THE BASICS:

WHAT:  Winsome – Not your Grandpa’s diner.

WHO:  Med Abrous & Marc Rose- the team that brings you Spare Room at The Roosevelt (an EDDR FAV) and that have recently snagged up the mid-city Genghis Cohen (excited for this makeover in the works).

WHERE: Echo Park by Dodgers Stadium.

WHEN:  Dinner TBA (rumor has it soon), but for now 8AM-3PM daily.

THE DISH:

WHAT TO ORDER:  The Potato Rosti ($13-$15) with sunny-side up egg is becoming the quick signature dish.  It’s like eggs benedict, but with a potato cake instead of an English muffin and you can get it 3 different ways: veggie, smoked salmon or brisket corned beef and cabbage (obviously we went the red meat route- did you really expect anything else?).  And it was divine.  Our least favorite of the 3 dishes we ordered was the Creamy Polenta ($11) with Applewood smoked bacon, ricotta salada and (wait for it…) maple butter, but this is worth getting strictly for the thick cut, sweet bacon chucks and the most delicious butter that I would have drank from a mug if they would have served it to me.  Our favorite of the day was the Duck Egg Toast ($15) with the most flavorful nduja (spicy pork salame) and crispy reading raclette (raw cow’s milk cheese)… did you just learn 2 new words too?  Just order it and get on with your day.

WHAT TO SKIP:  The blood orange, beet and charred kumquat Aqua Fresca ($5), while stunning and transported me to a tropical beach for a moment, was way too sweet… like couldn’t even finish it sweet.  Stick to the Le Colombe coffee (*spoiler- the east coast fav is taking over the old Casbah Café space in Silverlake) they exclusively serve for now, until they have a liquor license because with some vodka or tequila, that Fresca might have been alright.  Yes you read correctly- sadly no booze just yet.

BUT I ONLY GOT TIME FOR A “QUICKIE”:  Sometimes that’s all you need.  And they got you covered with a walk-up espresso bar and pastry counter (brought to you by the pastry gal that headed Republique aka they know what they’re doing).

OTHER TREATS, NOT TRICKS:  Low on the beans; grab some La Colombe to brew at home ($16).  Headed to meet the parents or your girl afterwards; grab a bunch of the daily flowers on your way out to impress ($30).  There are other treats too for those suckers that can’t leave anywhere empty handed (I plead guilty).

THAT VIBE THOUGH:  Casual and modern, but with that old-school, cozy feeling.  Simply put, you just feel comfortable in here.  Although the space and tableware is simple, the food is anything but.  I’m sure there is some hipster Grandpa who only takes his latte with soy and grapefruit caramelized with chestnut honey that will become a regular to this contemporary “diner” approach.  Makes me wonder what my Papa would say if he could only understand half the things on the menu?  And they even got free papers to read over your morning cup of Joe like they did back in the day when a coffee was a nickel (now $3.50, wah wah).

WHERE TO SIT:  If alone or with one other mate the counter top is it.  If you have a big group the patio is it.  The space is pretty small, but you can only go right.

WHAT TO WEAR:  I don’t know if you know much about Echo Park and I’m still learning myself, but it appears to be hipster central.  So if you have overalls you bought but have yet to wear or are waiting to break in the those Birkenstocks, this is the ideal opp.  Looking around the scene the men had longer hair and fuller man-buns than the women- ughhh jealous over here.

WHO TO BRING:  Your friend that never leaves the Westside.  I know it’s hard to get “those people” to cross the 405, especially since it’s been beachy weather lately, but tempt them with this amazing new brunch spot and make an Eastside day out of it (DTLA, Silverlake or Los Feliz- sooo much to see and do).  I don’t see any type of person, all ages, not liking this place; unless their one of the Negative Nancy’s types, in which case drop em’ already- aren’t we too old to have people in our lives that bring nothing but positive vibes?

WHERE TO PARK:  Unlike most LA hoods, street sparking is relativity easy-breezy.

EDDR LIFE LESSON:  When you find your niche, stick with it but continue to grow.  The boys Med & Marc know their industry but instead of taking the same-type of venture, they stay in the field but switch it up.  Late night bar/bowling/DJ scene, old school NY style Chinese food/music venue and now hipster, neighborhood diner—now that’s some range to be applauded.

A² FINAL THOUGHT:  You Win(some) and you lose some.  And this place is on the winning track.  Hit it up before the rest of LA catches on, because they will, and you’ll be sorry you didn’t listen to your homies.

Waiting to go back with my other half (the other half of A² that is),

Alex

Winsome ↔ 1115 Sunset Blvd, LA, CA 90012 ↔ 213-415-1818