"Mr. T Cafe is so Hollywood, even though it’s imported from France. This daytime concept lives inside Mr. T, the glitzy Parisian bistro co-owned by Jay-Z. The croissants and gold-dusted hazelnut tarts are courtesy of a jet-setting pastry chef who collabs with luxury fashion brands. The person taking your order behind the counter will dust off their high school French as they repeat your order. It’s all a bit on the nose, but brunch on Mr. T’s shaded patio feels chic, not gaudy. It also helps that the food and pastries are quite good. The all-day menu here might seem as French as french toast, but Mr. T does American staples like chia bowls and breakfast burritos as well as any brunch spot in Hollywood. The salmon tartine comes with a tangy chantilly cream cheese that makes Philadelphia look boring, and the tightly spiraled croissants have three distinct textures: crackly on top, crispy at the edges, and light as a giant cumulus cloud on the inside. Add one to your order next time you pop into this daytime counter for a morning coffee run, lunch, or a steak frites and mimosas brunch. Food Rundown photo credit: Sylvio Martins Croissant We call these supermodel croissants because they’re stunning and photogenic, yet delicious enough to be the mascot for a fancy French butter brand. Their airy insides have a subtle savoriness, and the spiraled outer shell shatters on first bite. photo credit: Sylvio Martins Breakfast Croissant A handy tip: When Mr. T’s pastry case is empty, order this sandwich to get one of their beautiful croissants. The laminated pastry is sturdy enough to hold in the velvety scrambled eggs and avocado, and there’s a tangy aioli that ties everything together. photo credit: Sylvio Martins Steak Frites Before you pour the accompanying peppercorn sauce all over this tender steak, hold up. The thick glaze-like sauce is so tongue-sizzling that it overwhelms a very respectable piece of meat. The crispy frites are solid, though. Salmon Tartine There's a lot going on with this salmon toast, and it all works. The lox is bright and tangy against the chantilly cream cheese, and the tiny piles of roe add a burst of salt without overdoing the fishiness. If you prefer your breakfast toast even richer, add the optional marinated jammy egg packed with umami." - Sylvio Martins
