RESTAURANT REVIEW: Palisades Garden Café

15231 La Cruz Drive | Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 | 310-459-6160 | paligardencafe.com | Price: $

By MICHAEL AUSHENKER | Contributing Writer

There’s something to be said for “the automatic”—your go-to spot to scratch that hunger itch. Sure, dining out in the areas surrounding the Palisades can be an exquisite experience, filled with adventurous cuisines, A-list eateries and beautiful views.

However, there are also times when you just want something quick and practical, when ambiance is unnecessary, when you want to stay on budget, when you don’t want to drive too far, when you’re tired of pasta plates, when you’re all sushi’d out and when all you want is some satisfying comfort food.

That’s where Palisades Garden Café, owned by the friendly James Kwon, comes in.

Located right in the heart of the Village, where Alma Real Dr. t-bones La Cruz Dr., the joint is a local fave that has recently been remodeled with a fresh look that includes new seating, flooring, walls and counters.

Full disclosure: At the Palisadian-Post, this is an office favorite. Cheap and conveniently located up the block from our editorial offices, many of us have eaten here on the reg.

That said, even in the old days when our offices were on Via de la Paz, the Garden Café was a go-to favorite lunch destination.

Call it an unofficial endorsement but our Sports Editor Steve has been known to pick up some Cheese Fries ($2.95) here. Our staff photographer Rich Schmitt enjoys a good Turkey Club ($7.95) at the Garden Café—yummy, good portions—while Rich’s wife, Courtney, enjoys the robust Chicken Caesar Salad ($7.50).

I’m prone to order one of the Café’s dependable hamburgers. There’s the simple Hamburger ($4.50) and Cheeseburger ($4.95), the Double Hamburger ($5.50) and Double Cheeseburger ($5.95). For $6.95, go crazy and enjoy the Bacon Avocado Cheeseburger or Western Bacon Cheeseburger or try the Mushroom Swiss Cheeseburger.

If you’re in the mood to go down the Panini road, there are many routes you can take. For $6.95, you have a choice of Turkey, Chicken, Tuna, Ham or Steak Panini. For something quirkier, there’s also Mediterranean Panini, Mozzarella Panini and Caprese Panini. Spring for the $7.50 and you can upgrade your Italian sandwich to the rich-tasting Turkey Pesto Cranberry Panini and Chicken Pesto Cranberry Panini.

I love the fries there—thick, generous portions and not greasy—and they have fries of different stripes: French Fries ($2.25) and Seasoned Fries ($2.75), Chili Cheese Fries and Sweet Potato Fries ($3.95).

For $2.75, the Onion Rings are plentiful and tasty. I’m a sucker for a good batch of rings, but $3.95 will get you any of a number of quirky side orders: Mozzarella Sticks, Zucchini Sticks or Pot Stickers.

In addition to all of these options, you can find Hot Dogs and Corn Dogs and Chicken Tenders and Chicken Nuggets for the kids. Plus: an array of delicious Mexican fare such as Tacos, Taquitos and three varieties of Quesadillas (Cheese, Chicken and Steak).

For anyone who craves breakfast foods for lunch or dinner, you’re in luck. The Breakfast Burrito, Breakfast Sandwich and Omelette are available all day long. So are the doughnuts, croissants and muffins (until they are sold out).

On the beverage side, go crazy by adding Boba to any drink, sip a fruity smoothie or indulge in a coffee creation.

Tempting desserts, including giant chocolate chip cookies and kid-friendly frosted numbers, are in full view in the display case.

Unpretentious, the Garden Café is not out to reinvent the wheel, but rather to offer an array of beloved comfort foods, which it cooks up very well, not too salty or greasy.

It’s easier than ever to find a seat there. While the Garden Café used to be much smaller and cramped, until an expansion a few years back tacked on a vast luncheon room, in addition to ample patio space.

The only caveat: Most adults may want to try to get in there before the final afternoon school bell rings as the joint is crackling with teenage energy.

Or just deal. Whatevs, dude.