It was 10am and I was having a pretty rough start to the morning.

I was slightly hungover and I had made the horrible mistake of telling TJ that I would take him to LAX. Earlier this year I vowed never to taxi anyone to the hub of confusion and traffic that is the Los Angeles International Airport, but somehow I found myself darting between cars to get to Terminal 3. I hated myself, but the only thing that was pushing me through the drive was the fact that I would soon be having a solo brunch the minute I dropped him off. I decided not to waste time by coming to a complete stop when we reached his gate. Instead, I simply unlocked the passenger door and told him to tuck and roll with his luggage and to watch out for tires.

A 30-minute drive on the freeway, a bit of a hustle to find parking, and I was at my brunch spot: Beach Nation. I was invited to the restaurant a few days earlier and prior to arriving, I Googled the hell out of them. From the pictures it was clear that they emphasized the beach theme, but even though it was prominent, it wasn’t overwhelming. Walking into the restaurant, the pictures online matched perfectly to what was in front of me. Colors of white and orange accented the layout, varying styles of furniture invited me to relax, lush palm trees shaded me from the sun, and then there was the central focus: the mini-beach. In the center of the West Hollywood café was a sand box. A grown up sand box that reminded me of Venice, but without the tourist crowds and the gold-painted man standing in paused positions of the robot. It was calming, welcoming, and the moment I sat down on the couch, the stress from the airport drive dissipated.

The waitress Amber soon arrived with menus. A few glances over it and the Unlimited Mimosas ($15) caught my eye. “Yes to that.” I’m mean, there’s not much of a decision needed there.

The only decision I needed to make was between two dishes: the stuffed French toast and the California Hash. Because I was tired and coming out of a hangover, I asked Amber her opinion. She thought for second, and let me know that while the French toast was savory, the hash was her favorite. Done: I’ll have the California Hash ($14), please. As she left to send my order to the kitchen, I looked over the menu to actually read the description of what I got. Two poached eggs served over smoked chicken sausage, bacon, avocado, and tomatoes. Simple enough, and it had all the ingredients that I wanted, plus it came with a side of tater tots or fruit. I went with the fruit. To my surprise, as Amber brought the plate to my table, the owner threw in the side of tater tots, thank you!

To start, the tater tots were nice and crispy and the fruit was good and juicy. But the best part of the brunch honestly wasn’t the sides, those two were nice to have, but the minute my fork hit my main order I left no room for anything but that. If you’re the type of person who likes to put salt, pepper, or hot sauce on every meal, I suggest you wait when it comes to this one. Instead, pierce the poached egg first and let the yolk drain out onto the hash, chicken, bacon and avocado. It instantly transforms into a perfect dressing. The chicken isn’t heavily seasoned, so if it were the sole focus on a plate of its own you might think it lacked in flavor. However, having it moderately spiced in this dish meant it soaked up attributes of the plate’s accompanying ingredients. The fat from the bacon, the creaminess of the avocado, and the acidity within the tomato, and the crunchiness of the hash all blended in a divine way that each bite was incredibly delicious. And did I mention how good the poached egg was? You’re right, I did.

As a whole, I was immensely satisfied with my brunch from Beach Nation. Surprisingly, it even alleviated my driving stress and hangover. That doesn’t mean the plate should only be eaten after a long night of drinks, but it does mean that if you’re looking for a great brunch or a remedy for an epic night out, then this dish is it.

 

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