looks festive and yummy. Maybe I'll make a batch for the family."

THE MUSTARD SEED CAFE (Los Feliz)...Sunday brunch, around 11:30am - just the 3 of us

So, we've wandered by this place several times always impressed by the busyness.  Our trusty motto - "if it's crowded it must be good", unfortunately did not work in our favor this time.  When we arrived, although crowded, we scored a table right away - a cozy booth amongst a room of seating designed for parties of two and four at most.  We slipped in and were immediately given menus - within five minutes flat drink orders taken and served.  Argh, the first of many blunders - the tea bag, although loose leaf, was served in the (metal, no less) container of hot water!  Not only is it a pet peeve, but simply uncouth.  After mom could breath again, we made our order and waited - waited and waited.  40 minutes later our luke warm food arrived and the fun began....

successes                                                                  

• napkins and flatware stored on each table within reach right when you need it
• breakfast potatoes were crispy and well-seasoned and made with red potatoes
• pancakes were thick, fluffy and moist
• the bananas and strawberries served with the pancakes were sweet and ripe
• eggs benedict had the perfect amount of hollandaise sauce
• busser was energetic and helpful
• waiter was friendly, but inefficient and oblivious
• the restroom had a kid-friendly toilet seat
• the atmosphere was cozy, not too cold, not too warm on a cloudy day;  it was kid-friendly (but not to the extreme)
• outdoor and indoor seating

failures

• wobbly table led to spilling of tea pot
• nearly everything was served luke warm including our drinks (hot tea and coffee)
• eggs Benedict - english muffin wasn't toasted, thus became soggy
• omelette - the cheese inside wasn't melted
• the eggs were dry and overcooked; the vegetables were not cooked with eggs but added later
• only milk instead of real cream was served with the coffee
• syrup was not real maple and came in an annoying container which made it difficult to pour
• side of fruit was either unripe or old and overripe
• coffee - had been sitting, thus became sour
• waiter was absent for most of the meal
• took a long time to get anything (extra plates, more water, etc...)