Est. 1941


Los Angeles, CA • The Trails Cafe

Friday, September 20, 2013

Date: 07-28-13
Location: 2333 Fern Dell Dr.
Photography by: Luis Valdizon
Words by: Luis Valdizon & M. L. Morriss
Website: thetrailslosfeliz.com

We had just finished D-WHY's first tour and finally had a little spare time on our side to explore a few places in Los Angeles I've been scouting for us. On that list was The Trails Cafe, a quaint cafe and bistro in L.A.'s scenic Griffith Park. I discovered The Trails on The Selby, one of ours (and I hope everyone's) favorite websites. The blog's founder, Todd Selby, gave an exclusive look inside the cozy hillside kitchen and accompanied the images with an interview with the establishment's pastry chef, Jenny Park (read it here).

The Trails is just the right amount of charming. It awards you the very rare gratification that comes with finding out about and visiting an inviting, albeit distant neighborhood gem. It was quite bright and warm on the day of our visit--we drove to it with our windows down and and our oldies Pandora station turned loud. It was our first weekend back in L.A., so, needless to say, we slept in that day. When we arrived to the cafe around 3 p.m. for a late lunch, the sun sat resplendent and high in the heavens. With its setting politely inside the scenic Griffith Park, The Trails blends in seamlessly within its environment and adds to the list of perks the park has to offer. As we learned via The Selby, all of the baked goods are homemade daily--that's one of the traits we look for and appreciate when hunting out eateries to cover on TCC. I had my heart set on trying their clever take on Eggs in a Basket, but they were sold out by the time we got there. My disappointment, however, was short-lived as I noticed the presence of Stumptown Coffee on their menu and all of the other appetizing items they have to offer. I tried their popular avocado sandwich first. The medley of cheese, sprouts, avocado and vegan "bacon" bits was a treat. Next was their apple pie. It was the type of pie loving grandmother's tip their hats too and that you'd ask for as your last meal. After eating, I became intrigued by the Ouija board table I spotted and grabbed the photo of it you see above--it was the first time I had seen anything like it.

All in all, The Trails is something special. The staff was friendly and kind about answering our questions about the menu and the food was fresh, fulfilling and high-quality. The next time you're in the L.A. area, plan a lunch trip to Griffith Park and tell them TCC sent you. After eating, walk off your full stomach with a hike up the namesake trails to check out the popular Griffith Observatory, where you'll catch a breathtaking view of the City of Angels and find some of the finest space and science-related displays around.

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