All Day Baby

We ordered biscuits from the biscuit window after many weeks of trying but missing the opportunity! Given how quickly they sell out of the chicken biscuit, we had high hopes for this one. The biscuit was great, buttery; chicken was very nicely fried. I didn’t love the pickles but my boyfriend did, so maybe it’s just a preference thing— I definitely prefer a dill pickle to a sweet one. However, all in all, I’d say $16 is a steep price to pay for this chicken biscuit. I get that is just part of the area’s “charm,” and hip restaurants can charge what they want. Although it was very good, I probably won’t be going back.

In a city full of decades-old Diners it takes something special to make a splash in the genre, and at All Day Baby Chefs Jonathan Whitener and Thessa Diadem of Here’s Looking At You execute a melting pot menu with one-part precision and another whimsy.

Perhaps better described as “all American,” Los Angeles in particular drawing from broad cultural references across its ever-growing expanse, it was late-November 2019 that All Day Baby opened doors on Sunset, original hours from 8:00am until 3:00pm recently expanded to 10:00pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday plus an hour later Friday and Saturday.

Situated in Silver Lake, Managing Partner Lien Ta responsible for an all-female service team that works efficiently with perpetual smiles, it is immediately upon entry to the 2,000 square foot space that guests feel a sense of ease, close-set seating responsible for sometimes high volume but the style of booths nonetheless providing privacy.

Dividing Bar from dining area, with bakery cases up-front offering added temptation, it was as a party of six that diners cut a wide swath through All Day Baby’s diverse offerings, Cold Brew Coffee and a classic Soda Shop Shake flavored by Pistachio plus self-service Water accompanying two soft-centered Cookies, a rich Blackout Brownie and one of four daily Concha that justifies its $6 cost with a housemade Jam center.

Trotting the globe for ingredients such as Vadouvan and Halvah, the latter creating a crunchy exterior for one of the aforementioned Cookies while the other teams with Apple Butter and Dukkah to yield exemplary Carrots, fans of “Chicken + Waffles” will not find them on All Day Baby’s menu, but rather a Buckwheat Waffle intended to be dragged through Butter and topped with housemade Ham plus a ubiquitous Fried Chicken Sandwich made better by Salt & Pepper Mayo plus spicy Pimento Cheese.

Further challenging conformity with French Toast, the Pineapple Jam, Rum Butter and crunchy Cereal dancing harmoniously while Smoked Maple Syrup is best added in small portions, those seeking even better “Bread” will find it offered by way of Mama May, her Banana slice more cake-like and made all the more enthralling by Ricotta, Honey and toasted Buckwheat.

Skipping everyday stacks for a single Hotcake, toothsome and golden beneath Fruit, Nuts and creamy Cheese that makes Syrup largely unnecessary, Buttermilk Biscuits are well-crafted but not revelatory, leaving Shrimp and Grits more room to shine in the spotlight beneath a fried Egg and crispy Leeks that play well off the “Bolognese.”

Not about to skip Dessert, Pie picked over Sundaes or Sticky Buns, All Day Baby’s intention to “illicit glee and satisfaction” is completed by a Marshmallow Sandwich that spins childhood memories on their head thanks to gooey Praline filling while a Banana Cream wedge sweetened by Dulce de Leche threatens Emeril Lagasse for best in the business.

Don’t go here unless you have nothing to do afterwards except lounging on the couch. Delicious elevated comfort food, and yummy pastries galore.

Great diner style restaurant offering American breakfast and lunch classics with a modern twist. A few vegetarian options, a couple of vegan things. Our food was slightly over-seasoned but all in all a great meal and wonderful service.

My wife and I split a sweet dish and a savory dish for Sunday breakfast. The chicken fried steak is not your usual sad Salisbury steak. This is a perfectly medium-rare flank steak with a delicious gravy and a not-too-heavy breading. French toast is stuffed with pineapple jam and topped with toasted coconut and cinnamon crumbles and a rum butter. It’s served with smoked maple syrup as if you could make it any better than it already is. Service is friendly and easy-going. Physical space is beautifully designed. Just a wonderfully chill, laid-back environ for a Sunday (or any day) breakfast.