Coffee & Treats in La Crescenta-Montrose

BOBA place in La Crescenta.

Just like the real Paradise, filled with edible angels and knowledge of good and evil trees, Paradis's flavors change with the seasons and the mood of its cows. No day is ever the same, but it will always have inventive flavors for even the most discerning: 2009 saw the introduction of silky ice cream concoctions such as strawberry buttermilk and peanut crunch chocolate chip as well as effusive sorbets such as mint lime and orange chili. One scoop goes for $3.50, milkshakes with two flavors go for $5, and ice cream by the pint ($10) and quart ($20) for parties and Arctic picnics.

Goldstein's fresh bagels are made by hand daily, dipped into a boiling bath and hearth baked for a glossy sheen and hearty interior. A bevy of circular creations await your mouth hub, including specialty bagels like cinnamon-raisin, asiago cheese, and delectable peanut butter chocolate chip, as well as classic favorites such as egg, poppy seed, and pumpernickel (usually $6 for six bagels). Upgrade doughy disks with schmears of herb, strawberry, or lox cream cheese, or pair with fresh-squeezed orange or coffee.

Berolina crafts artistically shaped, freshly baked breads every day in addition to a sumptuous lineup of pastries, croissants, and small plates. The bakery boasts a rotating list of loaves, each of which flaunts elegant scoring and shaping. Prepare satisfying sandwiches with the sourdough ($3.50) or black forest breads ($3.75), available Tuesday through Saturday. For sweeter eats, dig into a croissant or danish, such as a buttery almond paste croissant or one filled with dark belgian chocolate ($2). For a fuller meal, nosh on small, cafe-style dishes such as homemade soup ($4.25), paninis ($6.25), and fresh quiche ($5.95).

"To be honest, when I opened DISH I was just looking for a place where I could get a good grilled cheese sandwich for my kids, and a decent cup of coffee for me," says Kevin Finch, the founder of DISH. The idea grew exponentially over time; Kevin had spent the late 1980s working the culinary boom of Sonoma County, so he naturally was inclined to include great wines and slightly more sophisticated menu items. But not too sophisticated: the hallmark of DISH that it's comfortable, a place where you can eat food that might remind you of what your grandmother used to make. In that spirit, the restaurant itself has an antique vibe LA Weekly described as "an old-fashioned, slightly rustic feel, like a farmhouse kitchen in an orange orchard, 1925."

The magazine went on to say that, "At breakfast, the room is as bright and sunny as a conservatory." The dishes are bright, too, such as yellow omelets studded with avocado and red potatoes and made from cage-free eggs from the smartest chickens. The five-page breakfast menu is also popular for the jonnycakes––cornmeal cakes that conceal whole kernels of sweet corn. Later in the day, guests can order an old-school cobb salad adored by LA Times food critic Merrill Shindler, Black Angus sirloin burgers, and pork belly paired with macaroni and cheese. The dishes are made using ingredients from local farmer's markets and food purveyors, a touch that no doubt helped the restaurant land its Three-Diamond Award from AAA.