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Sexy Dining is in at Café Wa s, It is Délicieux!

Posted on 20. Dec, 2008 by Administrator in Lifestyle

words by Caroline Schweich
It’s the newest brainchild by veteran nightclub guru Ivan Kane. As soon as you walk into Café Wa s (and that isn’t a typo), you immediately leave behind the nondescript modern box structures of Sunset and Vine and feel like you’ve entered into a discreet, French private club (I might even say bordello but would that lead you astray?)

Part restaurant, part French private club.

The revolving piano in the center of the dining room.

The décor is bohemian-sexy-French and the food is French brasserie cooking; simple and delicious. Although the restaurant is brand spankin’ new, it has a comfortable, cozy, worn-in feel with great lighting, trompe l’œil paintings, chandeliers, banquettes, red velvet draperies, and the pièce de résistance – A grand piano on a slowly revolving platform in the center of the restaurant .
Ivan Kane is probably best known as the creator and force behind the hugely successful burlesque strip tease nightclubs Forty Deuce, in Hollywood and Las Vegas. Clearly the man knows the nightlife and has a great sense for what people want when they go out, but his success seems to lie in his ability to come up with great new ideas and stick to his guns, or as Ivan says, “retain the integrity of the concept.”
With Café Wa s, Ivan wanted to create, “an experience for all the senses; the palate, the eye, the sound, the feel, the touch.” The result is a completely unique, enveloping and incredibly sensual ambience. It starts before you even walk through the door. Ivan wanted a vintage sign outside to help transform “Hollywood and Vine” into “intimate and sexy bistro.” So he scoured the Vegas neon junkyards and found the perfect sign: CAFÉ ALWAYS OPEN. But when he plugged in the sign, the letters flickered and the only ones that came up were CAFÉ WA S. The sign was restored and thus was born CAFÉ WA S.
And then there’s the food…finally, a real French bistro menu in Los Angeles that’s affordable. From the steak tartare, to the duck confit, the tasty quiches and salads, and one of the best chocolate soufflés I’ve had in a long time – it is all deliciously French and cooked to perfection. And it’s no wonder; the executive chef comes straight from Lutece in Vegas. What’s even more French is that the kitchen serves its full menu until 2am – a most welcome addition in Los Angeles where your post-10pm dinner choices are usually limited to diners and pizza. Don’t knock ‘em, I love a good late night burger or pizza but isn’t it great to know that you can ALSO have onion soup au gratin as your midnight snack?
So if you’re looking for the perfect first date (or 100th date or anything in between for that matter) restaurant, this is it; it’s romantic, sensual, yummy, and fun. You don’t need to worry if you run out of conversation with your date (be real, it happens), just sit back, eat, enjoy the live music and watch the piano player rotate. And if things get too bad (with your date that is), you can end the evening at the bar – it’s comfortable, convivial and filled with prospects! This may be just the place for your special five-course menu prix fixe New Year’s dinner and dancing evening or your weekend Burt Bacharach Brunch. Either way, the bohemian feel and great food will make you feel like you could spend hours here. And the best part is – you really can.

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Tags: Café Wa s, Ivan Kane