By Erica Wayne

....Well, don’t that beat all!
....Colorado Boulevard east of Myrtle Avenue in sleepy little Monrovia seems to be turning into a mini Southern mecca. First it was Cajun Way (now Frank and Joe’s) with its New Orleans beignets, hush puppies, jambalaya and such; now it’s the Peach Café, which conjures up, at least to me and my spouse (a ramblin’ wreck from Georgia Tech), fond memories of Atlanta’s best.
....Now don’t expect grits, pigs’ feet or biscuits with red-eye gravy. Atlanta’s got a genteel overlay, and the Peach Café isn’t a dive. For those of you that know the city, it’d fit right into upscale Buckhead. The inviting, plant-filled front porch can seduce you into lazing for quite a spell on a balmy afternoon, the sleek Scandinavian-style beech and black tables inside are pretty comfortable, so you can linger over breakfast or lunch, both served all day long.
....It’s the breakfast menu that’s most intriguing, especially for an Atkins parolee. Buttermilk pancakes with a touch of orange and whole blueberries baked in ($5.25 for a full order/$3.50 for a half) are just the kind of treat I like to find on a bill of fare.
....Even better is a hickory maple waffle, stiffened with cornmeal, studded with smoky bacon and sweetened with syrup before baking ($6.50/$3.95).
....There’s French toast made from croissants soaked in a spiced egg batter ($5.95), and homemade granola (with coconut, yum!) served hot or cold ($3.95) or heaped into a parfait with fresh fruit and yogurt ($4.50).
....Eggs (three of them) come with a variety of sausages or slabs of salty country ham ($6.95), complete with toast and a choice of sides. The most unique is bourbon-and butter-laced sweet potatoes. There are onion rings as well.
....If these both sound a bit heavy for a pre-noon repast, the breakfast potatoes (with red onions, scallions and cream) may suit you better. Omelettes are do-it-yourself. And I love the cheese selection, which includes Jarlsberg, brie and blue.
....The lunch menu includes grilled panini made with LaBrea Bakery’s bread. The turkey, bacon and cheddar served with a dip of salsa ranch dressing ($7.95) is a treat. So is the open-faced country ham, brie and apple butter with whole-grain mustard ($7.95). The Peach Café uses pesto to liven up a couple of classics, like their BLTA, a grilled chicken club with bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado ($9.75, or lose the chicken for $8.50). The vegetarian wrap with avocado, cucumber, roasted peppers and a cream cheese-sun dried tomato spread ($6.75) is another of my favorites.
....Weekend brunch is especially festive at the café. There’s a concoction they call a Peach Café benedict, which takes the hickory maple waffle as its base, topped with country ham, eggs and a cheese sauce ($9.25).
....Crepes are filled with honey-sweetened ricotta and sliced strawberries ($7.25). And spinach quiche is fashioned with a layer of toasted pine nuts and golden raisins ($6.95). Chocoholics will like the Belgian waffle stuffed with chocolate ($6.50/$3.95).
....That indulgence is only available on weekends, but there’s plenty of chocolate to be found among the café’s everyday desserts. Chocolate sunshine cakes with ganache frosting, triple chocolate mousse tarts and red velvet cake ($4 each), chocolate raspberry bars or chocolate-dipped macaroons (3), chocolate-dipped biscotti ($1.50) and handmade Compartes chocolates ($2 to $2.50) should do for just about everybody who’s nuts about cocoa. But there are pear almond tarts, pineapple upside-down cakes (both $4), muffins, scones, citrus cheese-cakes and streusel coffee cakes as well.
....All of these go well with anything on their full-page drink menu. Peach café’s coffee, they inform us, is a custom creation of three blends: house, mild and decaf. All were developed through months of selection and evaluation with their roaster and are available exclusively at the café.
....I’m not sure any of this is relevant to me – my palate is only refined enough to know when coffee is too weak (almost always), and I don’t lay out $13 a pound for anybody’s blend, but a cup of Peach Café’s passes muster, and their cups are gigantic. I like it straight, but there are at least 16 variants with mocha, vanilla, espresso shots, etc.
....As I’ve said in my last three reviews, Monrovia is about as charming a place as any in southern California, with a small-town feel. It’s a welcome respite from the urban sprawl that’s oozing relentlessly outward from our more densely populated areas and turning every city into a clone of every other.
....In protest, I’ve made it a point to do almost all my pre-holiday shopping in Monrovia, where the stores aren’t quite as cookie-cut, parking is still free and there are welcoming places like Peach Café to refresh flagging midday spirits.

Pasadena Weekly 12/08/05

From Chowhound August 29, 2006

The Peach Cafe, Monrovia - Great find!!
Had a great meal at The Peach Café in Monrovia on Sunday. Had never been before and were walking by and decided to stop in. They have a menu which has breakfasts on one page, interesting paninis, wraps, sandwiches and salads on the other and a list of drinks on the back. Then they had “weekend specials” on a separate sheet and another 4 additional items on another. They use only the highest quality ingredients, specially blended coffee, and roast their own turkey breasts.

We sat for more than 20 minutes just deciding what we wanted to order! Mom ended up ordering the Summer Wrap which was on the specials list and consisted of chicken breast, Nueske smoked bacon, goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes all wrapped warm in a sun-dried tomato tortilla. I ordered the Monte Cristo which was also on the specials menu. They make theirs a little different than the regular MC – they have theirs on a croissant and they only batter the cut sides of the croissant (or at least this is wheat I came up with after noticing that it was not battered on the outside, but there was definitely batter there somewhere). Then they grill it a little, batter-side down and then add the turkey, ham and swiss cheese. Then it looked like they press it. You get a choice of a side - they offer breakfast potatoes (breakfast is served all day) with red onions, scallions and a touch of cream; Bourbon sweet potatoes cooked with sugar, butter and a pour of bourbon; Fresh Fruit Salad, Green Salad, French Fries or Onion Rings. We both opted for the salad – a nice blend of mixed greens, carrots, cucumbers, and scallions. I got the zesty salsa ranch dressing, but will probably opt for the vinaigrette next time.

The Monte Cristo was FANTASTIC! Not greasy at all. It came with a sprinkling of powdered sugar and a side of raspberry jam. So good! Mom’s wrap was just as good with the goat cheese all melty and warm.

Everyone was so sweet. The owner came over and welcomed us and we got into a discussion about their wines. She pointed out that they have two wines from Spain, so we ordered one of each (red Finca Antigua Tempranillo 2003 $7/glass and white Vina Sila Naia 2003 $8/glass). They were both very good. The red was dry and oaky and the white was somewhat sweet and perfect for this girl.

They bake their own pies and had a good selection – Nectarine (which I have not seen before), Peach, Apple, Blueberry, and something else that I could not tell what it was. They make their own ice cream. They do not make their bar cookies, lemon, layer, jam crumble, and am not sure if they make their brownies, either.

We ordered the Nectarine, Vanilla Ice Cream and a brownie. We were in sheer heaven!! The owner told me that they put as little sugar in the pies as possible so the fruit flavor shines. It was SO good.

We really had a nice time with great staff who kept checking in on us (not annoyingly so). They have been there for 17 months now. We will definitely be back – and soon!

Customer Reviews and quotes:

• "I AM UTTERLY SPEECHLESS. Peach Cafe has the MOST AWESOME blueberry pancakes I've EVER tasted!

I got a 1/2 order 'cause I usually can't finish a full order of pancakes. But today, I ate the whole thing. Two medium-sized pancakes prepared with fresh blueberries embedded within the pancake and dusted with powdered sugar and topped with fresh sliced strawberries. Absolutely the most perfect pancakes I've ever had in any dining establishment.

Peach Cafe's pancakes were surprisingly light. I was so amazed by how they were prepared that I asked to see the owner, who happened to be there. Besides paying her hefty compliments for my wonderful pancakes, I asked her what made these pancakes different. She said they make them completely from scratch, which is why they are not heavy. I later learned that most breakfast places use pre-made pancake mix to prepare their pancakes and waffles, which contain heavy ingredients. Ahhh...I see the light!

Peach Cafe is now #1 on my breakfast spot list. Besides breakfast all day, they also serve lunch and have an espresso bar and bakery. This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

• "Lets talk about food for a minute. If you are familiar with Monrovia, you know that there are a lot of very good restaurants. I have several that I enjoy but the Peach Cafe is by far my favorite. The quality of food is superior and I know that the owner, Nita, takes great pride in making sure everything is delicious. They also pride themselves in their great customer service, friendly staff and wonderful selection. Not by any means 'fast food', but it is a Cafe, with a laid back atmosphere and you can easily find me there twice a week...o.k. three times...ALRIGHT...probably more...but once you go you will know why."

• "The Blueberry Pancakes steal the show and I'm in love with their Belgium Waffles."

• "Came here for breakfast for a second time with my Hubby and we both couldn't stop raving about it all day. HUGE delicious breakfast with a classic twist. They've got Blueberry & Chocolate Chip Pancakes, Eggs Benedict, Waffles, Potatoes, Omelet's, Oatmeal, Granola and list goes on and on. Every item has a unique twist, like the Eggs Benedict are over waffles instead of English muffins. The Eggs Florentine are on top of two cornbread with an awesome cheese topping. Oh, there coffee is also terrific, they make there own blend and sell it. They also have a large selection of baked goods if you're a coffee and muffin type of person. The restaurant is also very small and intimate with outside seating. I can't wait to try the lunch & dinner menu."

• "We stumbled upon the peach cafe today. The food was delicious (the chocolate french toast was amazing!) and the people were so warm and friendly that I felt like I was in some small town somewhere in the midwest."

• "I love the Peach Cafe. I gone here with my mom and mother in law a few times. It's a very quaint place, the service is always attentive and the staff friendly. The prices may be more then you'd pay at ihop but the food is truely exceptional. Try the eggs benedict!"

• "One of my favorite breakfast spots (and they serve it all day) - Peach Cafe serves casual cafe fare with a twist, such as juicy blueberry pancakes with a hint of orange, croissant french toasts, HBAB sandwich (ham, brie, apple butter) and vegetable quesadilla made with tomato tortilla.

The portions are very generous, which is kind of a pity because I never have room to try the delicious-looking desserts on the pastry case.Great for picky eaters too, since there are a lot of build-your-own options and you can pick the sides (the sweet potatoes and onion rings being my fave.). Good coffee too."

• "My friend who lives in Ontario, CA told me about this place and insisted on taking me there when I visited her earlier this week. The place is VERY cute, and the server we had was cheery and talkative (we didn't mind!). Come here with an appetite because the dishes are heaping with rich, yummy stuff. I ordered the ham and cheese croissant sandwich with a side of onion rings. My friend ordered the tomato and cheese panini with seasoned fries. We shared everything and still had to get a takeout box. Onion rings were the best I've had in a long time - crispy, hot, and delectable when dipped in their ranch dressing. Didn't have room for dessert, but the case was filled with tantalizing baked goods. Also: Refreshing, tart lemonade, perfect on a scorching hot day. Definitely recommend this place-- go if you have a chance!"

• "I've been here several times now, usually to meet with co-workers or other related biz. I've never been real excited about pancakes, but I had on very good authority that thee best BlueBerry Pancakes EVER resided at Peach Cafe. That was the first thing I tried and, I have to say, nothing else on the menu has compared to those cakes since."

• "This place is awesome on food and service. The atmosphere is very homey and lovely. We tried the Texas Melt, Pesto Chicken Salad, with side orders of seasoned french fries, and Blueberry pancakes. Overall if your around the area, please try this place, it's great food and service."

• "Since it's the 4th of July weekend, I figured that the drive to Monrovia would be less painful to see if all the rave was true about Peach Cafe. It's true, Peach Cafe's blueberry pancakes are f'ing good."

• "Do it! This place is great. It gets pretty busy on the weekends but the wait is worth it. The menu hasn't change and it is a little pricey (about $10 for breakfast plate) but the quality is high. They have La Brea bread for their toast options and their fruit cups are super fresh....always good. When I feel like being lazy and not making brunch, I come here. Their desserts are very unique (Boston Cream Pie, Lemon Bars, Red Velvet, etc.) and look yummy but I never have room. Monrovia needed a "better" breakfast place and this does the trick!"

• "One of the best mom n pop places to go for delicious home-cooked Bfast and Brunch!! The servers are veryyy friendly and accommodating and try their best to make sure you're satisfied! Food takes a while to be served but that's because their business is so good! I highly recommend their Eggs Florentine and their Lattes. Also try their chocolate chip pancakes!"

• "I've visited the Peach Cafe 3 times now and have always gotten their maple belgian waffles, which I must say are addictive. It's a cozy cafe with great BREAKFAST, desserts and latte! It's in a quaint little old town, great to walk around after your meal. Try the red velvet cake too! The peach cafe is my peach pit! :)"

• "Prices are, on the whole, a little higher than what you can get elsewhere, but you get what you pay for - the food is unique, filling, and delicious. On a recent visit, I had the strangely named Open-face HBAB sandwich, with a mind-blowingly good country ham topped with brie cheese and apple butter.

The staff, particularly the owner, is attentive and warm. Breakfast or lunch, it's hard to go wrong here. Well, there is one downside: it does get crowded."

• "Home-brewed coffee is sipped from large mugs with gourmet pastries without pretension. Part coffeehouse, part gourmet breakfast nook, this quaint cafe's version of the venerable chocolate chip pancake is fluffy and filled with gooey cocoa bits in every bite. Wake up with the hickory maple waffle, a pleasing marriage of Belgium waffles with crisp bacon, or eggs made to taste. Breakfast and lunch are served all day with half portions available for most menu items."

• "We have been going to the Peach Cafe for about 3 months now. It didn't take long to become regulars. They have the rare combination of great food and the ability to make their customers feel welcome. It's a shame they only serve dinner on Friday evenings! A word of warning - their blueberry pancakes are adicting :-)"

• "It was worth the drive to sample breakfast favorites, each with a unique twist. The Peach Cafe Benedict comes on a Belgium waffle (with little bits of bacon in the batter). The blueberry pancakes have a hint of orange in the buttermilk batter. Don't miss the onion rings, the Bourbon sweet potatoes and the fruit smoothies. It has a relaxed, friendly ambience. I can't wait to go back and try the panini sandwiches!"

• "I agree it is worth the drive to have breakfast or lunch at the Peach Cafe. The chicken pesto panini sandwiches are fabulous. I also love the onion rings with the southwest mayo dipping sauce served with the panini. The Belgium waffles with bacon bits and maple syrup in the batter are crunchy and delicious. I love them as a dessert. The huge pancakes especially the blueberry pancakes are amazing."

• "We can just imagine that this fun little place was lifted right out of a charming Atlanta neighborhood and plunked down in Monrovia. Delicious breakfast and lunch dishes (try the Peach Cafe Benedict on the weekends!) and a good place to pop in for coffee and baked goods."

• "I took a friend there for a birthday lunch in December. We were both very impressed by the great food and friendly atmosphere. Even though it was a busy Saturday, the staff was warm, personable, and the food arrived quickly. She has taken three other people there since, and it's definitely very high on my "best breakfasts in LA" list."

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