Nat’s Early Bite Coffee Shop and Diner in Van Nuys, California was just what my friends and I needed to start off our Sunday morning right. My friend Indy and her husband Evan are regulars there, and when they suggested giving this place a try, I was excited about it. Anywhere described as a dive with amazing food is okay in my book. Looks are deceiving and the best food usually comes out of these hole-in-the-wall places that most people would just drive by without batting an eye.
An interesting feature of Nat’s is that it has a vintage toy store attached to it. As there is normally a wait for a table (always a good sign), this is a good place to go and reminisce about your childhood and the toys you used to own and play with…because I guarantee if you were born in before 1990, your toys are showcased here. It was a trip down memory lane for me as we waited for our party to be called.
When it was, we were shown to a booth in this diner and given menus to look over. We all placed our drink orders and discussed possible options for our brunch. Once again, we all ordered something different from everyone else. For me, I went with my usual standby at restaurants when it comes to brunch, because I know it’s safe. What I liked about Nat’s version of my usual Vegetarian Omelet was that it was done California style. Which means…avocado! Oh yeah! In fact, they cooked it up with egg whites only per my request and stuffed it full with mushrooms, tomatoes, Jack cheese and topped it off with avocado. The delectable taste was only taken to the next level with the addition of Cholula hot sauce (aka: best hot sauce ever!). This came with a side of home fries.
Filling…but awesome. My friends were amazed that I ate everything on my plate. In fact, I was the only person at the table to completely polish off the food that was served. But I don’t believe in wasting good food and I had a long day ahead of me. Fortification was key. It was worth polishing off every bite. Diner food is amazing when done right and Nat’s knows how to serve it up and serve it up well.
The omelet was fantastic. Cooked to perfection and stuffed with the right amount of vegetables. It was light, but filling. And the home fries…soft, with a bit of a crunch on the outside. It’s not easy to cook up a perfect batch of home fries, but they do it right at Nats.
Honestly, this is the kind of place I expect to see Guy Fieri filming his Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives show in. Amazing food. And a menu that hasn’t changed since it was established…any additions are done as daily specials. You can’t beat that level of commitment from the owners and the regulars.
Filling and fantastic food is everywhere in California. But these little gems are best found with friends who know the area. I’m so glad I was given the chance to eat here. I’d go back in a heartbeat. This is my kind of dive-y diner. And when the locals are regulars, you know this place is doing something right.
The Celiathlete 