Bites Nearby: Heirloom Bakery & Cafe

Overview: Adding to the quaintness of South Pasadena and situated on the corner of Meridian and Mission, Heirloom Bakery and Café offers an excellent lunch and brunch and is a favorite amongst locals. Grab a coffee and a fresh pastry while en route to work or bask in the sunshine out on the patio on a lazy Sunday morning and enjoy a more lavish brunch.

Decor: Bright and lively, Heirloom’s interior is uncomplicated and simple. The pastry case is never a disappointment to the eye and is always lined with mouth-watering scones, muffins, cookies, pre-made salads and slaws. Order at the counter and then have a seat and wait to be served at a table inside the bustling bakery or enjoy your meal outside and watch as the Gold Line whizzes by.

Beverages: Heirloom proudly serves up Equator coffee, known for their environmental sustainability and social responsibility.  Aside from being ethically sound, it’s also delicious.  Enjoy a simple cup of drip coffee ($1.70/sm) or treat yourself to one of their delicious, hand-pulled espresso drinks such as a cappuccino or latte ($2.75/sm).  Not in the mood for a caffeine fix?  Treat yourself to a hot cocoa ($2.25/sm), a lemonade ($2), or an iced tea ($2).

Breakfast: Heirloom offers an array of menu items for that all-important, first meal of the day. Try their homemade granola with banana or fresh fruit, served atop yogurt or milk ($6.25).  If you happen to prefer savory breakfasts over sweet, bite into a hardy egg sandwich ($6.75): applewood smoked bacon, egg, cheese, mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato served on toasted country white bread (made in-house and sold by the loaf for $5.50).  The frittata ($6.75) and the omelet ($7.50) change daily and are served with rosemary potatoes or mixed greens and a side of toast. 

Salads & Sandwiches: With delicious and varied ingredients layered in between two fresh slices of their home baked bread, it’s hard not to always opt for a sandwich at Heirloom (at least for some of us).  If choosing one of their 7 types of bread is not a struggle in and of itself (multigrain wheat, multigrain with currants and walnuts, country white, pumpkin seed country, rosemary-lemon country, kalamata olive country, or a rustic baguette), then deciding upon what goes in between the two slices of bread definitely will be.  My go-to has always been a simple turkey sandwich; roasted turkey, avocado, jack cheese, mayonnaise and sprouts, in between two generous slices of country white bread ($8). If you’re feeling more adventurous, try the French Chicken sandwich with roasted chicken breast, garlic aioli, baby greens, tomato and red onions ($7.75) or the Cuban sandwich with pork loin, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, mayonnaise and mustard on a pressed baguette ($8.25).

Salad-lovers won’t be disappointed at Heirloom either. Give your taste buds something to sing about while munching on an Old Fashioned Cobb Salad with Niman Ranch bacon, blue cheese, roasted chicken, tomato, avocado, hard boiled egg, romaine lettuce, all tossed in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette. If simplicity is more your style, order a large mixed green salad ($5.25) and save your appetite for one of Heirloom’s tasty, home baked goods.

Pastries: The freshly baked goods are the highlight of any trip to Heirloom. All baked in-house, the treats range from uniquely flavored scones (think: fig and bacon cheddar), to profiteroles, to bread pudding, to the more classic dessert items such as red velvet cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies. With prices ranging from $2.50 to around $5, depending upon the item and the size, it’s difficult not to leave this place feeling satisfied. 

Address: 807 Meridian Ave., Suite C, South Pasadena, 91030
Phone Number: (626) 441-0042 
Owner/Pastry Chef: Sally Cook
Cost: $