Hermon is the most elusive neighborhood in northeast Los Angeles. At least in my mind–I’d never even heard of it until I moved nearby. Just southeast of Highland Park, it’s such a quiet, hidden little area with plenty of house-proud, tree-lined streets.
One new perk in Hermon is the recently opened Pantry Cafe, which sits unassumingly on the corner of one of those aforementioned streets. The first thing you notice when you walk in is that there’s a lot to notice. The decor is pretty eclectic, with a large fake tree, zebra stripes, silly signs, antique trunks, and a loungy couch all taking part.
Along with a full list of coffees, The Pantry offers a decent selection of bagged teas and even Jaritos. The menu includes a nice mix of paninis and salads along with less-expected-for-a-coffee-house inclusions like Belgium waffles, quesadillas and a pulled pork sandwich. I enjoyed the Tomato Basil Panini with mozzarella cheese and a side salad. The ingredients were high-quality and the very fresh.
Sitting there on a rainy day, I was happy to be in such a relaxing atmosphere. For a second, I even wished I was still a coffee drinker, but instead I sipped on tea and basked in the Hermon-ness of it all.
–Valentina
The Pantry
5526 Monterey Road
Los Angeles, 90042 (MAP IT)
