Mary and Robbs Cafe is a Westwood institution that’s been serving classic American food for 40 years. On Saturdays, you’ll see people clustered on the sidewalk, waiting for brunch.

Oddly enough, I had never set foot in Mary and Robb’s during the time I’ve lived in the area, probably due to being put off by the wait. When I finally decided to pay them a visit, that intimidating wait turned out to be a not-so-bad 20 minutes for Saturday brunch.

Their menu is filled with old-fashioned standbys like omelettes, sandwiches and salads – no avocado toast, quinoa nor kale in sight. The Eggs Florentine, a vegetarian version of Eggs Benedict, featured 2 poached eggs with sautéed spinach and hollandaise sauce on top of an English muffin. The hollandaise had no egg yolks nor butter, making it healthier, but just as tasty, as a yolk-filled sauce.

The french toast was a little on the overcooked side but was sweet enough that it didn’t require maple syrup.

I ordered the artichoke melt, in part because the menu said it came with coleslaw, and I wanted to avoid eating fries. All hopes of eating slightly healthier were dashed when the waitress asked if I wanted coleslaw, french fries, tater tots or fruit. I gave into temptation and chose tater tots, a childhood favorite.

The sandwich came with artichoke hearts. mushrooms, basil and swiss cheese on a baguette. It was fair, something I could have made at home – not the most exciting choice on my part.

The tater tots though, were fried to a crispy gold and exactly how a tater tot should be. They were well-worth the indulgence.

Mary and Robbs proves that a restaurant need not follow food trends to be successful, as they’ve been a neighborhood favorite for years. Here’s to another 40 years of business.

Location – 1453 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles 90024
Website – http://www.maryandrobbs.com
Kid-Friendly – Yes
Kid’s Menu – No
Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly – Yes
Gluten-Free Options – Yes