Rate-A-Restaurant, #102 in a series

Restaurant: The Toasted Bun

Location: 808 E. California (Glendale)

Type of restaurant: Breakfast

We stipulated: We were meeting up with our friends Shannon and Akhil to hear about their recent home purchase -- and are both within minutes of the Toasted Bun, where we had a good experience the last time we visited.

They stipulated: Pay up at the front... and parking is free.



What we ordered: Mike: Breakfast quesadilla, with egg whites (around $7); Maria: Oatmeal (around $3.50)

High point: The Toasted Bun's atmosphere is strangely appealing: It's a breakfast greasy spoon that has been around since the 1960s, and still maintains the cozy feel of a coffee shop from that era. But it also feels updated and a tad more modern, featuring arty black-and-white shots of patrons on the wall. As for the food... well, in the past we've had an excellent breakfast burrito and the oatmeal has been outstanding. Perhaps it was an off day, but...

Low point: ... this time out, the food was sort of a disappointment. The quesadilla wasn't anything special, and oozed way too much cheese (with way too little egg or spinach to counter balance). And Maria's oatmeal was plain -- normally the Toasted Bun loads it up with raisins. Service was also a little off.



Overall impression: The Toasted Bun is that comfortable neighborhood spot that could have been plucked out of a small midwestern town and dropped into Glendale. It's too bad Shannon and Akhil are off to Pasadena; we could have made the 'Bun a regular spot. (Akhil was particularly excited about finally hitting the 'Bun a few months ago, after having driven by it -- but never stopping in -- for years.) I suppose you don't necessarily expect big things from the food; I do know to order something different next time.

Chance we will go back: Perhaps Maria and I will hit it again one morning... sans Evan (er, "Bomb-Ass Baby"), who is becoming nearly impossible to take to a restaurant.

(For a full roster of Franklin Avenue's restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.)