4243 Overland Ave.
(on the SW corner of Overland)


Average Overall Rating:

(4 out of 5)

Average Coffee Refill Rating:

(4 out of 5)

(3 out of 5)

Review by: Mustardegg on 4/12/2008

Overall Rating:

Coffee Refill Rating:

Expense Rating:

Whether a fast food joint or a 4 star restaurant, consistency in food and service should be a number one priority. On this count, Cafe Laurent fails miserably. In total, I've eaten at this establishment three times and ordered the frittata on the first two visits. The first time was great, the second time was gut-wrenchingly awful. The third time I tried the French toast. It looked like a masticated ciabatta bun that I'd driven over with my SUV. Don't get me started on its taste.

As for the service, it makes the characters of "Fawlty Towers" look like bend-over backwards sychophants. Each waiter is expert in the art of avoiding eye contact, comments are reserved to short, sharp grunts and eye-rolling is standard practice. If I could nominate someone for "Worst Waitress in the World", I'd nominate the woman who looks vaguely like Sid Vicious's paramour Nancy. There's not enough hyperbole available to describe how lousy their service is.

Other low points:
- taste of coffee varies from cup to cup. Are they changing blends between brews?
- On my last visit it took, no hyperbole, 15 minutes to get the check and get out of there.
- On the last two visits, we had to ask for the tables to be cleaned when they sat us down.

Award Nomination: Worst Service

Review #13335Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 9/8/2007

Overall Rating:

Coffee Refill Rating:

Expense Rating:

The breakfast menu has the dishes you would expect, but with a French twist. The food was good. The coffee was average.

The outside patio on a nice day is the perfect brunch setting.

Definitely a recommended spot.

Review #11320Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 8/7/2005

Overall Rating:

Coffee Refill Rating:

Expense Rating:

Amazing breakfast and friendly professional staff

Patio is a nice little oasis from the norm

Review #5647Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 11/30/2004

Overall Rating:

Coffee Refill Rating:

Expense Rating:

Let me put it this way: I WANT to love Cafe Laurent. I just can't. I'm a local CulverCity-ian who loves good food and a good breakfast. When Cafe Laurent opened, I was there a whole lot and VERY happy about it. The food is good, for sure. The scene there is quite nice, no doubt. The service, however, has made it so I will not return.

What happened? The hostess and waiter create an unpleasant environment--it's not much fun to receive attitude from the people who are supposed to make you feel welcome.

An example: Waiter delivers a not-so-fresh tasting cup of coffee. Hmm, that's weird. Oh well, asked for another one. Got an eye-roll and a huffy-puffy from the waiter, who almost threw down the new cup. Would you believe that I even got up from my table and tried to talk to the waiter and ask him why he was upset with us? And then he didn't even apologize!!??

Same kind of annoyed-ness from the hostess with just about every single request I ever made there. Never a smile or a 'happy to see you'. Nada.

To his credit, Laurent (the owner) is very happy and accommodating (and a great chef!!) and makes you feel good about everything. Problem is he's not the friendly face you greet or get served by.

I wish the Cafe Laurent staff could try harder to make the eating experience more pleasant and calm and enjoyable, because they drove me away with their bad 'tude.

Sorry, Laurent....

Award Nomination: Worst Service

Review #4151Review by: irishspy on 3/22/2004

Overall Rating:

Coffee Refill Rating:

Doesn't Apply

Expense Rating:

I've been coming to Cafe Laurent for Sunday brunch for several months, now. The food is excellent (I especially like the eggs benedict) and the service equally so. I really have no complaints and look forward to eating there as part of my Sunday rounds.

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #3108Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 1/21/2004

Overall Rating:

Coffee Refill Rating:

Expense Rating:

Cafe laurent is one of the most wonderful quality food restaurants i've eaten at. The food is made from scratch. It's not only the freshness of the food but the taste, the first time I tried their cous-cous, it took my heart, i can't describe how excellent it was. I have to go early every tuesday so i can get to eat cous-cous. Everyday Cafe laurent offers a "Plat du jour" which Laurent the owner prepares everyday. Cafe Laurent WE LOVE YOU in Marina del Rey.

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #2831Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 12/25/2003

Overall Rating:

Coffee Refill Rating:

Expense Rating:

Fantastic place. What a surprise. The food is simply wonderful, the ownwers are French and much of the young, hip staff speak French as well. On a nice day, sit out on the plant filled, sun filled patio and listen to the fountain while drinking the best restuarant coffee I have had in LA for decades. Yum!

Review #2730Review by: Kristi on 10/18/2003

Overall Rating:

Coffee Refill Rating:

Expense Rating:

This tiny french owned breakfast cafe is well worth a visit if you like a European atmosphere with good strong coffee (not that yucky American Joe), French cuisine, cozy outside seating and don't forget...French music. They close by 2:30 everyday.

Award Nomination: Best Service

Review #2457


Connect With Mr Breakfast:




Reviews submitted here are meant to pertain to breakfast only. While Mr Breakfast cannot vouch for the validity of each restaurant review, he feels pretty good vouching for the excellent character of the residents of Culver City, California - who are primarily responsible for the review(s) you see above for Cafe Laurent.