Besha RodellAt 8 a.m. yesterday morning, the 99 Cents Only store on Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park got a shiny new neighbor: Dinette opened its doors — or more accurately, window — serving pastries, cookies and breakfast items.
The sleek, glassed-in space sits in stark contrast to its more worn-down neighbors, and the ultra-hip patrons sitting at low metal tables out front stand out among the bustle of families shopping at nearby stores. This is only a block away from Sage, the popular vegan restaurant that was one of the early businesses to begin changing this stretch of Sunset, but even so, Dinette seems very manicured and curated tucked into this block.
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Dinette; Credit: B. Rodell
The new cafe comes to us from Gareth Kantner, owner of Sunset Junction's Cafe Stella in Silver Lake, and eventually Dinette will serve sandwiches and some entrees. For now, however, the bakery items make up the bulk of the offerings, along with a few kitchen items displayed on a handwritten sign taped to the inside of the window. Yesterday, the four menu items included waffles and avocado toast.
But there's still plenty of fun to be had with those bakery items: meringues, pies, an assortment of cakes and tarts, and a delicious savory pie containing cheese, potato and bacon. I also tried a wickedly chocolatey cookie made with Mast Brothers chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt. Espresso drinks are a focus; right now there's no drip coffee available.
Dinette should be considered soft-open for the time being, and menu items and hours will expand in coming weeks. Right now, the hours are 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Dinette, 1606 W Sunset Blvd., Echo Park.
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