PlanJam!From your screen to the scene

Located along Swarthmore Ave, A La Tarte Bistro is a cozy French cafe in the Pacific Palisades. There are about a half dozen tables that spill onto the sidewalk and another half dozen inside. It gets somewhat stuffy inside the restaurant, especially on a warm day, so you’ll probably be more comfortable sitting outside. Great people watching, a little sun, and the cool ocean breeze…what more could you ask for?

The best time to visit A La Tarte Bistro is on the weekends…especially on Sunday during the Farmers’ Market from 8am to 1:30pm. It does get busy on Sunday because of the Farmers’ Market – so you may have to wait a little for a table outside (the tables inside are usually free). The service is always friendly and accommodating, but if they’re shorthanded or if it’s especially busy, they make take a little while.

The Food

Since I only visit A La Tarte Bistro for Breakfast, I can’t really comment on their Lunch menu; although I can probably speculate that it’s of similar quality. If you’re a fan of French Toast, you are in for a real treat. Their Pain Perdu is not what you’d normally expect from French Toast, since it’s baked rather than fried/grilled – but it’s as good as it gets. If you’re there on a Sunday, your order will also come with fresh fruit, homemade jam, and a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. The Brunch portion is huge and can probably accommodate two people (depending on how hungry you are).

If you’re not in the mood for French Toast, the Eggs Benedict is also fantastic; it’s served on their rustic French bread as opposed to the traditional English muffin.

The cost is reasonable and you’ll probably end up leaving around $40 with tax and tip for two people.

Note

You should note that they automatically add a 15% gratuity to your check…regardless of how many people are in your party. They do have sign posted inside which mentions that they will be adding gratuity in spirit of the customary European tradition. I always find this funny because in Europe, gratuity and taxes are included into the price of an individual menu item and not added in the end. Regardless, the service is great so you would’ve likely given it to them anyways.