Nature's Brew Adding a Healthy Option by USC in July

Grid View

Since opening Bacaro LA five years ago, Danny and Bobby Kronfli have brought casual winebar dining to the USC area. For years, this fast food filled neighborhood has cried out for more farm fresh options, and the Kronfli brothers, along with chef Lior Hillel, have heard the call.

A departure from their tapas-style plates next door, Nature's Brew will fill the area's healthy food void when it launches during the first week of July. Focusing on coffee and fresh pastries baked on site twice daily, and upscale, vegetarian and vegan-friendly salads and sandwiches (think Mendocino Farms), chef Hillel will offer casual breakfast and lunch, with sit-down style service for dinner.

Other than an overcrowded Starbucks, there's a real coffee deficiency in the neighborhood as well, and Nature's Brew will team up with both Intelligentsia and local roaster Pasquini to caffeinate locals. Exterior signage reads "the original way to social network," and patrons can expect wifi, as well as plugs for cell phones and computers. By way of booze, there are plans to obtain a liquor license in the future, but in the beginning diners will have the option to BYOB for a small corkage fee.

Chef Hillel describes a specialty he hopes will be a hit — a twist on the traditional method of steaming fish in parchment paper. He will serve a sort of "meal in a bag," in which fish is steamed with a grain such as quinoa, and melted with butter in flavors such as harissa.

Meanwhile, there's also talk of an upcoming Westside project. More to come on that.
·Nature's Brew Near USC [~ELA~]
— Skyler Okey