Good Eats In Silverlake

Welcome to a Culinary trip down Sunset Boulevard, Friends. Come eat with me!

If you’re looking to start your day with fantastic service, a great cup of coffee and the kind of pastry that makes your gym membership worth having, then you need to head to Café Tropical. Whisper the words to most Eastsiders and all you hear is moans. That’s because they’re fantasizing about the guava-cheese pie, a tart layered between croissant like bread with cream cheese and guava paste, or the massive and delicious peanut butter cookies (a steal at $1.00), or a lunch of classic Cuban pressed sandwiches; ham or turkey, cheese and pickles all pressed together and grilled to buttery, gooey goodness.

Not in the mood for a pastry? Pho-getaboutit. There’s no better Pho in the city than at Pho Café, just across the street from Café Tropical. There’s no sign, so look for the super mod little shop with glowing globe lights, clean white walls, and shockingly orange furniture (it’s mod…what do ya want?). Inside, you’ll find unbeatable steaming bowls of classic Pho in either beef or chicken broth. It’s like Vietnamese Campbell’s but way better. Mmmm Mmmm Good!

A little further west is El Payita Siete Mares, a restaurant I was told to go to by a friend from New York. Having driven by numerous times, I was apprehensive. It didn’t really look like the kind of place you’d expect great seafood from. But I was wrong. So wrong! Forget the drive to the Ventura County line for Neptune’s Net. In the 3100 block of Sunset Blvd is some of the freshest seafood around. The fried Talapia, served head, eyes and all, is incredible! Their fish stew, chockfull of white fish, shrimp, and crabs legs, is a revelation! If there’s a seafood lover in you, screw the cheddar bay biscuits and sail the Sunset Blvd Seven Seas!

For the timid souls who like candlelight and tickling Christmas lights with their seafood, Café Stella is an instant transport to Paris, including the sting of the Euro to Dollar conversion. You pay out the nose for ambience here, but the Lobster Flan or Ahi Tuna Tartare eaten in the glorious courtyard and washed down with a glass from their extensive wine selection make the experience worth every penny.

If a fish craving is still swimming in your bloodstream, Koda Sushi is a breaststroke away. A daring and innovative menu makes this dining experience flavorful and memorable. One signature combination is the Culture Shock: eel with white chocolate, slivered almonds, and eel sauce. Who woulda thunk it? It’s phenomenal.

As are the pumpkin ravioli at Cliffs Edge, another hidden treasure with one of the coziest garden patios in Silverlake. The best way to know if you’ve arrived in the right place is to look for the 99 Cent Store, just north is the entrance to this little gem where prosciutto and wild mushroom crepes and toasted brioche with sautéed fresh figs and honey await you.

If you haven’t eaten yourself into a coma yet, here are two last words: Pazzo Gelato. Just go. You’ll know why within one lick.

Silverlake Eating Guide:

Café Tropical

2900 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Mon-Fri: 6am-10pm

Sat-Sun: 7am-10pm

Pho Café

2841 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Daily: 11am-12am

El Payita Siete Mares

3131/3143 Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90026

Daily: 8am-10pm

Café Stella

3932 Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90029
Tue-Sat: 6-11 pm

Koda Sushi

3719 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Tue: 5:00 pm-10:00 pm

Wed-Thur and Sun 5:00pm-11:00pm

Fri-Sat: 5:00pm-12:00am

Cliff’s Edge

3626 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Mon-Sat: 6pm-11:30pm

Pazzo Gelato

3827 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Tue.-Sat: 11am-11pm

Sun: 11am-8pm

They may not be the cookies from Café Tropical but these bars are amazing. They take the after school snack of champions to a whole new level!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars:

1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
3/4 Crisco butter flavor stick or butter flavor shortening, plus additional for greasing
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
1/3 cups water
1 cup strawberry or raspberry preserves

1. Grease a 9 by 13 by 2-inch cake pan. Line it with parchment paper, then grease and flour the pan.

2. With a hand or electric mixer on high, cream butter flavored shortening (ewwww…but yummmm) and sugar on medium speed until light yellow, about 2 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the vanilla, eggs, and peanut butter and mix until all ingredients are combined.

3. In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. With your mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture. Mix just until combined.

4. Press 2/3 of the dough into the prepared cake pan and spread over the bottom with a knife or offset spatula. Spread the jam evenly over the dough. Drop small spoonfuls of the remaining dough evenly over the jam. Don't worry if all the jam isn't covered; it will spread in the oven. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and bake for 45 minutes, until golden brown. Cool and cut into squares.

5. Enjoy!