Literati Cafe

I hate the word "literati". The sound of it brings to mind black turtlenecks, chiseled cheekbones, and people sitting around at too-small cafe tables smoking cigarettes and using long words. As much as I cringe when I hear "literati", I love Literati Cafe in Brentwood. At this unpretentious, bright eatery, one orders at the counter, gets a number, and picks a table. There are free photocopies of crosswords with little pencils or newspapers to purchase . Breakfast at Literati Cafe is great, with a strong cup of coffee, a number of egg dishes that come with mixed greens or a Caesar salad, and an assortment of interesting, only-in-Los-Angeles characters that walk by. I remember the woman with a cropped top showing off toned abs, who was chowing down on, of all things, a cheesy breakfast quesadilla. There was also the guy wearing shoes with toe pockets for each of his toes--wiggling each enclosed toe. There are men with bluetooth devices seemingly glued to their ears who talk to the air and women with brightly dyed hair and all-black outfits.

But back to the food. Most of the dishes I have tasted featured fresh produce, were appropriately seasoned, and were relatively easy on the stomach (not too greasy). The only dishes I had that were less than ideal were the hash browns, which were crispy on the outside but barely cooked on the inside, and the Caesar salad dressing, which was not as zesty as I had hoped. But these are small complaints. Overall, Literati Cafe is a pleasant place for an easygoing brunch.