Jessica Koslow’s Sqirl is a landmark on the outskirts of Silver Lake where you will find a line out the door and toast aplenty. My brunch bucket list is getting longer and longer, so I figured I needed to start somewhere, and fast! Foodies, celebs, and hipsters alike can all agree on the deliciousness that is Sqirl, so I knew that should be my first stop!
It began as a preserves company in 2011, and is now THE brunch spot in LA. Speaking of preserves, the burnt-brioche toast covered in house Ricotta and Jam is the perfect start (or sweet end) to your meal here. Yes, you’re paying $7, and yes, it’s SO WORTH IT. We indulged in the raspberry vanilla jam and the strawberry rose jam. Long story short, it was hard to choose a favorite, but I ended up buying a jar of the strawberry rose to brighten up my everyday toast at home.
Coincidentally, the morning I decided to dine at Sqirl, it was featured in the New York Times. This made our dish choices really easy! First, we shared the Sorrel Pesto Rice bowl with Kokuko rose Brown Rice, Sorrel Pesto, Preserved Meyer Lemon, Hot Sauce, Radish, French Sheep Feta, and a Poached Egg. Upon first bite, the lemon comes through, quite strongly in fact. However, as soon as it is in the same mouthful as the amazing feta cheese, the tartness is cut in the best way possible! I never thought I would be eating a dish containing rice and pesto for brunch, but I’m so glad that it happened!
We also got the seasonal special Red-Flannel Hash. It was a warm skillet filled with Roasted Beets, Roasted Potatoes, Cheese, Onions, Horseradish, Lemon Zest and topped with an egg (or two in my dad’s case). The beets and potatoes were the perfect base to the hash, and I’ve never loved beets more! As delicious as everything was, let me warn you, if you choose the exact dishes we did, you will be so full! I have never eaten so much starch so early in the morning!
For more information, visit http://sqirlla.com/.
This place gets crowded, and rightfully so! We went at 8AM and enjoyed elbow room, no line, and other LA chef sightings! If you go on a weekend, I recommend showing up early, the earlier the better!