John Vignolo
Staff Writer
Impresario Ivan Kane is famous for his nightclubs in Hollywood and Las Vegas. His newest venture, a restaurant in Hollywood known as Café Was, offers an atypical dining experience with an enthralling atmosphere.
Café Was, located on North Vine Street, hopes to become the new Hollywood hot spot, with an extensive and extremely detailed Bohemian French theme woven throughout the restaurant.
When first entering Café Was, one is immediately drawn into this theme. The “Stairway to Nowhere,” a homage to the mysterious Winchester House, offers as a place for patrons to chill and have drinks. It is set just a few feet from the bar area and offers a premium view of new customers entering the restaurant.
Café Was’ Bohemian French theme, including European Expressionism art on the walls and a rotating piano floor in the main dining area, all add to the experience. In addition, large curtains cover most of the view of the street keep restaurant-goers captivated.
A room under the “Stairway to Nowhere” is filled with couches and books from German-American poet and novelist Charles Bukowski. The second floor of the restaurant is slightly cramped with three small tables, a second bar and a small side room. It has a couch for young Hollywood starlets to hide from the paparazzi or for customers to relax from the bar scene or main dining area.
A mezzanine view from these tables allows patrons on the second floor to look down on the activity on the first floor, centered by a spotlight on an artist sitting at the floor piano that slowly rotates.
Tiny candles at each table and a small number of lampshades spread throughout illuminate the restaurant. Seating is intimate with red banquettes and black tables that surround the piano in the main room. The main room includes two small balconies for decoration and walls that resemble classic French architecture, with large candles and painted windows.
The menu is extensive, created with the help of an award-winning chef. It provides great options for customers to begin and end the meal. Every selection on the menu is in French, with a few words in English for explanation. The waiters are more than willing to accommodate horrible mispronunciations, however, and are able to clarify or elaborate on any of the menu options with ease.
There is a large selection of appetizers that con
sist of many options, such as a signature onion soup and potato chips made fresh. Salads are large,
with just the right amount of dressing, ranging from $9 to $12. Entrées include the classic Bistro Burger and other delicious options, such as the steak frites, salmon and lamp chops. All are in a reasonable price range of $15 to $27.
Each entrée comes with a few sides such as brioche, spinach and fries. The fries are nothing special and the steak frites are not very tender, but the desserts are a satisfying cap to any meal.
The nightly crowd in Café Was skews slightly older than the young celebrity audience the restaurant hopes to attract. Although the average patron in Kane’s Café looked to be in their late 30s, the restaurant gladly welcomes any age group and accepts casual attire.
09-04-2008
