Nickel Diner: Modernist Breakfasts in a Retro Setting
Dec 27, 2008 at 01:35 PM
New Downtown eatery offers outstanding breakfast menu at Denny's prices.
My wife Jennifer and I recently had Sunday breakfast at the Nickel Diner, now in its fourth month on Main Street opposite Bark Avenue's new doggie day care facility, between Fifth and Sixth Streets in Downtown. Open early for breakfast and also serving lunch, the offerings are really outstanding. The decor is from the forties, with old menus on the wall from soda fountains of the days of yore. For the price of a breakfast at Denny's classy chef Monica May serves up omlets or scrambles with fontina cheese, salmon, grilled zuccini, and many more unusual and welcome choices.
The portions are generous, exceptionally good, and a welcome departure from the stock provisions of IHOP and the other big chains. Breakfast gives you a choice of really good potatoes or polenta. The coffee, either American or espresso, rivals Starbucks, and for those who dare to indulge, pastry chef Sharlena Fong offers many temptations.
The retro theme and even the name of the restaurant were decided on after renovation of the storefront had begun. Taking off old wallboard revealed a painted menu on the wall from the days when hot dogs were 19 cents and beer 20 cents. The new owners decided to leave it up and use it as their centerpiece.
The rest of the place was beautifully restored in retro style to match the wall menu. Prices today are a bit higher but still definitely reasonable. Parking is $3 an hour at the street meters or $5 at the parking structure across the street.
The lunch menu includes a variety of salads, burgers, and sandwiches. They plan to open for dinner soon.
Here are some samples from their extensive selections:
Ham, leeks and fontina cheese 8.25
Bacon, spinach, roasted garlic and goat cheese 8.50
Italian sausage, roasted peppers with parmesean 9.00
Salmon, leeks, roasted tomatoes with sour cream 9.75
Grilled zucchini, spinach, leeks, roasted tomatoes 9.50
There is also a tofu scramble for vegans.
Nickel Diner
524 S. Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213 623-8301
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