Tucked away on Route 21 in Independence, slightly north of Rockside Road, L.A. Pete's recently changed it's name from Le Peeps as it left a larger chain to make its own way in the world. However, only the front signage changed - everything remains the same within, including the tasty breakfast food and the almost always pleasant (if harried and rushed!) staff.
Sara and I first discovered the spot a couple of years ago. We'd driven past it a few times, noticing that it was closed - L.A. Pete's only opens for breakfast and lunch. This kind of dedication to the best meal of the day is something that gets my attention, so we stopped by. (I'll be reviewing another breakfast favorite soon, The Original Pancake House, which follows a similar trend of closing once they're done with lunch).
The food is good breakfast fare. The bacon is above average, and their sausages are excellent, though a full side is a little too rich. The pancakes are good, the coffee is great, and the menu is varied and dependable. Service is usually pretty good, though on the weekends you can expect a long wait - the place is very popular. They often have large parties there, and sometimes the staff is run a little ragged, but they are good at what they do, and I've rarely left feeling let down by the service.
The signature potatoes leave me a bit cold (as they also go, quite quickly), but I recently discovered that "deep fried" is an option that makes them much more palatable, if frighteningly bad for you. I almost never finish the potato side of my breakfast there, but that doesn't make them bad, just not my particular favorite, either in style or delivery.
Bizarrely, the restrooms are incredibly nice. I'm not sure what the place used to be, I think maybe a party center, but the design in the place is almost weird. The one negative in this regard are the horrific clown paintings around the lobby. Don't bring childhood fears of painted entertainers.
A good spot for breakfast. Busy at weekends, but worth the visit.
Atmosphere: 3/5 (they get a -1 for the clown paintings) Service: 3/5 Food: 3/5 (Potatoes 2/5, deep fried 3/5) (Bacon 3/5) (sausage 4/5) (pancakes 3/5)
Stephen - when I was growing up in the area this place was called Pan Asia and served excellent Asian-Fusion food long before the terms was ever coined (the 70's and into the 80's).
ReplyDeleteLA Petes is enjoyable I quite agree.
The owner is also the daughter of the gentleman who owns and runs Simon's in Brecksville. Good food runs in their family.
Elinor Johnson