Literati Cafe

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12081 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025-1201
Los Angeles, CA 90025

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(310) 231-7484
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Literati Cafe - Los Angeles, CA
Literati Cafe - Los Angeles, CA
Reviews
( 39 )
( 19 )
( 12 )
( 6 )
( 10 )

Best

Once you walk in Literati it feels like you are anywhere but on wilshire. There is such a cozy atmosphere, and great bookish feel to the whole place that you can't resist staying ...

Worst

I really thought the first time I went to the Literati that the BLT was one of the best I'd had. It was a WEEKDAY in the mid day and they weren't slammed. The next time we patro...

Poor Service 6/28/2010

How disappointing. My husband and I went here on different occasions, thinking that our first poor experience was a fluke. With its literary theme, hand-written menu, and claim to organic and non-gluten fare, we were really looking forward to an enjoyable experience. But as they say, don't read a book by its cover. The problem is their inability to get the order right. On our first visit, they completely forgot about my breakfast (which was a plate of fruit), and my husband had to go up and remind them. On the second visit, they got my husband's order wrong and did not correct it. The servers were friendly enough, just incompetent. Their coffee is average, and they don't offer non-gluten bread, for those on a restricted diet. Our recommendation: go down the block to Lazy Daisy Cafe for excellent service and delicious, generous portions. more
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Unprofessional Service! 5/9/2010

The matre d was unprofessional and rude. It got so terrible that we actually had to leave the restaurant because of the crap service. If you are not the type who value professional service and being treated with respect. This place might work for you. Otherwise I highly recommend to avoid this. ESPECIALLY if you are bringing your loved one! Pros: Nice interior Cons: Rude Service more
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Dont GO 7/15/2009

3 THINGS HORRIBLE FOOD, WORST SERVICE, BAD MANAGEMENT.. DON'T EVEN BOTHER TO GO... Pros: nothing Cons: all of it more
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Simple but well executed menu, great food,... 9/15/2008

by Arj at Menuism Provided by Menuism
Simple but well executed menu, great food, great service... reasonable corkage... more
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Great place to hole up 7/22/2008

Once you walk in Literati it feels like you are anywhere but on wilshire. There is such a cozy atmosphere, and great bookish feel to the whole place that you can't resist staying for a while. Their sandwiches and tea are definitely where it's at. I would definitely recommend it as a place to study, or grab lunch, or both. The staff is always friendly and the food is generally pretty cost effective too. I really can't say anything bad about this place. If you're looking for a quiet place to study/get lunch. This is it. more
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Next best thing to Urth 6/5/2008

When I?m not near an Urth, my next choice is Literati. I love how books have been cemented in like bricks on the wall. Their salads and sandwiches are always fresh, and the desserts are so rich and tasty. They also have a good breakfast menu. There?s also a patio outback for those who don?t want to dine inside. Ironically though, can?t say I?ve tried the coffee. more
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Inspired 3/23/2008

Chris is hands down my favorite chef in Los Angeles. His food is consistently delicious, arranged beautifully, and one is at once aware of the connection between farmer and chef combining for true artistry. If Alice Waters had a son, he may have turned out a bit like Chris. Tonights meal consisted of an asparagus soup, gravlax over pumpernickle with beets, gem lettuce salad, wild caught king salmon, Liberty Farms duck, lamb t-bone, and each dish was absolutely inspired. If this restaurant had a better wine list it would be one of the cities elite. The question I have is, how is this room not packed?!? Pros: FOOD FOOD FOOD FOOD Cons: Wine list more
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great food, WORST take-out service that has ever existed 7/27/2007

I love the food and drinks at Literati, and I live close by so I always order take-out from them. EVERY SINGLE TIME I have ordered it, though, they have messed up my order. Pros: good menu, lots of choices, nice cafe ambience Cons: horrible service, sometimes run out of things more
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There's Two Sides to Every Story 6/13/2007

When I read the reviews, I had to check it out. There are two restaurants on the corner. One is the orginal cafe which is a self serve, lower priced, organic restaurant. I went in and was so glad to see the European feeling. Pictures of writers. A fireplace. Casual. Friendly people at the counter and my chicken pesto and mint lemonade were the best! I even tried their green tea frozen yogurt. Outstanding. I was so impresssed, I tried the other side which is a white linen full service place. I took my friend for her birthday. We loved the parsnip chips and the cobb salad was fresh and delicious. We even had some great Hitching Post wine. When it came time to bring the cake, they'd written Happy Birthday in chocolate on the plate. What a terrific place. So there are two sides and each offers something different. I will definitely be back now that I know the difference. Thanks to the creators. Pros: Original, hip, green, independent, 2 choices Cons: Crowded parking lot, need to street park more
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cozy study spot 4/23/2007

This cafe is one of my Westwood favorite study spots (when its not too crowded). It has a very quaint environment with portraits of literary figures on the wall- a nice little nook for bookworms. I can't say much for their food, because all I ever get there is their coffee and their petite cheesecakes (which are quite delicious). After you get your order, the employees pretty much leave you alone, so it's nice if you want to be in a state of solitude. It's kind of a pain to find parking during the busier hours, so I only come here when I'm feeling more motivated. Pros: quiet, ambience, desserts Cons: parking, crowded at times more
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Indifferant quality,high prices, cafeteria service. 4/13/2007

Overpriced, unimaginative, and mediocre. Apparently this place is the budget sibling of the upscale Literati 2, adjacent. Dust to dust, ashes to ashes stale bread, salted butter in tiny packets, no stand-alone entrees or specialties, except sugared turkey meatloaf; the rest sandwiches to conceal the nondescript office building snack bar poor quality of what lies within. From the (valet) parking lot, gate takes one into the(upscale) Literati 2. If you head there by inadvertance, and are, say, meeting friends at Literati Cafe, you are compelled to walk a serpentine and ;unnecessary gauntlet to get to there. If a ""fish rots from the head down,"" a corallary might also be true; if Literati Cafe stands as any foundation to its (even) more expensive sibling, Literati 2, that's a bad bet. I guess that anything can pass for ""health food"" and tasty convenience in (still provincial) LA. NOT RECOMMENDED. more
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Best salmon i've ever had 3/12/2007

On our way to the Wadsworth Theater, we stopped at the Literati 2 for dinner without reservations. We only had to wait 15 minutes and was escorted to the best table in the house. The hostess, servers and even the bus boys treated us like we were celebrities. I've read several of the ""bad service"" reviews below, and don;t understand. Everyone was smiling, laughing and commenting on the great experience they were having. The only complaint i could see would be the noise level.. It gets pretty loud in there, but I find that refreshing and alive. The table next to us was having an anniversary so we bought them a dessert, and when we left, we were told that they asked to pay for a round of our drinks. Complete strangers did this. I believe it's because of the quality mood and tone set within the walls of Literati 2. Thanks. Pros: food...service...value more
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Monday Nights are the Best 3/11/2007

I agree with ""EDYCKERSEN"". I have been going to ""Monday Night Madness"" for the past three Mondays in a row. I know chef Chris Kidder, and the guy knows how to grill a burger. I always have the classic beef and the gruyere cheese with a fried egg on top, and of course...those french fries!! I love the place, I love the staff and I LOVE THE BURGERS!! Pros: Burgers ar the best Cons: Great selcetion of bottled beer, but no tap. more
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The Patio is the Place to be! 3/11/2007

A new garden getaway has arrived in Brentwood. Literati 2 has been one of my favorites for a power lunch for the past two years. Recently they added an outstanding new awning and lush tropical foliage to the patio to create an entirely different eating experience for lunch and dinner. Palms, ferns and flowers all brighten your mood and the fountain takes care of covering the sounds of the street outside. Nice Job, folks! I'll continue to be a regular, but I've found a new home on the patio! Pros: new patio more
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Bland Food and Disorganized and Impersonal Service 3/5/2007

I went to Literati for lunch with a client one afternoon and ended up disappointed in the bland tasting food, and lack of attention from the staff to basic requests. We both ordered chicken salads. I requested the dressing on the side, but the salad came out doused in dressing. We also ordered two waters and had to wait over 15 minutes after our food arrived to receive them - this was after we flagged down two different servers to make the request. The bread that came before the salad was chewy and cold and the salads themselves were sparse. There were probably about 4 little slices of chicken on each one. The atmosphere of the restaurant is cozy, but when it is crowded, it becomes loud and difficult to hear the person across from you. There are many great places just down the street that are a better value and full of more flavor and creativity - even Cabo Cantina has salads that far eclipse those at Literati. Pros: Interesting interior decoration, location Cons: Bland, forgettable food, small portions, poor service more
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no ketchup needed! 3/5/2007

i've been to literati 2 many times and always get the salad with chicken for lunch or the cioppino for dinner. i like to eat light and they always have just the right items for my diet requirements. one night last week , i decided to be bad and ordered he hamburger. yes, the wood-grilled burger was thick and juicy and outstanding, but what struck me even more was the french fries. they are perfectly crisp, thin, and a little chewy. the cooks sprinkle a little parsley on them to make them ""gourmet"", but the flavor works in concert with the potatoes. it's not just for show. dare i say these are the best fries in los angeles, and with the burger may be my new favorite. no ketchup needed!! Pros: organic menu, great ood Cons: busy weekend nights, servers are distractingly beautiful. more
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New Patio is the best around west la 3/4/2007

i think i reviewed literati 2 about a year ago and said how great it was, but that their patio seemed a little cold and sparse. well, they heard my calls and built a beautiful awning and filled the patio up with vegetation to make it look like a tropical wonderland. palms, ferns, succulents and flowers everywhere. they installed heaters overhead and a great fountain to drown out some of the urban noise outside. as usual, the food is great and service conitunes as i originally reviewed it. the staff hasn;t changed much at all in a year, and still smiling and happy to see you. it looks like melinda made manager, so i miss her being my server, but she still greets us and comes to the table to say hi and give us some cute little quip or story. this could be the best restaurant in LA. Pros: new patio is wonderful Cons: some people would complain about the noise inside, but i like the energy it creates. more
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Literati 2 satisfies the family on Monday nights 3/4/2007

I've always stayed loyal to literati2 for its menu, service and wonderful. intriguing decor and ambience. now they'v made it even better by adding, ""as you like it"" hamburger night. when i got the email notice, i immediately ran in the next monday, and what a treat!!. the chef offered around 7 different proteins (beef, turkey, veggie, pork, meatball, sturgeon, venison) and then you choose from around 6 cheeses, and then 15 gourmet toppings. i've been there three mondays in a row and it's alwas different and always outstanding. Pros: food is an incredible value for its quality and organic nature Cons: weekend nights are superbusy, so go earier in the week. more
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Bottom line -- go elsewhere, this place is overpriced, bland and not worth your time. 2/4/2007

We went to Literati Cafe for lunch based on the primarily good reviews it obtained here on Citysearch. Although their menu listed approximately 10 different soups, only 3 were available. Then, when they brought out our food, we only received one napkin and one set of silverware despite the fact that there were two of us and we each ordered our own meal. To make matters worse, they only got one of our orders correct. By the time the meal was replaced, the one they had gotten correct was cold. As for the meals themselves, they were bland and unseasoned. There are many other places to eat in this area that are much better for the money. The shocker of it all -- despite the fact that the food was incredibly bland, it still managed to give us indigestion for the rest of the day, bringing into question the quality of their ingredients. Bottom line -- go elsewhere, this place is overpriced, bland and not worth your time. more
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Too much noise to enjoy the great food and forgive the iffy service. 1/28/2007

The noise level is intolerable. We had to shout our order to the waiter. The job title brings a new meaning to ""waiting"". The polished tile ceiling and glass wall divider separating the patio create a chamber of reverberating horrors that make casual conversation impossible, We were a party of four and could not converse. When we exited, we asked the hostess if they had consulted an acoustic pro to correct the problem. Even though our waiter had cheerfully given us ""comment cards"" to report our complaints, our plea to the hostess fell on deaf ears. She suggested that when we came next time we should sit in an adjoining room. We repeated our question on when the noise issue would be solved THREE times and she refused to reply. We bid her a sad farewell. We will not return- the chef is great.-the service is iffy and the noise is unforgiveable. What a shame. Pros: great food Cons: lousy mood more
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Menu for Literati Cafe


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    High ceilings and exposed brick walls plastered with black-and-white photos of literary heroes lend this coffeehouse an airy, industrial look. Lunch draws a chatty business...

  • 8/14/2003 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: M-F 7am-11pm, Sat/Sun 8am-11pm
  • Payments: American Express, Master Card, Discover, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: West Los Angeles, West LA
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