lupicia tea

This shop is such a gem for tea lovers, it almost redeems the Century City mall for me. We fell in over the holidays on the hunt for gifts and ended up taking care of a good part of our list in this store alone.

They have an amazing selection of teas and an incredibly knowledgeable staff. They carry everything from a line of more than 200 loose teas - many of which are hard to find or original blends - to beautiful tea pots and accoutrement, and great gift boxes and holiday sets. The prices aren't cheap, but are reasonable for the quality. And even if you're not in the market to buy, they're very generous with the samples.

Their specialty is Japanese tea (given that they have more than 80 locations in Japan, this shouldn't come as a surprise), so if you're a fan, this place needs to go on your favorites list. The Gyukoro Green is great, as is the selection of Genmai Cha. Other favorites include the Sweet Dreams blend (cut ginger, chamomile, dried apple, fennel, bluemallow), which is a must if you find yourself sick, and one of their top-sellers, the Champagne Rose (black tea). If you like spicy, the chai selection is fantastic.

To learn more, you can check out their website which has recently been translated to Engrish.

Westfield Century City Mall
Los Angeles, CA 90067

bread bar

In a sea of Atkins inspired protein peddlers, Breadbar is a refreshing return to what eating is supposed to be.. good, simple, comforting, food.

The space - both indoors and out on the patio - is inviting, and when you walk through the door, the sweet smell of baked goodness is hard to resist. The beautiful display of floor to ceiling bread loaves that flank the entry wall is impressive and enough to make any foodie weak at the knees. If you're in the mood for brek, the omelettes - for example, eggplant and gorgonzola (all paired with a complementary artisan bread) with fig brioche - are yummy, and if you're in the mood for a splurge, the french toast is hard to beat. For lunch, the sandwiches on a wide variety of fresh baked breads are super tasty.

Despite not coming out of the oven, the oatmeal was a great alternative if you're there on a cold morning. Same goes for the coffee, lattes and capps, which were all much better than average. The first server we had was a checked out ass, but his replacement was sweet as pie and on the ball to right what he'd wronged, so overall, no complaints on that front.

Don't forget to grab a loaf (or two) and some pastries for the road. You'll be sorry if you don't! You might think of this place as a splurge to blow the glycemic bank on, but they manage to balance things out with reasonable portions unlike what you'd expect to find.

Though this isn't a spot I'd necessarily go out of my way to frequent, as an option at the mall after harried shopping or catching a matinee flick, it doesn't get much better.

10250 Santa Monica Boulevard
Century City Mall
Century City, CA 90067

(310) 277-3770

ummba grill

** Update** If you happen to be at the mall on the weekend, check out Brazilian Sundays. Live music and dancing from 5-8p starting this month. (4/8/07)

Another addition to the new AMC theatre and food court at the Century City Mall, this is a poor man's Foga de Chao - except that at an average of $20-$25/person, it ain't that cheap.

If you don't have time for a sit down meal but don't want to deal with crowds and families in the food court, this is a nice option. The Brazilian churrascaria grilled meats are sliced to order while the myriad selection of hot and cold side dishes are offered up buffet style.

Food is weighed and purchased by the pound - which can make for a great deal if you load up on the grilled meats, fish and shrimp and salad. You have the option of going entirely self-service and taking a table (which is great if you're in a hurry to catch a flick) or you can be seated and have a server make your plate.

One of the greater appeals is the interesting set-up with indoor or lounge style outdoor seating, as well as a full service bar - complete with a flat screen for catching sports scores - with seating both in and out.

Service was pleasant enough though some of the food was over salted which speaks to inconsistencies in the kitchen, but for something other than being stuck with the food court, this is a great pick.

10250 Santa Monica Blvd
Century City, CA 90067
(310) 552-2014