BBE Editor's Pick

BLD

7450 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles (Mid-City West)

Neal Fraser’s BLD is a diner to be sure; to the joy of the neighborhood clientele, it's at the ready all day long, serving breakfast or brunch until the late afternoon -- open even during that 3-to-5-PM dead zone. But this diner is no greasy spoon. Tall red leather chairs take the place of counter stools, and artwork in neutral tones (or made of twig) stands in for memorabilia on the walls. Canteen standards like burgers and coleslaw get dressed up here with pumpkin seed pesto and walnut horseradish crème, while fancier dishes like seared scallops on butternut squash risotto leave any coffee shop comparisons in the dust. With the dessert menu served all day, there are nearly a dozen reasons to spoil your dinner.

menu musts

Crab-stuffed squash blossoms with goat cheese and
blood orange vinaigrette
Seared scallops with butternut squash risotto, steamed spinach and lemon Parmesan sauce
Bacon-wrapped pork chop with goat cheese polenta, Brussels sprouts and apple balsamic sauce
Banana cream pie with brownie crust and rum caramel*

*BLD BlackboardEats Menu

Ricotta-blueberry pancakes with Berkshire maple syrup
Three-bean huevos rancheros with fried eggs, crispy corn tortillas, ranchero cheese, avocado, salsa fresca
Fried egg sandwich with Nueske's thick cut bacon, Gruyère cheese, aioli fingerling potatoes
House made pastry trio (kougin amann, brown sugar-sour cream coffee cake, gingerbread muffin)

sweet seats

Floor-to-ceiling windows and the open floor plan make any seat a good one. But that table cozied up between the long counter-bar and the mini-marketplace (where gourmet coffees, teas and spices are on sale) has a great vantage point and just enough privacy.

chew on this

On the last Sunday of every month, pastry chef Mariah Swan makes the milkshake even more irresistible: She spikes it. Combos include caramel milkshake with tequila, and graham cracker milkshake with Godiva liqueur -- it's like s'mores minus the campfire.

hours

Sun.-Wed. 8 AM-10 PM
Thurs.-Sat. 8 AM-11 PM

price range

$15 (BLD vegetarian burger) to $29 (seared scallops with butternut squash risotto, steamed spinach, lemon Parmesan sauce), but menu changes often so prices may vary

7450 Beverly Blvd. (between N. Vista St. and N. Gardner St.), Los Angeles, CA 90036; 323-930-9744 www.bldrestaurant.com