I am quite embarrassed when I hear that a restaurant has been open since 1926 and I am not aware of it. That recently happened when I learned of Millie’s Cafe. The restaurant opened over 90 years ago in Silverlake and the owner just opened their second location in north Pasadena.
My breakfast buddy and I recently paid a visit to their original location. We appreciated the traffic-free experience during an early Sunday morning. Millie’s Cafe is located on Sunset Blvd on the border between East Hollywood and Silverlake. When we arrived, only a handful of tables remained empty.
Despite their wide real estate footprint, they don’t have much interior seating. Only a handful of tables exists in the main dining room and eight stools at the counter. Tables, chairs and shade umbrellas line the sidewalk. Regulars seek the counter, where they enjoy the performance by Chefs Garcia and Escobar.
Owner Robert Babish purchased the restaurant in 2000. The previous owner set the tone of the restaurant with the infamous slogan “Service With A Fuck You”. Some of the servers still wear a t-shirt with this slogan and as a new customer, we were surprised to see that verbiage. Babish said, “We always give you good service and good food, and that’s why we’re still in business.”
Some dishes have humorous names like Neptune’s Mess and Slutty Bun. My friend selected the Heavenly Hash. The crispy corned beef had a slightly smoky taste. Two eggs and a biscuit or toast accompanied the corned beef.
The Breakfast Croissant features a quarter-inch-thick grilled honey ham steak. Other ingredients included two fried eggs over-hard, lettuce, tomato, and melted cheddar. Using a croissant over an English muffin gave the sandwich a softer and slightly sweeter experience.
Machaca is a dish that I will usually order if I see it on the menu. Instead of shredded beef, Mille’s version includes large pieces of tender slow-roasted pork. Between a choice of black beans and rosemary red potatoes, I selected the beans. The kitchen also prepared this as a breakfast burrito.
At the next table, a mother dined with her teenage son. He was extremely slender and I did a double-take when I saw the enormous burrito arrive at the table. On top, the mountain of guacamole began slipping down the sides like an avalanche in slow motion. He nearly polished it off leaving only some of the tortilla.
People on a special diet can take a fair amount of time perusing the menu. “Vegetarian”, “vegan”, “organic”, “gluten-free” are sprinkled throughout the selections. Calorie-conscious diners will appreciate small orders like single pancakes, fresh fruit, cottage cheese, and sliced tomatoes.
Babish wants his customers to know that he cares about quality, “Millie’s Cafe remains committed to offering the best ingredients prepared by people who actually care. We use real butter to cook our fresh eggs. We use Altadena Dairy products because they don’t give their cows that hormone crap…”
My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and plan to make a return trip. The combination of sidewalk dining, delicious food made with quality ingredients makes for a winning combination.
Mille’s Cafe, 3524 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026
milliescafela.com
or their brand new location in Pasadena
1399 E Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104