Dining Out: The Butcher's Daughter

One our second day in Venice Beach, we woke up, put on our best walking shoes, and headed for Abbot Kinney. Our destination? The Butcher's Daughter. 

As we were planning this trip, as soon as we decided to stay in Venice, I went into overdrive researching restaurant options. From the minute I saw the menu at The Butcher's Daughter, I knew it would be vegetarian paradise. 

The restaurant is located on a block with many popular breakfast spots (Blue Bottle Coffee, Blue Star Donuts). 

Their doors open right to the street, letting in the fresh air and maximizing the people-watching potential. 

As you step in, there is an adorable waiting area. We arrived just after 8:00am (a tad early for a Sunday morning), but by the time we left, every single one of these seats was perched upon. 

From the hostess stand, we had a view of the entire dining room, and let me tell you, it took my breath away. 

How stunning is this center counter with the hanging plants? 

Even the bathrooms are cute!

Our table was in the front, overlooking Abbot Kinney. I posted this picture (below) on Instagram with the caption, "I live here now." 

I wanted every single thing on the menu. While attempting to narrow down our top choices, we started by ordering drinks - a black ice tea for me, and a rosemary ice latte for my bestie. The latte came in a very pretty glass, garnished with a fresh spring of rosemary. 

To eat, we each selected one savory dish, and then we picked a sweet dish to share. This is my go-to move. If you haven't experienced it yet while brunching with me, you will! 

My travel buddy went with the shakshuka, which came with three hearty slices of bread on the side, and two perfectly poached eggs on top. 

We both think the shakshuka at Sofra in Cambridge, MA is the best around, so I was curious to hear her thoughts on this rendition. After two bites, she shared, "There are no spices in this. It basically tastes like tomato sauce. The only upside is that they gave me heavily buttered bread!" 

I chose the menu item called "the best egg sandwich" and no exaggeration, it really was. I had a feeling it would be memorable when it was listed as being served on a croissant, "while they last!" 

This was the flakiest, butteriest croissant. The eggs were soft and fluffy, topped with cheddar cheese, avocado, baby kale and a harissa aioli. The kale tasted like it was plucked from a garden moments before, and the harrisa aioli added a great kick. I would be happy to start my morning with this sandwich every single day! 

Also, please note that the cutting board it was served on is branded with the restaurant's name. I love that. 

Our sweet treat was the waffle with stone fruit, whipped cream, and slivered almonds. 

This waffle was gluten-free (which you would never know) and tasted like maybe there was a dash or two of cinnamon in the batter. The dollop of whipped cream on top was so generous, that there was enough to scoop onto every bite. 

As our plates were cleared, and we continued to enjoy our ice cold beverages, my friend said, "You know, it's really nice that no one has been rushing us." Right after she mentioned it, we realized that had been true at every place we'd eaten in Venice so far. We could definitely get used to this pace. 

When our waitress delivered the check, it was pinned to an adorable postcard featuring a black and white illustration of the restaurant. You better believe I mailed that to a friend! 

If you don't have a trip to LA planned any time soon, don't fret! The Butcher's Daughter also has three locations in New York (Nolita, West Village and Williamsburg).