So it is Mother’s Day Weekend and you have no idea where to take your mom out to brunch. Well don’t you worry because I have compiled a list of my favorite brunch spots in or around La Verne!
La Verne, Claremont and the surrounding cities are small towns compared to Los Angeles, Hollywood or Santa Monica, but the restaurants around here are filled with small town owners, cooks and servers who truly make every plate with love and care.
1. Roberta’s Village Inn (La Verne)
Roberta’s is right in the heart of Downtown La Verne and is just a few blocks away from the University.
If your mom is into 50’s style diners, then this little restaurant really gives you the authentic diner atmosphere.
The walls are filled with old American memorabilia, including coca cola ads, and the register they operate on actually looks like it is straight from the candy shop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The food is very much American style breakfast, pancakes, steak and eggs, waffles, and is set at a pretty reasonable price.
I have had breakfast there by myself before classes and the staff is always friendly and I have never had to wait a long time for my food.
Be prepared to hit an ATM before going here though because it is CASH ONLY.
2. Pappas Artisanal (La Verne)
Pappas is my favorite lunch spot in La Verne, but their brunch is also pretty damn good. It is definitely an upscale looking restaurant from the outside, but once inside, it has a very relaxed feel with very neutral colors on the walls and road bike decor.
The brunch menu is filled with breakfast favorites and few that they have put their own twist on, like BREAKFAST PIZZA!
One of my favorites is the Bacon-Swiss pancakes. They are made with bacon chunks, topped with Swiss cheese, scallions and spicy maple syrup. If you’re feeling adventurous, these pancakes are definitely out of the ordinary! Don’t knock em until you try them!
Pappas is a little pricier than other spots in the area, but it is worth every penny.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS for just $15.
3. Kickback Jacks (Claremont)
I just discovered this spot in Claremont a few weeks ago and I can’t wait until i go back! It is just off the 10 east freeway on Indian Hill Blvd and has a sizeable parking lot behind next to the motel.
At a glance i thought the food would not be so good because the menu was deeply overwhelming. All items are boxed up so it just looks like a huge board of Chutes and Ladders. After looking at it for a couple seconds your eyes will adjust and see the different sections of the menu. The front of the diner isn’t too big, but the restaurant really opens up to two huge dining areas.
I ordered the Country Fried steak and eggs breakfast and I was treated to a breakfast that was so much more than I could ask for!
I quickly realized that they serve huge portions, so i had more than enough for breakfast and then to take some home for lunch.
The country fried steak was cooked perfectly, their home fries are delicious and crispy, and their pancakes are made fresh to order, so they were fluffy and delicious.
The restaurant looked like it caters primarily to families so me and my partner in crime had to wait about 20 minutes before we were seated.
4. Corky’s Kitchen and Bakery (Upland)
CORKY’S! I love Corky’s. I have eaten here early in the morning, late at night, but oddly enough, never for lunch. But we’re here to talk about brunch!
Corky’s is an Inland Empire chain and the Upland location is the furthest west you can find one before hitting Los Angeles county. It is usually packed on the weekends, but I have never had to wait more than 15 or 20 minutes, no matter what size my group. The restaurant doesn’t serve anything different for their Sunday brunch crowd, but their breakfast items are always good.
I usually like to go in for their Banana Nut Waffles breakfast and ask for my hash browns extra crispy. A-MAY-ZING!
They also have a huge variety of omelettes, like their Carnitas, Denver and Chile Verde.
This place truly reminds me of true home-style cooking and always comes out fresh and delicious.
I hope this list helped and happy brunching! A very merry Happy Mother’s Day to all moms too.