Simplethings: Delicious Things

5.27.2014

One of the many perks of living in the Miracle Mile/Fairfax District area of Los Angeles is definitely the little foodie heaven stretch of West Third Street, perfectly situated in between shopping centers The Grove and Beverly Center. Lined up with dessert shops, cafes, bars and restaurants that range from fine-dining to casual brunch, the blocks that separate Fairfax Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard are sure to satisfy any type of craving on any given day. Want some Italian? How about Japanese? Perhaps, French? You name it, West Third Street has got it!

Fortunate to reside a mere walking distance from this strip of good eats, booze and boutiques, it's quite a no-brainer where yours truly heads to pretty much whenever hunger decides to strike. Definitely one of my favorite go-to spots is a tiny yet cozy restaurant called Simplethings just off of Sweetzer Avenue. Indeed, their menu offers a variety of "simple things" comprised of yummy sandwiches, refreshing salads, and the most adorably delicious pies that are sure to bring genuine happiness to one's appetite.

: Store front. Spot me!

: Minimalist and clean interior.

Don't be fooled by this photo, Simplethings gets packed in the morning in time for brunch and in late afternoon/early evening for dinner. Though it may be overshadowed by its more popular neighbors, Toast Bakery & Cafe and Joan's On Third, this pie shop can certainly hold on its own.

: Yours truly's hearty meal.

For a late lunch before catching a movie at The Grove, I opted for their 'mix and match' dish of half Market Veggie Salad and half Avocado Melt.

Market Veggie: mixed greens, grilled slices of eggplant, portabella mushrooms, oven roasted tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta, and the perfect coat of balsamic vinaigrette

Avocado Melt: avocado, roasted peppers, fontina, buttermilk bleu, manchego, and apricot chutney on brioche

The Avocado Melt has always been a favorite of mine, usually a first choice, whenever I pay Simplethings a visit. Aside from the obvious scrumptiousness avocado brings to any type of food served with, the roasted peppers together with three different delectable cheeses, finished off with a sweet and savory apricot chutney (delish!) make for one flavorful sandwich. Just a half of this melt is usually not enough to satisfy my cravings; thank goodness for the Market Veggie to fill that void. What I particularly love about this salad is how it was tossed in balsamic vinaigrette just enough to perfectly coat each leaf which tie the whole plate together.

Of course, one can't talk about Simplethings without talking about their pies. Freshly baked everyday, Simplethings offers a total of 14 different flavors a week that are interchangeably scheduled daily. Two personal favorites of mine are French Silk and Banana Cream (with real banana chunks!) pictured above. What's unique about this pie shop though lies in their "cutie pies". You see, their pies come in three different sizes: big pie, simple pie, and cutie pie. The big pie is a generic size whole pie while the simple pie is a size smaller than my own hand (I've got a pretty small hand, mind you). The cutie pie, however, is this aptly named cupcake size of cuteness that will surely win your heart over. It's the perfect size to snack on when you don't want to feel too guilty trying to satisfy a sweet tooth. It's the perfect amount of sweetness in one tiny cup. Simplethings' cutie pie is simply perfect!