Sail Into Breakfast at 26 Beach Restaurant

This time of year, desserts become de rigeur, with cookies and candies appearing at every occasion.

For those of us whose sweet tooths have grown into Twilight-worthy fangs, we need to sate with sugar at every opportunity. At Washington Boulevards's 26 Beach Restaurant, Proprietor and Executive Chef Francis Mori is offering a dessert-like breakfast entry, seasonably named the "Polar Bear."

26 Beach, which is entering its 26th year of service to Venice, has a heated outdoor garden that can seat 50 people, and a cozy indoor formal dining space, there is plenty of room for every taste.

The Polar Bear: two pieces of french croissant-style toast with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, fresh berries, melba sauce and grated white chocolate.

First impression: The french toast is so sugary and fluffy that I feel almost as if I have accidentally ordered dessert, and the vanilla ice cream pairs with the fruit decandently.

Taste vs. Texture: The warm, flaky toast is so hot that the vanilla ice cream is half melted by the time I get it, but the fresh berries and white chocolate are so sweet and textured that it all balances out. It's almost like I have french toast with a sugary soup on top – which is meant as a compliment.

Overall: Five words: Sweet and fruity breakfast treat.

Price: $14

26 Beach Restaurant, 3100 Washington Blvd.; 310-823-7526. Open Mon. – Fri. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.