Cuisine:

• French
• Bistro
• Lounge, club, bar

Ivan Kane's Café Wa s Description:
Nightlife entrepreneur Ivan Kane made his name with his clubs Forty Deuce (it became a TV reality show), Deep (featured in the movie Ocean's Eleven) and Kane on Melrose Avenue. As a former actor, he takes pride in "staging" his venues. Here at his first restaurant, it starts with the neon sign outside, found in a junkyard: what used to read "CAFE ALWAYS OPEN" now also bears his name and a piano keyboard. Then there's the interior, designed in what Kane describes as a bohemian style. Between the bar with its staircase leading to nowhere, the communal room, the mysterious balcony lit with candles, antique mirrors, velvet curtains, the distressed plaster walls and the 1924 revolving grand piano, we like to call it theatrical. Now we must salute the arrival of chef Alex Reznik. In the heart of Hollywood, chef Reznik decided to conceive a menu based on French cuisine and classics. You may begin with small bites like the frogs' legs canapés, tuna tartare or a plate of charcuterie. Larger appetizers can be soupe à l'oignon, escargots, lump crab with heirloom tomatoes, chicken liver pâté on crostini or asparagus salad with a sunny-side up egg in a Bordeaux vinaigrette. Marseille's most famous dish, "la bouillabaisse," is the first item listed among entrées, to be followed by a Toulousian cassoulet, boudin blanc from Ardennes or Parisian steak frites. If the seared foie gras is not on the menu, and it is one of your favorites, ask the chef to prepare it for you as he does it quite well, presented on a brioche. We recommend the artisan cheeses at this stage before moving on to the chocolate soufflé (a must), the pot de crème or the pumpkin spiced beignets. The cocktail list is as fun as the ambience, unless you prefer wine (mostly French and Californian).


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