Michele StuevenThere’s no shortage of great Eggs Benedict renditions and sweeping rooftop views for brunch in Los Angeles, but when it comes to presentation high in the sky, Castaway Burbank is tough to beat.
On a clear day, you can see from City Hall downtown to Sherman Oaks, but even more dramatic is the arrival of a Belle at your table. A smoke-filled glass dome is presented and slowly swirled up to reveal a glass of Grey Goose Strawberry and Lemongrass Vodka, clarified lemon, and elderflower liqueur resting in a bed of fresh flowers. The gentle smoke of applewood chips and jasmine essence is faint and delicate as it dissipates into the Verdugo Mountains.
A stiffer option to go with one of Castaway’s signature cheese and charcuterie platters is the El Mariachi – mezcal, triple sec and pink grapefruit juice infused with citrus, seasonal fruit, jalapeno and rosemary for 48 hours. It’s served in individual glass canteens filled with the infusion.
Belle and El Mariachi at Castaway Burbank (Michele Stueven
In addition to a wide selection of mimosas – dragon fruit watermelon, apple cider pumpkin spice, cucumber mint, and lavender activated charcoal lemonade – fresh squeezed and cold-pressed juices are also on the menu.
The glossy fried chicken and waffles are another showstopper and come with a half chicken covered in honey-roasted Sriracha glaze and smoked maple syrup on top of a Belgian waffle. The Benedict selection includes steak (your choice of filet mignon, New York strip or Wagyu hanger), crabcake, salmon and short rib. The French toast is a mound of cognac roasted golden apples and Nutella on top of thick-cut brioche with cinnamon-spiced maple syrup on the side.
For smaller appetites, there are crushed avocado, marinated tomato and parma tartines on grilled rustic country bread as well as a raw oyster bar and a seafood tower of east and west coast oysters, shrimp cocktail, snow crab, whole Maine lobster, Jonah crab claws, Peruvian scallops, salmon poke and wakame.
Reservations are strongly recommended.
Fried chicken and waffle (Michele Stueven)
Avocado tartine (Michele Stueven)
Castaway cheese and charcuterie (Michele Stueven)
Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.