"In Altadena, a sense of renewed hope fills the air along with the intoxicating scent of blooming star jasmine. New residential construction seems to be underway in every direction as longtime residents trickle back after remediating or rebuilding their homes. The neighborhood still feels somewhat like a shadow of its former self, with the fate of thousands of empty lots yet to be realized, but the momentum is palpable - and picking up."
"The two restaurants share a similar sensibility - straightforward cooking using locally-sourced ingredients that pair well with natural-leaning wines - but differ in their approaches and hours of operation. Whereas dinner-only Betsy's menu centers exclusively around a white-hot hearth, Bar Betsy's offerings strike a more varied note. Dishes like eggs on toast, decadent sticky buns, and roasted carrot sandwiches rule the daytime hours, while sliced-to-order charcuterie and wagyu burgers served on Parker House buns come on board after 3 p.m."
"Wells was a formidable player in Los Angeles's third-wave coffee movement years before he opened the two Betsys in Altadena. Given his experience and expertise, the coffee drinks - from filter to cortados and cappuccinos - arrive balanced and strong using Ex-Animo beans from Vancouver."
"Head baker Dahlia Gomez's morning pastries remain worth waking up early for, especially the delicately crumbly orange poppy seed scone and plump and pliable pecan sticky bun. Don't miss the creamy grits sourced from South Carolina's Lowcountry. Under chef Avanthi Dev's care, they arrive topped with thickly cut, slightly sweetened bacon; a bright hit of tomatillo salsa; and a smattering of fresh scallions and cilantro."
Altadena carries renewed hope as residents return after remediating or rebuilding homes, while many empty lots remain. New construction creates visible momentum. Bar Betsy, an all-day cafe by restaurateur Tyler Wells, sits two doors from Betsy and shares a similar focus on straightforward, locally sourced cooking paired with natural-leaning wines. Daytime offerings include eggs on toast, sticky buns, and roasted carrot sandwiches, while after 3 p.m. the menu shifts to sliced-to-order charcuterie and wagyu burgers on Parker House buns. Coffee drinks range from filter to cortados and cappuccinos using Ex-Animo beans from Vancouver. Morning pastries feature an orange poppy seed scone and pecan sticky bun, and creamy grits arrive with bacon, tomatillo salsa, scallions, and cilantro.
Read at Eater LA
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