Weekend Lunch in the Fashion District: Tiara Cafe and Wood Spoon

I'd point out Wood Spoon's dedication to evening hours is very impressive. I hope they are succeeding at building their customer base. I'd only assume others would not have pressed on. They seem to be open in the evening all the time on a stretch of street which really closes down in the evening.

Definitely worth visiting. The staff is very neighborly.

Always good to hear about weekend hours. Love to know what the best weekend brunch places are in dt.

If you're looking for brunch on the weekends at one of the classic chains, Denny's or IHOP, you'll be surprised at how packed these places are with lines out the door. I prefer the Denny's near Union Station. The Original Panty is the same deal. Be prepared to wait.

Fortunately, there are other options.

1) Tiara Cafe has ascended to my number one spot. The French toast is divine and bodes well for all the breakfast classics.

2) Angeliques Cafe is another mainstay, althought I don't personally go anymore.

3) The Daily Grill has gotten into the act. I haven't tried it.

4) The cafe at The Standard is supposed to be good. But, I don't speak from experience.

5) These a very nice buffet on the roof of the Hilton Checkers hotel by the pool. Alas, it has been a few years since I've been there.

6) Clifton's is my fail-safe option. When all other locations fail, I head here.

I believe the Daily Grill's breakfast hours are inexplicably on weekdays only.

The Wolfgang Puck's on Hope advertised weekend hours when it first opened, but it didn't actually keep the hours it promised. Eventually they just stopped the pretense altogether.

In related news, I read somewhere that the highly regarded chef at Bistro K in Pasadena has left that position to open his own place downtown. I believe this will be a return of sorts, since he used to have a place here several years ago. I would love to learn more about the details of this...

Does anybody have any experience with the Saturday Night Social at Wood Spoon? If so can you elaborate? Definitely sounds like a cool idea where you can meet some people from the neighborhood.

Yes. The Wood Spoon is my favorite restraurant downtown. Natalia and her husband Darius are very gracious and the food is uniformly excellent.

I also recommend the Chicken Pot Pie and the Tilapia.

I completely second what Tim writes. Can't say enough good things about Wood Spoon and Darius and Natalia for that matter.

I understand that L'Angolo (or whatever the name is), the restaurant next door to the Spoon, is going to be offering dinner soon.

Support your local eateries!

I concur! Wood Spoon is a gem of place, doesn't hurt that it is the food of my peeps......

i vistied the wood spoon last week and was very impressed by the food and the service. the couple that runs the place - from these comments i'm assuming their names are natalia and darius - were very gracious and sweet as can be. don't miss this place.

David Kennedy wrote: "The Original Panty is the same deal." heh heh.

Seriously though, I can't wait to try the Wood Spoon, given all the good buzz it's getting. The wife and I will check it out tomorrow night before we watch "North by Northwest" at the Orpheum.

Other great downtown weekend breakfast/lunch spots:

La Serenata de Garibaldi on First St. in Boyle Heights. Go for the Huevos Rancheros Molcajete. Great coffee and food in a relaxed, pretty room. I get there early (10AM on Sat., maybe 11AM on Sunday). They know me by my regular order, and are as nice as can be. It's just across the bridge and up the hill, so you newbies downtown needn't be afraid. Valet parking in back through the alley. Also worth a try two doors down is the Home Girl Cafe (or something like that). It employees troubled girls in the kitchen and as staff.

Banquette. That fantastic fritatta, or the eggs and leeks baked into the ramekin. Also the blood orange juice. Not the fastest service, and not good for a large group, but it's a place to linger over coffee and the paper. Finish it all off with a cheese plate, or an order of avo on toast!

Angelique: it only took about seven years for Bruno to open on Sunday and serve breakfast after 11AM--and then he went and sold. Since the service has been worse than horrible. I haven't gone back after two terrible experiences. The food was still top notch though, but I just can't support them any more.

Pacific Dining Car: sure, it's pricey. But breakfast 24/7 is what I'm talking about. And you can keep the Pantry. I don't do lines.

Pete's: the food can be a mixed bag, but I do like the duck hash when it's on the menu.

The new Oaxacan place just past MacArthur Park across from the park Plaza hotel on 6th street is excellent. Take the subway to the park station, walk through the park and check out all the soccer games and families enjoying the day, then spend a couple hours exploring the amazing menu. Get the habanero salsa! Chicken Itza, 2501 W. 6th St. (213) 380-0051.

and of course let's not forget Phillipe's. Cheap breakfast, historic lunch.

And we're all in agreement that Wood Spoon is a must. First timers go for the Chicken Pot Pie.

And has anyone tried the new expanded Saturday breakfast at the Cakewalk place on 1st St. just over the bridge? I'm going soon.

K

After all the great posts we went to Wood Spoon last night. oops...of all nights we dropped in on the one evenings they were closed. No reason given just an 8x11 sheet of paper saying they were closed May 21 and 22 for dinner.

Maybe next time.

^ Well that's not cool! The only reason a restaurant should be closed without early notice is for a medical emergency.

Closing early happens sometimes at WoodSpoon. The reason, I guess, is that it's just the two of them working there. If Natalia can't be there to cook for some reason, the restaurant's not going to be open. i usually call ahead if I'm going for dinner.

And I thought I was the only person having problems with Angelique's service! to think I bothered giving them a second chance... Going to try Woodspoon today, can't wait!

I'm very saddened to hear all this bad news about Angeliques. It is as I feared when the place was sold last year. I'm glad I've never gone back since the sale.

Last night at Wood Spoon was a disaster. They clearly had not planned for the rush caused by the Last Remaining Seats event. The restaurant was packed, plus they were doing take-out orders. And, only three people were working.

Well they made lots of mistakes. They brought orders to the wrong tables. They forgot to take people's orders. Three couples walked out while I was there.

For what it's worth, the food was delicious. It wasn't want we ordered, but it tasted fantastic. The people were also very nice. But they were clearly in over their heads.

The owner should have known they'd have a rush that night. (They even took out an ad in the LA Conservancy's flyer!) They should seriously think about hiring one more person for table service.

It was "Angeliquue's new signature service" that led me to discover Tiara cafe's new weekend hours..........Thanks Angelique's!!! I think that Angelique's has offically knocked out Pete's cafe for worst weekend service.

Just ate at Pizza Next Door. Great pizza and they have evening and Saturday hours until 9pm. Good if you are between South Park and the Financial Dist.

I LOVE Wood Spoon! Chicken pot pie is amazing, and I believe they also do Saturday breakfast. Natalia's Pao de Queijo (Brazilian cheese bread) is great and the French toast was quite nice, almost like a bread pudding.

I'll have to agree that the dinner hours can be spotty - I've been disappointed twice, so now I call before going.

Went to Colori Kitchen with some friends before the "Last Remaining Seat" show at the Los Angeles Theater tonight. They were opened especially for tonight's showing and we had a great time. The food was good and prices were very affordable. Hope they can expand their evening hours beyond Fri. and Sat. nights.