Before Ma Petit Bakery takes over the spotlight on the French food front this April, another Parisian-style cafe on the block deserves un peu d’amour.

Owner Susan Onodera says her First Cup Caffe celebrated its one-year anniversary in January inside the breezeway corridor of the Broadway Spring Center situated just south of 3rd between Broadway and Spring.

“Business has been good lately. It’s gotten much better now that people have discovered us,” she explains.

Along with co-owner Bill Evans, the duo run a delightful but secluded luncheonette that relies heavily on word of mouth and repeat lunch-goers from nearby offices. Its location on a path less traveled has been a major obstacle in establishing a larger clientèle base.

Over the last year, new chain eateries such as Surf City Squeeze and Samurai Sam’s Teriyaki Grill have filled the storefronts facing Spring Street, helping to draw hungry pedestrians off the sidewalks into the mini retail mall. (Great Steak will soon complete the lineup.)

Even as the cluster of businesses grows, evening hours remain a challenge, all too apparent from the early closing times of 6:00pm during the week and 3:00pm on Saturdays, and lack of Sunday hours.

Yet Susan and Bill view First Cup Caffe as a neighborhood-serving establishment, and if more Downtown residents knew about its yummy food, cozy dining space, affordable prices and mom-and-pop appeal, the inferior breezeway locale would become less of a hindrance.

Their menu includes breakfast dishes such as Eggs Florentine and Crepes Dejeuner (each under $7.00) and a mid-day food selection of paninis, salads, soups and quiches (with veggie options!) — all similarly priced.

Lingering patrons will appreciate the full espresso bar, assortment of morning pastries and artistic desserts like mango mousse cake, pear tarts and bread pudding. Dark wood furniture, warm pendant lighting and a plush leather sofa help create an unexpected oasis of comfort from the bland walkway outside.

Still, don’t expect a cordial welcome from the building’s security detail in the breezeway. When inquiring about the nearest bike rack after my recent ride over, all I got was a stern reply: “This place isn’t for bikes. It’s for cars.”

…one step forward and two steps back.

First Cup Caffe
333 S Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-687-6603
Mon-Fri: 6:00am - 6:00pm
Sat: 8:00am - 3:00pm
Sunday Closed
 firstcupcaffe.com

-first look: ma petit bakery & cafe
-mall eateries coming to broadway

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