Starting Out Right

Some call breakfast the most important meal of the day.

Caffe Latte, 6254 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (213) 936-5213. Style: Hugo offspring. Setting: Bright and unpretentious. Recommended dishes: caffe latte (coffee is roasted on the premises); Jody Maroni’s chicken sausage; hot cereal. Cost per person: $6-$15.

Checkers, 535 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 624-0000. Style: Dignified downtown dining. Setting: Inoffensive tan tones. Recommended dishes: fresh-squeezed orange juice; basket of fresh-baked breakfast breads; cafe au lait. Cost per person: $8-15.

The Coffee Shop at the Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills. (213) 276-2251. Style: Breakfast made the way it should be. Setting: Quirky counter. Recommended dishes: two eggs, bacon, hash browns and orange juice. Cost per person: $15.

Maple Drive, 345 N. Maple Drive., Beverly Hills. (213) 274-9800. Style: 72 Market St., The Upscale Sequel. Setting: Big-budget beautiful. Recommended dishes: pain au chocolat ; Belgian waffle; mushroom, spinach and cheese omelet. Cost per person: $8-$15.

The Wholly Cow, 19346 Rinaldi St., Northridge. (818) 368-4150. Style: House of breakfasts, burgers and bovine art. Setting: A moo -ving experience. Recommended: Belgian waffle; French toast; eggs Benedict. Cost per person: $5-$10.