On November 13, I was invited to attend media dinner at Ivan Kane’s latest venture at Sunset + Vine. Kane and wife Suzy had prior successes with Forty Deuce on Melrose and Deep at the corner of Hollywood & Vine. Remember the pulsing nightclub at the beginning of “Ocean’s Eleven”? That was Deep. Ivan Kane clearly knows hot to create a vibe. He’s hoping he and his wife can score again with Café Wa s.

We filed into the mezzanine bar lounge, known as the “absinthe bar,” which overlooks the moody New Orleans-style dining room. Jason Volenec and Silvia Zofio from RKIT Design molded the former home of Schwab’s. Booths emanate in concentric circles from a rotating 1924 Mason and Hamlin grand piano. This wasn’t stale piano music. The singer was playing the kind of music you’d hear on KROQ or Indie 103.1.

The name of the restaurant has drawn puzzled glances from passersby and even some ire from LA food bloggers. Here’s the short explanation: Kane found a sign in a Vegas junkyard that read CAFE – ALWAYS OPEN, with all but the W, A and S burned out.

Chef Alex Reznik is turning out seasonal French bistro food. He tries to source ingredients locally whenever possible, including shellfish from Carlsbad Aquafarm. Kane found Reznik in Las Vegas, where he was chef at Bally’s Steak House and Les Artistes Restaurant, and before that at Lutèce in the Venetian.

Here are selections from the media dinner menu, to give you a sense of what to expect:

Mezzanine Bar Lounge

Traditional Absinthe Cocktail (made using absinthe fountain and sugar cubes)
Café Wa s Champagne Cocktail with St. Germain

Main Dining Room

Coquille Saint Jacques (sea scallops) – potato puree / chanterelle / pork belly / chicken jus

Medallion de Crabe Napoleon – lumb crab / heirloom tomatoes / avocado

Served family style:
Gratin de Macaroni / mac ‘n cheese
Haricots Vert / French green beans
Les Champignons Sauvages / wild mushrooms

Pumpkin Spiced Beignets – cranberry marmalade / brown sugar vanilla ice cream

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This entry is filed under LA Culinary Compass.