It’s not too odd that a café could also be called a learning place, because plenty of people do their studying at local coffeehouses. Almost all of these establishments have free wifi, comfy chairs and tables, and abundant caffeine, plus baked goods for those moments when you need to nosh to keep that brainpower steady. While you’re sitting down to a languid breakfast, the person at the next table may be practicing for a geometry test by trying to calculate the volume of coffee served on a typical day.
There are probably students who use the recently opened Mychal’s for this purpose, but at this establishment the learning goes both ways. Many of the staff at Mychal’s have developmental disabilities and thrive in a working environment where their abilities are developed and taken in stride.
You wouldn’t know any of this on arriving at their Artesia Boulevard storefront, because it looks like any other cheerful café with a pastry case and selection of coffees on the chalkboard. Manager Paola Lerman was behind the counter when we visited and gave us a tour of the pastries in the case, all of which are made in their bakery, which also employs developmentally disabled people. The menu here is short but covers the bases, with standard breakfasts, salads, and sandwiches along with the soup of the day. On a previous visit I ordered their chocolate croissant, and despite my usual pattern of ordering something different on every review meal, I got one again when I visited this week. We also selected a breakfast burrito, yogurt parfait, turkey sandwich, and hummus toast, along with the coffees that are integral to starting our day.
We had the options of dining on the pleasant shaded patio behind the restaurant or in the dining room, and chose the indoor space. We wouldn’t have done that in any previous restaurant in this space because the décor was sparse and the sonic environment was awful, but improvements have been made in both. Colorful art is on the walls, and the formerly loud and echoing room is measurably quieter because of some ceiling mounted geometric fixtures that I had assumed were decorative. They are, but functional too, and they make a big difference. If you had been avoiding this space because you remember it as one where you would not wish to linger, you need not do that now.
Our meals and coffee arrived within 15 minutes of ordering, all items but the burrito attractively presented. (There just isn’t that much you can do with to dress up the visuals of an unsauced burrito.) It was a good standard breakfast burrito with a nicely zippy tomatillo sauce on the side. The yogurt parfait was prettier, with strawberries, mint leaves, and a sprinkle of granola across the top. That’s the nature of the dish – there is something about layering the granola, yogurt, and fruit that calls forth the artist in whoever makes it. Some places make these in advance, which is undoubtedly more efficient but means the granola gets soggy, but this one was obviously fresh and very good.
The turkey sandwich on ciabatta was a standard item well made, with tomato, red onion, arugula, and a dash of chipotle mayo to add some zip to it. A small bowl of melon and berries completed the plate. Like the other items here, the portion was adequate but not excessive. If you’re a big eater, select something from the pastry case when you order and you’ll be satisfied.
I did exactly that with the chocolate croissant that arrived alongside my hummus toast, and was glad I did. The croissant was unusual, not as highly risen as the French classic but very crisp, with bittersweet rather than sweet chocolate. I like this variation and expect to get another one next time I stop by.
The hummus on my toast was beany and moist, with light garlic and oil – not the classic Lebanese dish that tends to have a little graininess to it. This was topped with arugula, cucumber, pickled red onion, and slices of watermelon radish, a nice flavor balance. A slice of lemon was on the side, but I didn’t think it added anything because this was fine just as it was.
While Mychal’s is a learning server for developmentally disabled people, there was no difference from a standard café in our experience. There was little small talk with customers at tables because that had been handled at the front counter. Servers and bussers cleared tables and walked around the premises with trays, efficiently doing their jobs, working just like anybody else. Helping those with mental disabilities enter the labor force as equals is part of the mission of this company, and they do it well enough that you can forget that mission exists.
Mychal’s puts out a good meal at a reasonable price, so fulfills their mission to customers at the same time as they do well for a community that is often underestimated or exploited. I’d visit the café on its own merits and will do so more often because I respect the owners’ dedication to their cause.
Mychal’s is at 2302 Artesia Boulevard in North Redondo. Open 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. We-Su, parking in rear (enter from Mackay Lane). Wheelchair access good. (310) 297-9333. Mychals.org. ER
