Life at Occidental can be tough when you don’t have wheels, especially when you’ve had it with cafeterias and silver roadside trucks. Fret not, ride-moochers—hope can be found at Auntie Em’s, the heavenly healthy market-fresh diner on Eagle Rock Boulevard, mere blocks from campus.
The brick-red exterior and cozy striped awnings lure you in, but it’s the cupcakes and their mountain of icing that keep you there. The day’s bakery creations are displayed near the entrance and the menu is written up on green chalkboards. The kitchen is open for everyone to see and pastry chefs ice cupcakes at nearby tables, covered with floral, vinyl tablecloths. Local art is displayed on the mandarin orange, butter yellow, and lime green walls and syrup served in glass Coke bottles adds to the quaint, kitschy atmosphere.
I sampled the daily specials of clam chowder and broccoli red pepper quiche with Gruyere cheese, and tasted a vegetarian sandwich with sprouts, avocado, cucumber, Gruyere, and tomato. All dishes are made with ingredients bought at local farmers’ markets, and the sandwich was served with a pickle that actually tasted like it was once a cucumber! It was steeped in vinegar with bay leaves and onion and was the perfect compliment to the mammoth sandwich.
The sizeable quiche slice went well with a flighty, French album that emanated from the speakers as the pastry purveyors tested batters and declared a batch of snickerdoodles too chewy. Each entrée was dished up on cute, random plates—the sandwich came on red and white gingham and the quiche on rustic orange floral, adding to the aura of being in a family kitchen. I was tempted by another mismatched casserole dish near the register that held rosewater rice pudding with a cinnamon pistachio topping, a thick and creamy indulgence that disappeared from my plate all too quickly.
On another visit, I had the privilege of trying their sandwich of the day, an autumnal treat of roast turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. The spices in the stuffing and turkey were so reminiscent of my house at Thanksgiving, and eating it in that homey atmosphere was a great dining experience. Make sure you try the mint iced tea, a California warm-weather take on an old tummy-soothing favorite of mine. They even have fresh and dried mint leaves floating in it for maximum flavor.
The diner has an ever-changing menu of breakfast items made right in front of you, and an adjoining store that sells every specialty food item you never knew you needed. Let your eyes wander from classy confits to artisan cheeses, from frozen crab cakes to ceramic cookware, but don’t expect a deal here or in the restaurant. The quiche and sandwich were nine bucks each, and although they were good, they weren’t that good. The fresh ingredients might be worth it to some people, but even if you aren't one of them, at least make your way down to try one of Em’s bakery items. Trust me, you don't want to pass up these coconut cupcakes--did i mention they have cream cheese icing? And come on, no human should die without sampling a chocolate chip cookie that is larger than their face.
Open Mon-Fri 8am-7pm
Sat-Sun 8am-4pm, but get there earlier for the best bakery selections
4616 Eagle Rock Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Photos c/o AuntieEmsKitchen.com
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