Good Eats: Le Pain Quotidien, Brentwood, California

Le Pain Quotidien 11702 Barrington Court/off Sunset, 310-476-0969. $$. Breakfast choices here include scrumptious fresh French pastries, an assortment of omelettes, and more. Lunch brings on imaginative Belgian open-faced sandwiches, soups, and salads. Le Pain is known for their delicious desserts and housemade breads as well as their line of condiments (spicy harissa sauce) and jams (I love the dark Montmorency cherry), and all can be packed to carry home. A central communal table is popular with solo diners.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers