Maxwell's Cafe: Hearty Food, Homey Atmosphere

This tiny café on the northeast corner of Washington Boulevard and Walgrove Avenue has been serving breakfast and lunch for more than 40 years.

When you enter Maxwell's Cafe, you feel as though you've been suddenly transported to a 1960s diner in Big Bear. Wood paneling covers just about every inch of the interior. Lacy curtains and vintage posters add to the homey atmosphere.

Maxwell’s serves breakfast all day, just my kind of place. I ordered the eggs bruschetta (which you can also get with tofu), with diced Roma tomatoes, fresh basil and garlic in olive oil and spooned over scrambled eggs (or made any way you want) on toast with a side of roasted potatoes or fresh fruit. I opted for the rosemary toast, but later regretted it and felt it had too strong of a taste. Ask  for the eggs to not be served on top of the toast, which soon becomes soggy. I enjoyed the garlic-tomato flavor of my eggs, though the potatoes could have been crispier.

My friend ordered an omelet with mushrooms, Swiss cheese and turkey sausage (vegetarian sausage is also available), along with the breakfast potatoes and sourdough toast. She thought the omelet was perfectly cooked and all the components worked well together, creating a delicious and filling breakfast. You can pick three ingredients from a list of several vegetables, meats and cheeses to make an omelet to your liking.

Huevos rancheros, eggs Benedict and stuffed French toast are some of the more popular breakfast items at Maxwell’s. Despite its name, the garbage omelet is also a big seller, with mushrooms, spinach, salsa and either ham or avocado.

Lunch items include a variety of salads, burgers and sandwiches, including melts and wraps. There are plenty of vegetarian options available. The portobello mushroom burger and the goat cheese and eggplant melt sound very enticing.

On the way out I was tempted by the chocolate chip banana muffins displayed on the counter and just had to try one. I was slighted disappointed as it was a bit dry. Next time I’ll skip it, but I plan on returning to Maxwell’s and sampling more of the myriad items on its menu.

Note: The owners also run several Novel Cafes throughout Los Angeles, hence the name Novel Cafe on their website. 

Maxwell’s Cafe, 13329 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066, 310-306-7829

Hours:  7 a.m.-3 p.m.