It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Personally, I’d add “only if it includes good coffee.” Good coffee and a great place to enjoy it is like a little island of tranquility–a respite from the world. Living in LA there are plenty of options for third-wave coffee, but many are too pretentious to provide that refuge I crave.
Enter Paper or Plastik. Sandwiched between auto repair shops and a carpet store on Pico Boulevard, this cafe is hidden in plain sight — right in my own Mid-City neighborhood. Why, oh why did it take me so long to discover it?
One should not attend even the end of the world without a good breakfast.” – Robert A. Heinlein
We stopped in here for breakfast on the Monday before Christmas. The place has a hip, industrial feel with an airy loft and bright windows. The breakfast menu is not lengthy, but everything looked delicious. I could pick anything and be perfectly happy. My morning was looking up.
We both opted for the breakfast sandwich, which had organic eggs on a cheddar-chive biscuit with fig jam, arugula and applewood smoked bacon. I paired this with PoP’s Nicaragua San Jose pour over that was smooth and creamy, while Joan had a pot of herbal tea that she described as sublime.
Paper or Plastik has a “no laptop” policy on the weekends to encourage visiting over surfing. And even on weekdays, laptop users are relegated to the bar, the patio or the mezzanine. It’s a policy that I respect, even as I type this post from the back corner of the cafe.
My brunch experience here in one word: Wonderful. I’ve found my new favorite spot.
Paper or Plastik also has a lunch and dinner menu that looks equally special. I look forward to trying dinner here soon.
Paper or Plastik
5772 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
323-9359-0268
Open daily from 7am-10pm
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