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Located in Culver City, Breakaway Cafe offers delicious seasonal dishes by brothers and founders Nick and Zach Bayse. Drawing on Nick’s experience as a chef in Michelin-starred restaurants, Breakaway Cafe offers an elevated breakfast and brunch experience. There are hundreds of brunch places in Los Angeles whose main selling point is being Instagram-worthy. However, as cute as the place may be, the food may not always be up to par with the atmosphere.
What stood out to me about Breakaway Cafe was the presentation of the food and how fresh everything looked. Zach said: “By utilizing seasonal ingredients with global cooking techniques, we’re able to create a wide range of offerings and fun, unforgettable flavors.”
Photo credit: @BreakawayCafe
The cafe is located on Washington Blvd. This specific area of Culver City is dotted with cafes and businesses. The inside is very unpretentious and no-frills. As soon as I walked in, I was enticed by the delicious grilled sandwiches and luscious salads that came out of the kitchen. If you don’t want to stick to the regular menu, you can always pick one of their specials, like the grilled cheese sandwich they had while I was there. If I hadn’t been in the mood for something sweet, I’d most likely have ordered it!
Below are a few pictures of their specials. These are subject to change every day!
Photo credit: @BreakawayCafe
Photo credit: @BreakawayCafe
Prior to my visit, I had taken a cursory glance at their Instagram. They had so many delicious treats that it was hard to pick only one! Should I get the Brie N Jam croissant, the soup of the day, or the chicken noodle soup?
Zach said: “I’d recommend the Brie N Jam croissant for your first time. Our pastries come from Larder Bakery and we make our Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookies in-house. For savory, our Breakfast Burrito, which is the most popular item on the menu.”
Photo credit: @BreakawayCafe
While I was there, I briefly met Zach, who was popping in and out of a meeting. He was nice enough to answer some questions via email!
I heeded his recommendation and ordered the Brie N Jam croissant and the Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookie. When I got to the counter, I noticed the fresh produce and immediately wondered if I had made the right decision by not ordering something savory. Oh well, next time!
Once I got my number, I sat down inside. My stomach was really starting to rumble! But thankfully, not for too long.
The croissant was so fresh, buttery, and flaky! The smooth, buttery Brie cheese, the thick, slightly grainy texture of the strawberry jam, and the puffy croissant were heaven in my mouth. What stood out to me the most was the housemade jam. Unlike store-bought jams, which often contain tons of added sugar, Breakaway’s was lightly sweetened. I barely noticed the sugar because the flavor of the strawberries was so prominent. Look at how beautiful the jam looked oozing out of the croissant!
Note: You can customize the Brie N Jam croissant.
Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookie
This is definitely not your average chocolate chip cookie. It was perfectly crispy, slightly chewy, and filled with gooey chocolate chips, with thick flakes of salt sprinkled on top. I highly recommend it!
Overall, Breakaway Cafe really surprised me. As you can see from the pictures above, the portions are very generous. From the outside, Breakaway might seem like another cafe in Culver City, but inside, delicious food made with care by a seasoned chef awaits you. They even have hot chocolate and a wide array of coffee flavors, like maple lattes!
@breakawaycafela NEW DRINK ALERT🍊Introducing The California Dream (Housemade orange syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and milk of your choice over ice)
On why Zach and Nick chose the name Breakaway, Zach explained:
“Our mom actually came up with the name and we both loved it immediately. The name has many meanings but embodies the overall vibe – a place to come to and have a bite, some coffee and break away from your day.”
Lastly, I asked why every single dish that came out of the kitchen looked so delicious:
“No secrets, just strongly believe in making every plate of food that leaves the kitchen count!”
Address: 8686 Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232
Hours: Monday-Saturday 8am-3pm. Closed Sundays.
