Royal Egg Cafe Doubles As Family Nest

At the Royal Egg Café, newly opened in Westlake Village, locally sourced breakfast food is the order of the day. And the hours are good for raising a family, says Bree Gugliuzza, who with husband, Jaron Gugliuzza, has created a menu that adds new takes on old classics, while still excelling at such tried-and-true breakfast favorites as applewood smoked bacon served with free-range eggs.

“We try to use as many organic ingredients as possible, especially in our animal products. We make sure our eggs are from organic free-range chickens that are out in sunlight, and are all locally sourced. Our coffee is all organic and roasted in Northern California. We get quite a few things from Babe Farms and Underwood in Moorpark,” Bree says.

With a 2-year-old and a 3-month-old, juggling motherhood and running a new restaurant can be a challenge. The baby, born in late February, still stays nestled on Mom’s chest while Bree works, while the 2-year-old plays nearby.

To keep pace with their growing family the Gugliuzzas, who met at the Academy of Culinary Education in Woodland Hills, decided a breakfast restaurant would not only fill a niche in the area but also offered hours conducive to family life.

“My husband was doing catering for the motion picture industry from 2:30 in the morning to 7pm. He noticed a super high demand and appreciation for breakfast. In addition to wanting to work for ourselves, we wanted to have time in the evening for family,” Bree says. “We’ve always loved breakfast and find that most people do. He is a chef and I’m a baker.”

The menu at the Royal Egg comprises such popular items as Spicy Jalapeño Chicken Hash, with poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, shaved fennel, lemon and baby kale salad; or crispy pork belly sandwiches. There’s an entire line of avocado toasts served on whole-grain bread, or house-made ricotta toast topped with seasonal jam.

Healthy choices include kale quinoa cakes, berry oatmeal porridge or a royal harvest bowl filled with grains, kale and wild mushrooms and topped with poached eggs, avocado, feta cheese and salsa roja.

While there isn’t a children’s menu per se, Bree says the huckleberry ricotta pancakes or eggs and bacon can be requested in children’s portions.

Although the restaurant is open from 7am until 3pm, there isn’t a dedicated lunch menu. Bree says most of the items, including their breakfast burritos and breakfast tacos, also make delicious lunchtime meals. And we agree.

The Royal Egg Café
30815 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.,
Westlake Village
TheRoyalEggCafe.com