#bottomless drinks

Economics in Plain English: Are Bottomless Drinks Good For Business?

Yes, I know what you're thinking. "They have pancakes?!" Well, Sonoma Wine Garden located on top of Santa Monica Place in Santa Monica, CA actually has quite the weekend brunch menu!

Having visited Sonoma Wine Garden for a friend's birthday, I was already looking forward to the bottomless Bellinis; seeing Ma'amCakes on the menu, however, was just the syrup on the pancake!

So, this menu is pretty much the "Where's Waldo" of pancakes, but check out the first dish "Kaiserschmarrn," and voila! Ma'amCakes. Having never tried this "Austrian specialty" before I was a little hesitant, but also delighted, to try something new. 

Um. Where are my pancakes, and why is there a spoon on my plate - er, bowl? A Ma'amCakes first! Never in my life have I seen pancakes served this way. First bite, here we go!

Interesting... very interesting. As per the menu above, Kaiserschmarrn consisted of a caramelized Austrian pancake soufflé with raisins and roasted apples. I could definitely taste all of the ingredients. However, to my disappointment, the dish tasted much more like caramelized apples and raisins, with a hit of pancake dressing. In other words, this dish tasted more like the toppings, than the actual main course. Having never tried Kaiserschmarrn it is somewhat difficult to review, as I have nothing to compare it to; that being said, when comparing this dish to the rest of the amazing  Ma'amCakes in this city... you can't even really call these pancakes. With the apple and raisin flavoring, this is the kind of dish you eat in the fall season, before going on a hay-ride.

On a positive note, the whipped cream in the jar was a perfect addition for this dish. The thickness of the cream perfectly balanced the pancakes, and I probably ate more of the whipped cream than that of the Kaiserschmarrn. That ain't good news for a pancake review, people. 

Overall, I highly recommend the Sonoma Wine Garden for brunch, particularly for a special occasion on a beautiful summer weekend. That being said, the Ma'amCakes, not so much. I must say I do actually have some Austrian in me, but have never had Kaiserschmarrn in me before last weekend. I appreciate Sonoma's attempt to host pancakes with a bit of a twist; but this is Los Angeles, people, and we want a fork on our plate, and at least want an option for more traditional pancakes - especially to soak up the bottomless Bellinis.