Cool eats in Silver Lake and Eagle Rock
2930 Rowena Ave. (in Silver Lake)
Phone: 323-644-8111 | map
1958 Colorado Blvd. (in Eagle Rock) | map
Phone: 323-255-2200 | website

Rowena Avenue is at the top end of Silver Lake, before it spills over onto the 5 Freeway, and it's got a few eateries. The Coffee Table is the refuge of dog-owners, studious types and breakfast aficianados. The line is always at least seven people deep, but calm and quick to move. The interior is artsy, with local paintings and photographs and a few "no cell phones" placards. The tables are stained glass (probably from Furthur). There's a front patio (smoking and dogs okay) and a warm, wooden-floored back patio.

They'll get started on your drink before you get up to the front. Chai lattes they do well, hot mochas, and mocha macchiatos. There's free water from a metal dispenser, and paper menus to help explain what's available on the wall.

The pancakes or tofu scramble always taste really good when stolen from Bianca's plate; the Eggs from Hell (cheese, black beans, and what they call "hell sauce") have a nice kick to them, but I think I'll ask for something different than the sun-dried tomato tortilla next time. The chorizo and eggs come with black beans and a pile of chopped pico de gallo, and need only a few shakes of Cholula to complete them. For lunch, we always try out a place's turkey burger, and Coffee Table passes the test. Large, rich, comes with gourmet mustard.

There's also a location in Eagle Rock that opened up. It's got more of a Santa Cruz-esque casual family coffee shop feel, with loosely drawn Mexican-style murals of the local landscape. The outdoor seating is on the sidewalk, subject to the sun's rays. They have something I don't recall the Rowena location having: Croissant French Toast. It's as good as it sounds. Again, really tasty when stolen from Bianca's plate.

Other major differences are that 1) the Coffee Table in Eagle Rock has beer, ale and wine: Stella Artois, Guinness, Bass, Chimay Ale, and a few other microbrews; and 2) has a lounge downstairs with electric blue vinyl booths, a massive TV (they show movies on Mondays), a TouchTunes jukebox, and all those beers and ales on tap. Very much a hangout, and we plan to go get a Black & Tan soon. Parking can be found on the side streets or behind the Taco Spot.