Ivan Kane’s Café Was

OH NO! i went to get dinner here a few weeks ago and its CLOSED. No no :(
you will be missed café was.
What other places are like this in hollywood?

Oof.
We got there for our Sunday, 7 pm reservation, and it was the most depressing place on Earth. They were playing Nirvana on the soundsystem since the live music cancelled (not their fault, the cancelling I mean), and the place was DEAD. In a creepy way.
There were 2 other couples in the whole place who were like in their mid 60s.
And, the booth they sat us in was dirty and stained, which you could see since the sun was still out.
I was so disappointed with the ambiance that we left and went to try Hungry Cat instead. We had a $ 45 Groupon that expires this week but it was still worth it to just leave.
I’ll give this a shot one more time and hopefully the ambience is a little less depressing.

Oh how I want to give this place more stars, but I just can’t. They forced me not too. Let’s start on a good note.
This place is beautiful on the inside. Small, but beautiful. The pictures on the website are a little misleading… they lead you to believe this place is roomier than it really is. The bartender made me a wonderful Mojito… mmmmmm my mouth is still watering thinking of it.
OK, that’s all the positives. So we went here for the 40 Deuce show. And we had a party of 12. Some how they tried to fit us in the smallest possible seating space. I was so close to everyone I could intercept my friend spoon of soup on the way to her mouth. The food was HORRIBLE. HORRIBLE like the worse I’ve ever had. The soup was like unseasoned baby food, the meat was tough and flavorless and everything was even more terrible.
Just come for the show go to McDonald’s… their food is better.

«We paid $ 15 for unlimited booze until 4 o’clock, and bitch better have my Champagne. It’s almost 3:59… «
“Whoa! That was fast. She’s already here with a refill! It’s like she knew I was out before I finished the glass.»
That sums it up. The service is phenomenal, and anticipates your wants before you can so much as ask. The food is pornographically presented, and brunch is divine. If you’ve ever seen the French onion soup, you know what I’m talking about.
The location is perfect, the ambiance is really neat, and if I lived in Los Angeles, I’d have brunch here every week. Every. Week.

I will always be a fan of any bar that makes a delicious, strong, cucumber martini.
And with good martinis, comes good music. The transition from Warren G’s Regulators to a live jazz band/​BURLESQUE SHOW was odd… but, nonetheless entertaining. It just fit all of my fancies in one night. :)
The girls were not amateurs and put on quite a show with the guys in the band… and with any guy who happened to be standing nearby… and pretty much all over the place. The band was really talented and the sax and the bass really jammed out. ** CORRECTION: Forty Deuce show on Fridays only — two shows — 10p and midnight. Saturdays — JR Rotem’s Jazz Quartet (no dancers). **
More cocktails and burlesque, please.

Seeing a show here was a wonderful experience and my out-​of-​town guests were thrilled. The joint looks like a speakeasy, it’s intimate but very well designed and decorated, like a place you’d see in the early days of New Orleans.
Food was good, service was spectacular. Still, a little room for improvement: 1) my dish came with «crème fraîche» but it was heavily spiced and tasted like that soup mix that you add to sour cream to make onion dip. It absolutely must have contained MSG or some other artificial chemical because I had a reaction to it similar to when I accidentally ingest MSG. If you’re sensitive, I’d avoid it and anything else, like salad dressings, that may not actually be homemade. 2) the tap water they serve was abysmal tasting and kind of ruins your palate. I know some nicer restaurants offer bottled water for sale, but for the prices charged here they could invest in a water purifier and serve better water with their meals. The metallic taste was very noticeable and a bad capper to our meal.
Those are just tweaks though. We’d definitely come back. Café Was is a class-​act.

Best brunch in LA, hands down. My friends and I have been coming here regularly since the place opened. It is also a wonderfully romantic dinner spot (especially on Fridays when they have the 40 Deuce Burlesque show), but I have a special place in my heart for their brunch.
First of all, the food: perfect egg dishes. Their omelets and benedicts are so amazing. They used to have a quiche du jour as well, though unfortunately, that’s no longer on the menu. The cheese plate is also great and desserts should not be missed (the chocolate souflee is perfect and worth the 20 minute wait).
The drinks: bottomless mimosas, champagne, and bloody marys. Doesn’t get any better than that! They really keep the drinks coming, too, so don’t be afraid to go for the bottomless. You will get your refills, so it’s totally worth the $ 15. I think their coffee is quite excellent as well. The dinner menu offers a great wine list, including a great deal on carafes of house wine.
The service: contrary to some of the other reviews, I’d say overall the service is excellent. Out of the dozens of times I’ve been here, maybe a couple times I’ve had slow service, but the wait staff is incredibly nice and always apologetic if the kitchen is backed up. We often see Ivan Kane here, going from table to table, making sure everyone has everything the need. It’s not the fastest service on the planet, but excellent for a leisurely meal with friends, which is why I go to a place like this.
The ambiance: truly what makes this place so unique and special. It’s like Disney’s the Haunted Mansion for grown ups. Bring your friends, family, or a date here — they’ll all be impressed. On a sunny morning or afternoon, pull up a chair outside and enjoy the private patio.
Oh, and it’s great for groups. I’m organizing a birthday brunch for my boyfriend here this weekend, and have been to a couple other bday dinners and brunches here. Always a good time!

Ivan Kane’s Café Was and the Forty Deuce show was recommended to me by my coworker awhile back but I never found the time to go. However, it was Valentine’s Weekend so I figured it would be a good opportunity to take my significant other and try something out of the norm. From what my coworker told me, I was just expecting a dinner and a French burlesque show and imagined it was just a fancier French version of Medieval Times. As usual, I was wrong. The décor was simply fantastic. It really felt like we were in a dim lit French café
with candle light throughout the entire restaurant.
We were specifically there for their Forty Deuce show so they sat us right next to the stage. The Forty Deuce show came with a prefix four course menu. The first plate they brought out was surprisingly tiny and consisted of two small morsel of food. Immediately, we thought that we wouldn’t get full tonight and was already planning on a back up meal elsewhere. However, after tanking the first bite, our mouths were just stunned by the unusual pairing of flavors. Both the bacon drizzled with chocolate sauce and spicy cupcake melded opposing flavors, creating a new delight as we savor every bit of it. And that was pretty much the theme of the following plates that they brought out. Small portions, but perfect in every other way, beautifully arranged, cooked till it melts in your mouth, and an explosion of taste.
They waited until we were about finished with our main course before they started the burlesque show. There were two dancers and a three man jazz band. The show was just electrifying. Both dancers brought a lot of energy into the room. It was definitely a demonstration of physique and not smut. At the end of the show, we wanted more and felt disappointed that it was over. The show was long enough for us to finish our dessert and wine, but time sure flies when you’re enjoying yourself.
Ivan Kane’s Café Was and the Forty Deuce show was amazing. The small plate, big taste, European style meal was a delightful experience. Factor in the French burlesque dancers and our night was perfect.

I have been here a bazillion times now, lunch, Sunday brunch, cocktail hour, New Year’s Eve and last night, for dinner. Hubby and I decided to avoid the crowds of Valentine’s Day and have dinner at what can now be called our favorite place to dine in LA, Café Was. We love the atmosphere and is one place that makes dining a true experience. You can eat good food at a lot of places but I can honestly say this place has good food and a good atmosphere, so its the whole package.
Last night, I had perfect service (something that was always the reason I gave these guys a 4), perfect cocktails, perfect puff pastry, perfect mac n cheese, perfect Chicken Cesar Salad, perfect steak frites, and beyond perfect, you could say, heavenly, cinnamon beignets with ice cream and chocolate sauce!
All in all, a perfect evening and as usual, I can’t wait to go back, I think the only thing left I haven’t tried is the forty deuce show. That will be next!

My friend & I were pleasantly surprised Café Was, because it’s definitely much better inside than how it appears outside.
Atmosphere is very interesting: mix of burlesque meets old Hollywood… and bar/​lounge meets restaurant feel… The lighting was very dim yet pinkish, there were random props that would belong to burlesque girls, the bar area was packed, there seem to be a small dance floor, tables were randomly spread apart… and yeah, slightly confusing, but in a good way???
I especially liked the cute ‘reserved’ sign on the table for us. Service was also great!
Now to the food, for French fusion, it wasn’t amazing, but wasn’t bad. Small but heavy food. But Cakebread label… made everything better!
I would definitely love to try their bottomless drinks next time!

Burlesque + 4 courses! Yes please!
2 girlfriends and I had dinner and the show last Friday night. The canapé was great, garden fresh veggie soup was great, the jidori chicken was OK at best, and the bread pudding and beneigh were AMAZING!
Great interior design and service. Service was really lovely actually. Bartenders on point — I’d suggest the Champagne Suzy which was absolutely delicious and unlike anything I’ve ever tried before.
The show at 10pm was fun, but I thought it would be more Pussycat Doll-​type burlesque than what it was. The style was definitely different but the girls were awesome dancers nonetheless — very peppy and entertaining! Recommended for a fun night out.
–its kind of in the Sunset/​Vine complex, you can park right out front for $ 10 valet.

We were greeted by Ivan — who is quite the character. The ambiance is sort of a hybrid between a bordello & a night club. If you go here, ask NOT to sit in the bar, as those poor people are butt bumped through most of their dinner.
Food was good & very French bistro inspired. They offered a price fix menu which was a good deal — but I was looking for a burger.
— Crab Napoleon: WOW! Hold me back! This is an excellent value, and the table loved it. Lots of crab, heirloom tomatoes & avacado.
— Canapes (cucumber and pulled pork crostini) — tasty
— Onion soup: authentic, hot & bubbly with a nice crispy cheese top
— Burger: Great burger, served with a quail egg, which I LOVE. I ate it open face, as the bun was very big. But it was perfectly cooked. Served with cornichons, making it feel authentically French.
Overall, I enjoyed the place. The waiters were campy & the service was a bit hit or miss. It’s a great spot for a late dinner & drinks, although on the pricey side after you add drinks.

I felt like I was sitting in the sister restaurant to NYC’s «The Box» nightclub. Loved the interior here. My food was delicious, drinks were good. All around great experience. Would definitely come back, hopefully burlesque is on tap next time.
Date Rating: 9
Pick up Scale: 5
Strong Suggestion: come hungry, and get cozy.

I went to brunch couple times with my friends… servants are nice and sweet~~ foods are delicious!!!
bottomless drinks is a must !!! $ 15 and ur servant will keep filling up ur glass!!! if u wanna change to a different drink, tell them ahead otherwise they will bring u the same drink…
my fav brunch menu: mushroom or spinach crepes, quiche, egg benedicte, french toast… yum yum… ask them the salmon egg benedicts also!!!
dinner was good too!!! and $ 15 house red/​white wine all u can drink!!!
gosh… u’d better get a driver to go with u~~~
^_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​^

Easter Sunday brunch… where is everyone? Oh, with their families. Oooops, my bad.
For me, Easter has always been about friends, I don’t know why or how, but it’s just a fact. I love my family, but they get me on all the other holidays, so this one is dedicated to the people who hang out with me of their own volition! It’s always a lovely time, filled with laughs, cute restaurant and some (ok, lots of) mimosas. This one was no different.
The interior of Café Was screams Dick Tracy novel. I should have been wearing a dress with stockings, bright red lipstick and speaking with a smarmy accent, sadly I wasn’t, but I soaked it all up and then some. I actually thank everyone for staying at home with their families on this particular day, as if the place had been infested with people, it would have tainted the experience for me.
Ok, onto the food. The menu is minimal, but creative. They had just added some new items, so the waitress (who looked like she was going to be a no frills type lady and then pleasantly surprised us with a lovely disposition) was keen on us trying them. The breakfast sliders sounded brilliant, but I opted for the pancakes instead (as you couldn’t make substitutions to the sliders and I am not a ham kinda girl). They were soft, chewy and sweet in all the right places. I didn’t even really need syrup on them, but let’s get real, there was a drizzle or two involved. The side of three or four berries was just the right amount and added a bit of color to the plate (my friend also got a side of fruit that was jam packed with all the good stuff and presented in an artistic spread, complete with star orange).
The bottomless mimosas came in goblets, so they lasted longer than dainty flutes, and that is something any champagne drinker can appreciate. It was an extra $ 15 for bottomless mimosas, and you could substitute for a bloody Mary, screwdriver, etc., any time you felt the desire to (we didn’t).
Café Was may be a blast from the past, but it is very much on my right now radar. Oh, and it did fill up by the time we left, clearly the news about bottomless mimosas travels fast.
(One star deduction because after our meal, a different waitress dropped our bill off, so we were confused about number one, the switch, and number two, did this mean we were cut off (for the record we only had 2 each). She was not friendly and came out of nowhere, and frankly, that’s where she should have stayed.)

How desperately I desire to extend a full 5 stars to Ivan’s Wa S Café. Ooh, okay… I’ll divvy out 4.5 stars.
We made reservations to check out Forty Deuce on Friday night along with dinner. Upon entering, our reservation was noted — but not for the burlesque show. Thankfully, Ivan happened to come down to the front door and took care of seating arrangements.
We had a seat at the bar while we waited and just as our cocktails were up, our seat was procured. A very friendly server, whose name escapes me at the moment, came over and welcomed us. After perusing the burlesque prix fixe menu — we chose our courses.
The canapes were pre-​determined: a date wrapped in bacon with some sort of cheese inside and a tuna tartare with wasabi roe on a chip. Not bad, but not complimentary to each other, either.
I enjoyed the beet salad that came next as my boyfriend favored the lobster roll (which was available at an additional cost) It was with the second course that I moved on to my second drink — the Untitled. I’ve since dubbed this drink Happiness. Gin, elderflower, cucumber, lemon… and not sure what else, but it was absolutely delightful.
For dinner, I thoroughly enjoyed the duck confit.
For dessert, I tried my first bread pudding ever. OMG — heaven in my mouth.
… as far as the burlesque show that we waited seemingly forever for: sorta a let down. DONT get me wrong the show was awesome. It’s just that it was WAY short. MAYBE 20 minutes long.
Also — some of the items on their menu online are NOT served, which made me sad.

Café Was, should be renamed «Café IS» because it IS where it is at!
Beautiful Bohemian ambiance in the heart of Hollywood, interesting décor including an upside down Christmas tree hanging like a chandelier from the ceiling in December. If you make a reservation for the piano room, you will be sitting 5 to 10 feet from the piano and the performer. I went here with a friend in December to see one of my favorite local artists (Ernie Halter) play. He was hired to play a Christmas set, and did play some, but so many of us were there to hear him that we kept shouting out requests. This is the closest proximity I have been to him while performing, and this place had great service and wonderful food and drinks.
Between the two of us, we had an olive plate, Beef Carpaccio, Onion Soup, smoked salmon, and some wonderfully lemon specialty drinks. Everything was delicious… a bit pricey… but gourmet and worth it!
I IS in LOVE with Café Was!

Café Was attempts to capture the look of a vintage and slightly eccentric French bistro and serves pretty good food. It also comes complete with a revolving piano right in the middle of the dining room.
I met with a friend for dinner. The hostess seated us promptly and was friendly. Our table was situated very close to the revolving piano. I noticed the ambiance right away. The overall décor and layout of this restaurant was very different than others I have been to in that it almost feels theatrical. The designers paid a lot of attention to details and even in the dimly lit restaurant, you can tell.
I ordered the tuna tartare to start. It was tuna tartare one 2 small crisps. Both of the crisps were small in portion. The tuna was very fresh and it was good.
As the entrée, I had the Laitue salad with a side of chicken. It was pretty much your typical wedge salad: lettuce, blue cheese dressing, bacon, tomatoes. Also good.
For dessert, I had the Soufflé au chocolat or the chocolate soufflé. It came with an expresso anglaise sauce and vanilla ice cream. Also good.
The service was very good. Our waitress was attentive. The water guy was there to fill our glasses with water… even though we ordered bottled water. I guess it’s the thought and effort that counts though.
The piano guy was good there too. Our table was very close to him so it was somewhat loud, of course. I would opt to sit further away.
Overall, the food isn’t great here. It’s ok and well-​priced. The setting is pretty cool though. I would recommend coming here at least once to check it out.

If you’re lucky, you can find street parking where there are meters. You also have the option of valet. I wasn’t so lucky so I circled around the plaza onto the one way street, Morningside CT where there is a garage parking structure. Don’t forget to bring your parking stub into the restaurant for validation. I had to pay $ 4 on the way out, better than full price though.
The inside of the venue will probably catch your eyes right off the back. Loud and vibrant colors. Rotating piano in the middle of the restaurant with a hottie singing away (she was pretty good by the way). Estranged paintings on the wall. This place definitely had a unique yet catchy design. One drawback is that the tables are very close together so there’s zero room for privacy or intimacy if you bring a date. Best keep the convo pg-​13 not unless you want to make your neighbors uncomfortable.
Came in for dine in LA week. Pre-​fixed menu for $ 34. I started off with the: Grilled Shrimp Cocktail — Spicy cocktail granita and premium white bloody mary vodka shooter. I skipped the shooter but the shrimp (3 pieces) was a nice size and the cocktail sauce had a very distinct taste which also cleared my sinuses.
For the main entrée’: Bouillabaisse — Bouchet mussels, jumbo shrimp, lobster, halibut, fines herbs, saffron, aioli, fingerling potatoes. This dish is definitely a home run. Needless to say, it was killed within minutes.
Dessert: Pumpkin Spiced Beignets — Cranberry marmalade, espresso-​truffle ice cream. I took the chance of hoping it would turn out similar to New Orlean’s Café Du Monde’s beignets but of course it wasn’t close. However, I give them credit for trying and it was still pretty good. My dinner companion had the Lavender Crème Brulee — Spring berries, rose essence ice cream for her dessert and it wasn’t too good. The crème brûlée was off (no chemistry there) and the ice cream tasted like potpurri in a girl’s bathroom.
Overall the service was friendly and they always had a smile. My friend asked me if I would come back and I told her that I probably will. French cuisine is definitely growing on me and as long as they turn out like this place, then I’ll become a true fan. Side note: I’m not even going to front like if my name is Pierre and walk into a French establishment and pretend that I know how to pronounce things off the menu. So, I will just point and say, «I’d like to try this please.»

My boi & i found free 1 hour parking on vine
got there around 3:15…pretty empty, seated right away… made reservations through
We got to choose where we sat and were told for future reference that the piano player starts every night at 8 pm.
Our server was hilarious… quite a character and gave excellent service!
I love the décor of this… more suited for nighttime… eccentric
Food
LAVENDER CRÈME BRÛLÉE
spring berries /​rose essence ice cream $ 8
LOVE LOVE LOVE! it’s def a more unique dessert so my boi didn’t like it… which meant i ate it all by myself! =] must try for dessert lovers!!!
PUMPKIN SPICED BEIGNES
cranberry marmalade /​espresso truffle ice cream $ 8
the beignes are just ok by itself… what really brings it alive is pairing it with the cranberry marmalade & ice cream all in one bite! or the beignes with the marmalade or with the ice cream but by itself it is mediocre! my boi liked this but did not like the ice cream… he said it tasted weird
i always love coming here… everything i’ve tried is delicious