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Magazine says Oxnard eatery a top national breakfast spot

Esquire picks Mrs. Olson's

By Jenni = Mintz (Cont= act)=20
Saturday, February 7, 2009

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Photo by Chuck Kirman / Star staff February 6, 2009 = Ventura: A=20 colorful painting displayed on the door of the ladies room at Mrs. = Olson=C2=B4s=20 Coffee Hut February 6, 2009.

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They thought it was a prank call.

When Esquire magazine phoned Mrs. Olson=E2=80=99s Coffee Hut in = December with news=20 that the Oxnard restaurant was named one of the best breakfast places in = the=20 country, Manager Lissa McGraw said: =E2=80=9CWe were a little = apprehensive and=20 dubious.=E2=80=9D

But it was no joke. Two photographers came the next day to take = pictures for=20 the magazine. Still, McGraw won=E2=80=99t believe it until she sees = it.

It shouldn=E2=80=99t be such a shock. For years, the funky and = popular restaurant on=20 Los Altos Street has fetched quite a following, which has not escaped = the=20 attention of national media such as The New York Times. On weekends, the = place=20 is packed with a line out the door. The typical wait time is 45 minutes = to one=20 hour.

=E2=80=9CWithout Mrs. Olson=E2=80=99s, I=E2=80=99d probably = starve,=E2=80=9D said Fred Roberts, a general=20 contractor from Malibu. =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m single, so I don=E2=80=99t = do too much cooking.=E2=80=9D

The waitresses are like family, Roberts said. That along with the = service,=20 reasonable prices and atmosphere keep him coming back about three or = four times=20 a week.

Gary Herrera, a general contractor from Oxnard, agreed.

=E2=80=9CThe girls make you feel like Norm from = =E2=80=98Cheers,=E2=80=99 =E2=80=9D he said, echoing a common=20 sentiment among customers. And it=E2=80=99s no accident.

When Tom =E2=80=9CBrim=E2=80=9D Brimigion bought Mrs. Olson=E2=80=99s = eight years ago from its=20 original owner, he told his 15-member crew he wanted a = =E2=80=9CCheers=E2=80=9D mentality. His=20 waitresses take that seriously. They remember names and = customers=E2=80=99 preferences,=20 such as where they like to sit and if they like orange juice or apple = juice.

The old-time charm was a big part of the appeal to the staff at = Esquire. It=20 is the magazine=E2=80=99s first guide to the country=E2=80=99s best = breakfast places, which will=20 hit newsstands Feb. 17. The list is =E2=80=9Cunranked, incomplete, and = unimpeachable=E2=80=9D=20 and has one single rule: no brunch allowed, according to the = magazine.

=E2=80=9CThese are places that take breakfast seriously,=E2=80=9D = said Ryan D=E2=80=99Agostino, the=20 article=E2=80=99s editor. =E2=80=9CThey don=E2=80=99t try to make it = fancy where it doesn=E2=80=99t need to=20 be.=E2=80=9D

The magazine tossed around a long list of possibilities, pitched by = its=20 writers and top contributors across the country, before narrowing the = choices=20 down to 59 restaurants. Of those, just three were photographed for the = article,=20 including Mrs. Olson=E2=80=99s.

D=E2=80=99Agostino was intrigued by the restaurant=E2=80=99s = quirkiness, personality and=20 patriotic theme.

=E2=80=9CIt looks like the kind of place you want to have = breakfast,=E2=80=9D D=E2=80=99Agostino=20 said.

The patriotism is a reflection of Brimigion, a retired Los Angeles = police=20 officer who served in the Marine Corps.

Many of the regulars are military officers. Some have brought = American flags=20 back from overseas, which are hanging on the restaurant=E2=80=99s walls, = along with=20 other mementos.

=E2=80=9CIt=E2=80=99s a cool place that military come to and feel = loved and cared about,=E2=80=9D=20 McGraw said.

Many look forward to midday Sunday, when Brimigion blasts the Daniel=20 Rodriguez version of =E2=80=9CGod Bless America=E2=80=9D on the sound = system as a tribute to men=20 and women in uniform. Some patrons typically chime in. It=E2=80=99s a = tradition=20 Brimigion started after 9/11 terrorists attacks.

McGraw believes Mrs. Olson=E2=80=99s was selected because = it=E2=80=99s a step back in=20 time.

=E2=80=9CWe=E2=80=99re old-school. This is how we do = business,=E2=80=9D she said, gesturing to a cash=20 register more than a century old.

That=E2=80=99s not to say the restaurant still operates from that = time period. She=20 describes it as fast-paced: =E2=80=9CYou have to be an adrenaline junkie = to work here,=20 because it=E2=80=99s so nuts.=E2=80=9D

The eatery is a little slow on weekdays but is = =E2=80=9Ccrazy=E2=80=9D on weekends, she said.=20 Mrs. Olson=E2=80=99s has even attracted new customers because of the = closing of other=20 restaurants such as Applebee=E2=80=99s, Bakers Square and Uncle = Herb=E2=80=99s.

=E2=80=9CWe=E2=80=99re not going anywhere,=E2=80=9D McGraw said.

Discussions

There are 32 comments to this=20 article.

Comments are found beneath the Yahoo! ad below.

Comments

Posted by Hueneme1961 on = February 7, 2009=20 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

I love the place.

Posted by 50_years_in_Snard on = February=20 7, 2009 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

How difficult would it have been to include the address ? It's not = pandering,=20 it's news.

Posted by cheryl.torres on = February 7,=20 2009 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

How nice would of it been to mention the original owner Corrine and = how she=20 named the coffee hut after her mom. Corrine's mom would always have = fresh baked=20 homemade pies daily. Corrine brought the sense of personal service = decades ago,=20 not with the new owner in the last 8 years. Corrine and her family were = locals=20 on Hollywood beach. It was wonderful and to remember Ray Urbano the ex=20 professional wrestler many moons ago who was the cook at Mrs. Olson's. = That is=20 just a little of the history.

Posted by RedTail on February = 7, 2009 at=20 8:49 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

I'll have to check out this place!
I also think Cactus Patch in = Moorpark=20 should be added to the list.

Posted by Adam_Monroe on = February 7, 2009=20 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

You SEE people!?

There's PLENTY more stuff to do in this city than just get shot = at!

Posted by ThinkLogically on = February 7,=20 2009 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Definitely agree with you about the Cactus Patch in Moorpark, = RedTail.=20 :-)

Posted by cynstriss on February = 7, 2009=20 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

cheryl,torres, thanks for all of the background info. It's nice to = hear such=20 details.

Posted by ElectricSpeed on = February 7,=20 2009 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Cactus Patch is super good!

Posted by UncleRico on February = 7, 2009=20 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Cool. Support the local independents!

Posted by nojustice_justus on = February 7,=20 2009 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Yes there is A_M. I haven't been there but just another place = suggested to=20 eat at by acquaintances.

The list: Tomas' on A St., Mrs Olsen's at the beach, off of Harbor=20 Blvd.

Posted by dcsfancy on February = 7, 2009 at=20 11:01 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Mrs. Olson's Coffee Hut

117 Los Altos St, Oxnard
Phone: 805-985-9151

Posted by kwdphoto on February = 7, 2009 at=20 11:38 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Address? Phone number? HOURS?

Posted by Old_Fart on February = 7, 2009 at=20 11:42 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Best breakfast around. HUGE and cheap and very good

Posted by kwdphoto on February = 7, 2009 at=20 11:55 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

ahhhh thank you!! it wasnt up when I posted. ;p

Posted by lilchicago2013 on = February 7,=20 2009 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

this is great to see local business do good, everybody should support = their=20 local business,thats how we r going to get out of this mess the = goverment=20 made

Posted by vtaco93021 on = February 7, 2009=20 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Cactus patch? If your lookin for good homemade B N gravy dont go = there. B n=20 Gravy is camarillo airport cafe, Mrs Olsens and that place across the = street=20 from vta mall. Never been to thomas on A st Hows there B n = gravy???

Posted by nojustice_justus on = February 7,=20 2009 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

That's a Stonewall question-he knows the place. I hear though that = there is=20 'influence' from Uncle Herb's there now. I would venture to say its very = good.

Posted by njsdaddy on February = 7, 2009 at=20 1:16 p.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

The place across form the mall in Ventura Is Alison's. I agree best = B&G=20 in VTA County.

I've been going to Mrs. Olsen's since it first opened. I did like it = a bit=20 more when it was owned by Corrine and Jack. I remember all the = photography that=20 was up on the walls. I think their soon was the photographer.

I like Brim and recall back after 9/11 how he'd have everyone stand = and sing=20 God Bless America. I think He's retired LASD, not LAPD as the article = seems to=20 suggest. I believe he still lives here in Camarillo.

Posted by vtaco93021 on = February 7, 2009=20 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Mandalay bay. Yes son was photog. It seems once the girls got all = married=20 then they sold

Posted by njsdaddy on February = 7, 2009 at=20 4:13 p.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

I think Jack and Corrine got a divorce if I'm not mistaken.

While we're at it, I'd love to hear more about Thomas on A st.

I like Eggs & Things too, but the choices could be a bit more=20 diverse.

Green House Cafe in Thousand Oaks: eat there this AM for the first = time.=20 Lousy service, lousy food. It was packed an I am stunned. I guess it's = cheap=20 food. It's been a long time since I've had service that = bad.

Posted by slkrchck on February = 7, 2009 at=20 4:41 p.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

it's not mandalay bay, it's hollywood beach and it's been fantastic = my whole=20 life. i will say, however, i've really been diggin' allison's these last = few=20 years. serious competition and fab chilaquiles. best in = town(s).

Posted by deepwater805 on = February 7,=20 2009 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

That Mrs Olsen's is picked as a top breakfast stop is no accident. = For years=20 my friends and I have rotated our breakfasts to several restaurants = around the=20 Ventura/Oxnard area a few times a week, and Mrs Olsen's is the best, = both in=20 food and service. No doubt about it: It's at the top of the breakfast=20 foodchain.

Posted by lrgvanman on February = 7, 2009=20 at 6:42 p.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

I like Dorothy's Chuck Wagon in old downtown Camarillo as = well.

Posted by atbravo on February = 7, 2009 at=20 7:09 p.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Mrs olsen's is good BUT you need to try Tomas cafe at 622 so Ast they = are=20 open 7 days a week from 7:30 to 2pm you get a lot of food and its good = and fresh=20 and the cinnamon rolls are made fresh everyday and the coffee is the = best around=20 the ph is 483-6633

Posted by Kooky on February 9, = 2009 at=20 7:09 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Pete's Breakfast House is the best breakfast in all of the VC but get = there=20 early because it gets crowded. Worth it though, everything is so fresh = and made=20 from scratch. I believe Uncle Herb's is soon about to reopen under the = name=20 Uncle Dagmars.

Posted by malmazan on February = 9, 2009 at=20 12:28 p.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

The address:

Mrs. Olson's Coffee Hut

117 Los Altos St, Oxnard
Phone: 805-985-9151
Cuisine: = Coffee

Posted by stonewall on February = 9, 2009=20 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Never been to thomas? on A st Hows there B n gravy??? same as Uncle=20 Herbs.

Best B & gravey in VC mine via GMA Recipe: Paula Deen's Biscuits = and=20 Sawmill Gravy use hot sausage

A-list, Cafe Oak View, Tomas cafe Oxnard,Cactus Patch Moorpark, = Alison's=20 Ventura. will make it a point to try Mrs. Olson=E2=80=99s Coffee Hut = also of note is i=20 think it's dw's on ventura rd.

Posted by FedUp on February 9, = 2009 at=20 2:20 p.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

I would like to try Mrs. Olsons sometime. I love breakfast.

I do have to say though that Allisons has been going downhill the = past few=20 years. service and food has not been as good. Petes is always too = crowded, eggs=20 n things is just nasty. Cafe Nuveau and tutti's downtown get my current = votes=20 for best in the area.

I'll have to try Mrs. Olsons though. I love the idea of the=20 patriotism.

Posted by BeaHappi on February = 9, 2009 at=20 4:12 p.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Love, love, love Mrs. Olsens! It's the BEST place for breakfast, = hands=20 down.

Congratulations!

Posted by vcca on February 9, = 2009 at=20 7:59 p.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Mrs. Olson's pumpkin pancakes are soooo good, gotta get back there. I = like=20 Cajun Kitchen in Ventura too, love their sausage and = grits.

Posted by espieortega on = February 10,=20 2009 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Tomas Cafe is not really great....nothing like Uncle Herbs and over=20 priced!!!!

Posted by Scapegoat on February = 10, 2009=20 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest=20 removal)

Go up the coast to Carpinteria. Try 'The Worker Bee'. It's very good = as=20 well.

Also in Ventura on Thompson, for the best Chile Verde omelets try = 'The=20 Vagabond Restaurant'. Same owner and waitresses for 40 = years!

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Magazine says Oxnard eatery a top national breakfast spot

Esquire picks Mrs. Olson's

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