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If you’re looking for someplace to eat outside Westwood still accessible by public transport or car, consider Lulu’s Blue Plate Special off Santa Monica Boulevard.

This small, unique and individually owned restaurant gives the feel of a cafe environment from the artwork that constantly changes, to the whimsical, motley tables and chairs. The setting provides a friendly environment to visit with your friends, and the service proves this impression to be true. The waiters are friendly, quick and helpful in giving suggestions about the menu.

Although the atmosphere is very quaint and hospitable, the food, particularly the entrees are not all that unique for the price. Nonetheless, the turkey dinner was tasty, the potatoes were excellent, and the stuffing was quite good. The vegetable soup was a very filling, spicy treat to accompany dinner, and I imagine all of their deli-style soups are quite good.

But the meal was not anything out of the ordinary. For what it was, it was overpriced.

Not to say one should steer away from the restaurant just for fear of being overcharged. If breakfast is your favorite meal of the day and you even prefer it for dinner, Lulu’s is an excellent place to visit. It offers breakfast all day and the prices are considerably less than those of the lunch and dinner menu. Lulu’s has everything from pancake stacks and omelettes to breakfast burritos.

However, in my honest opinion I would not suggest Lulu’s for its dining so much as for its coffee and dessert. The restaurant includes a full coffee bar with a wide variety of coffees I’d personally recommend over any coffee drinks from chains you are used to visiting. For coffee connoisseurs who prefer local cafes to Starbucks, I highly recommend trying Lulu’s as a good spot to hang out with your friends over a grande white mocha, which is very creamy, sweet, yet still strong.

The desserts are as nice to look at as they are to sample, including various cheesecakes and pastries. The brownie chocolate cheesecake is both rich, creamy and a large size to have as a treat with your coffee.

Lulu’s is famous for its deep fried twinkie, a pastry filled with maple sugar, served warm with homemade vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Not only does this dessert melt in your mouth as the warm pastry compliments the ice cream, it is an excellent item to share. It is very filling and difficult for one person to eat alone. I discovered the reason Lulu’s titled its dessert the “famous” deep fried twinkie, because it really is an item anyone with a sweet tooth should try.

Although the dining may not be all that unique to the area, one is bound to have a good meal at Lulu’s Blue Plate Special. The atmosphere and service will make you feel at home and happy to get away for a little part of the evening to grant yourself something sweet.