Westlake cafe is sweet and sassy

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT /// Cici’s
Huge menu appeals to all ages



ULTIMATE HIGH— At left, a tower of deliciously delightful soufflé pancakes. Below, “Palmmy” Chan runs Cici’s Westlake location. She is the daughter of Chef Cici Chan, who founded the first Cici’s in 2006.

ULTIMATE HIGH— At left, a tower of deliciously delightful soufflé pancakes. Below, “Palmmy” Chan runs Cici’s Westlake location. She is the daughter of Chef Cici Chan, who founded the first Cici’s in 2006.

The first thing guests might notice when they enter Cici’s in Westlake Village is a buzz of excitement—a noticeable din made by happy diners.

If you’re not familiar with the restaurant, you might not understand the reason until you actually sit down and start participating in the joyful activities yourself.

A dining experience at Cici’s starts out with its huge menu. I mean it’s massive—more than 30 pages of delightfully decadent breakfast and lunch offerings.

Although the outside sign has the tagline “Salt & Pepper . . . Sugar & Cream,” I really think it should say “Sweet & Sassy” because the menu offerings run the gamut, from stacks of specialized treats, including souffle pancakes, waffle creations, crepes, French toast, omelets, smoothies and specialty coffees, to chef’s specialties like red curry salmon, beef panang curry and lava omelets, as well as a slew of interesting burgers, sandwiches, salads and pastas.

The concept was the brainchild of Chef Cici Chan, who opened the first Cici’s Cafe in Tarzana with her husband, Preech, in 2006. A baker by trade, the Thai-born chef put Cici’s on the culinary map by first dazzling customers with her tiramisu pancakes, a staple on the menu.

Photos by ELA LINDSAY Acorn Newspapers

Photos by ELA LINDSAY Acorn Newspapers

Still going strong and expanding the menu all the time, they decided to open a second location in Westlake Village in 2016. The Westlake cafe is run by daughter “Palmmy” Chan, who is an asset to the restaurant because she really listens to what customers want and what they like and don’t like.

This is crucial when you offer such a huge menu with so many items to choose from. I’m surmising that part of the excited buzz you first hear upon arrival is customers happily figuring out what they’re in the mood for.

“I think we started with about eight pages and now we have about 33 because Mom loves to come up with new dishes,” Palmmy Chan said.

I counted about 53 different kinds of “regular” pancakes, which are all huge and fluffy, made fresh and dusted with powdered sugar. Among them are chocolate velvet, lemon twist, monkey business and Spy Walker pancakes.

Then there’s Cici’s collection of souffle pancakes, gargantuan towers of fresh and fluffy airy pillows of sweetness. Now that I’ve tasted them I will have to go back to sample more, like the violet souffle pancakes that feature a blueberry coulis topped with lavender ganache and homemade whipped cream, or the banoffee souffle pancakes, which are chocolate and topped with bananas, Oreos, mascarpone cream and whipped cream.

There are 13 different souffle pancakes to choose from, and they are the perfect item to order when you’re having a leisurely time out with friends or family as they take about 30 minutes to make and are eat-in only.

“No one is allowed to take them out because Mom likes her dishes to be like when they’re made,” Palmmy said, so if you’re thinking of a pick-up-and-go situation with the souffle pancakes, think again. But not to worry, they’re definitely shareable if you need help finishing them, or you can eat them all yourself. No one will judge because they’ll be face-deep in their own delightful selection.

Most items create a wow factor as they’re carried past and customers crane their necks to see what is being delivered to neighboring tables. One such dish is the towering stack of crispy French toasts, about 6 inches or higher, called the Favalanche, which literally looks like a gift box ready to be opened and enjoyed. The avalanche part comes when you dig in and a mass of sweet lusciousness pours out.

In addition to its expansive menu, the restaurant offers a large indoor dining area as well as two outdoor patios—one that can be used for private parties and the other a bright sunny spot by an immense oak tree.

Cici’s is definitely an allthumbs up venue that delights, tantalizes and offers creative and tasty fare that can be enjoyed by any group celebrating a special occasion or just for individuals and families who want a festive and fun morning or afternoon any day of the week.

SIP & SAVOR

Cici’s, Westlake Village: 30990 Russell Ranch Road, Unit B (818) 874-3391 Open daily at 6 a.m. Closes 3 p.m. weekdays, 4 p.m. weekends

Cici’s Cafe, Tarzana: 18912 Ventura Blvd. (818) 881-6704 Open 6 a.m. Tues. thru Sun. Closes 3 p.m. weekdays, 4 p.m. weekends

ciciscafe.com