Sweet Treats and Quick Bites to Eat

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Co.

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Restaurant | "The Coffee Bean - For a Quick Breakfast"

cofee Bean and Tea Leaf Photo - Santa Monica, California

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Espressos, mochas, ice blended, teas, and many more drinks are what The Coffee Bean offers. The Coffee Bean is a cute little coffee shop in Playa Vista that just opened. The Coffee Bean is one of my favorite coffee shops in California. I have become a huge coffee drinker over the years and have realized the tate between good coffee and bad coffee. This place has great coffee and there coffee drinks are even better. THe first time I ever got a drink here it was one of the best flavored coffee drink I have ever had anywhere.( I later tried to oreder the same thing at a Starbucks at home it was so gross I had to ask them to make it again, and it tasted exactly the same the second time.) I...Read More

Espressos, mochas, ice blended, teas, and many more drinks are what The Coffee Bean offers. The Coffee Bean is a cute little coffee shop in Playa Vista that just opened. The Coffee Bean is one of my favorite coffee shops in California.

I have become a huge coffee drinker over the years and have realized the tate between good coffee and bad coffee. This place has great coffee and there coffee drinks are even better. THe first time I ever got a drink here it was one of the best flavored coffee drink I have ever had anywhere.( I later tried to oreder the same thing at a Starbucks at home it was so gross I had to ask them to make it again, and it tasted exactly the same the second time.) It was just the right amount of coffee flavor, and sweet with vanilla and cream. One thing that makes there coffee drinks so much better and especially the frappachinos is a special powder they put in there. It makes them creamier and have a much smoother flavor. My husband was also very impressed with the coffee there, he is a big coffee drinker as well and kind of a coffee snob, and he really like it.

As for a quick breakfast, I ordered a huge muffin and a bagel for my husband. Now at Starbucks I think all there food is flavorless and really over priced for what you get. Here at Coffee Bean the food was so good I would have thought it was home baked. The prices we reasonable, yet still high for what you could make it at home for. still the food was great and a wonderful compliment to my coffee. The size of the muffin and bagel were big enogh to fill us up for a day of sightseeing.

The Coffee Bean also sells mugs, coffee and coffee pots in their store. The Coffee Bean is similar to other coffee shops in that they provide tables and chairs for you to sit and wireless network connection for you enjoy your coffee and get some work done.

The Coffee Beans hours are: Monday-Saturday 6am-9pm, Sunday 7am-9pm. They have several locations in California.The Play vista location is fairly new and in a great place. There seems to be a lot of action there from the local workers. Don't let this scare you from trying them out.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 9, 2009

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In and Out Burgers

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Restaurant | "In and Out (Literally)"

My son enjoying Inn and Out Photo - Santa Monica, California

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In-N-Out Burger is only found in three states, Arizona, California, and Nevada. They are famously known for their fresh food and cheap menu. It is a very limited menu, but it is great. The thing that makes this place unique and great is that EVERYTHING is made fresh and before your eyes. The potatoes are peeled and sliced where you can see them, they have huge slabs of freshly ground beef—and yes, it is even red, not a frozen brown—the lettuce and tomatoes are cut from fresh produce, and everything they do to your food is right out in the open so you can see it. This also tells me that they must take great concern with their sanitation standards to be able to do that with the public watching. ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 9, 2009

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Leonidas

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Restaurant | "Leonidas Coffee and Chocolate"

Leonidas Photo - Santa Monica, California

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Coffee and chocolate are some of my favorite things and together they are even better. At this place called Leonidas you get a complimentary piece of chocolate with every drink purchase. Leonidas is a Belgium coffee shop and chocolate tier. They serve some of the finest chocolates and the best coffee around. I was so excited when I was first introduced to this place. I ordered a few different drinks from there, (since we went several time) and every drink was just amazing. You could taste all the flavors with out them being too over powering and to sweet. Of course you get a piece of chocolate with your drink and there’s not much to say other than it was so good I bought several other ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 9, 2009

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Pinkberry

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Restaurant

Pinkberry Outside Photo - Pinkberry, Santa Monica, California

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This review is going to be from more of an experience view rather than restaurant; the reason for this is that I had a very funny and interesting experience. My brother kept telling us about this place and how it was the best frozen yogurt ever. He would tell me stories of how addicted to it he was. I thought to my self well we better try to out. So one night on our way back to my brothers apartment he took us by Pinkberry and had us try some of what he called "the best frozen yogurt ever".So we went in and they had 3 flavors, coffee, original and green tea. Being this was my first time I chose to go with the safe flavor, which would be original. I thought surly you can’t go wrong t...Read More

This review is going to be from more of an experience view rather than restaurant; the reason for this is that I had a very funny and interesting experience. My brother kept telling us about this place and how it was the best frozen yogurt ever. He would tell me stories of how addicted to it he was. I thought to my self well we better try to out. So one night on our way back to my brothers apartment he took us by Pinkberry and had us try some of what he called "the best frozen yogurt ever".

So we went in and they had 3 flavors, coffee, original and green tea. Being this was my first time I chose to go with the safe flavor, which would be original. I thought surly you can’t go wrong there. With your frozen yogurt you get three toppings I chose 3 things that my son and I would like. Strawberries, blueberries and pineapple. My brother and his roommate ordered there’s and while they paid I went out side to start eating my yogurt. I took a few bites and thought that is an interesting flavor for frozen yogurt, before I could even get my bit gone my husband stuck his finger in my yogurt to take a bit. He turned and looked at me and asked, "what is that" with the most disgusted look.

This frozen yogurt place is not like your typical frozen yogurt, or at least not what we are used to here in Texas. It is more like real yogurt with the live cultures. It tasted sourer and bitter, not sweet and creamy like most frozen yogurt. To say the least it must be an acquired taste because my taste did not prefer it. I was so surprised that my brother raved about how good it was.

Now as for the restaurant it was very clean, the staff was very generous and it had a very welcoming and modern ambience. I enjoyed the style and set up of the place and even there toppings. There was so much to choose from. I guess if you like that kind of frozen yogurt it is a great little place. It just was not my taste. I felt bad not finishing my yogurt so I did everything I could to finish it with the fruit and then my brother finished it of, he did not mind one bit.
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on February 7, 2009

Pinkberry
1610 Montana Ave.
Santa Monica 90403

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Vanilla Bake Shop

Restaurant | "Cupcake Babies"

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Vanilla Bake Shop is mostly know for there cupcake babies. I actually found out about this place throgh a magazine and just knew the next time I went to L.A. I would have to try them. I am a huge fan of sweets and specifically cupcakes. So we looked the place up and went to try the cupcakes. This place is a nice fancy little shop and they do lots of catering and weddings for celebrities and well know people in the area. Their most famous for their cupcake babies which are the mini cupcakes.Vanilla Bake Shop has offers several cupckae flavors of the day and many options from one cupcake to a whole box. I will tell you that the prices are a little high but it was well worth...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 28, 2009

Vanilla Bake Shop
512 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica 90401
(310) 458-6644

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