Market Café (Patina)
By Carole Dixon
It seems that having a bite while grocery shopping is the new casual dining out.
A new crop of market cafes has surfaced since the holy trinity of Cube, Joan’s on Third and The Little Next Door. Maybe it’s a sign of the hectic times, but it’s great to have the option of taking away the ingredients or certain dishes for the road after a meal to recreate the experience, or just to kill two dining birds with one stop service.
George Abou-Daoud seems to be taking over the Hollywood block of Sunset (Bowery Bar, Mission Canteen, Delancey and District), but his neighborhood grocer-café-meets wine bar Mercantile is a must stop. The front room holds a bar and seating area, mid-range is a long deli-style counter stocked with meats, pate and cheese. The back shelves are lined with grains, rice, pasta, oil, vinegar and spices all perfect to stock up the home pantry. Chef Kris Morningstar makes homey comfort food like French onion soup and casseroles. Don’t miss the sausage of the day or ice-cream.
- Mercantile, 6600 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, 323.962.8202 www.themercantilela.com
The Oaks Gourmet Market in Hollywood has a country store setting and is creating a following with chef Greg Paul‘s grilled cheese nights. If you don’t feel like sitting at the communal table or on the tiny patio, they also offer a variety of their popular cheeses to take home from Cotswold, Epoisses, Humboldt fog, Robiola bosina, Provolone piccante and Hook's 5 year-old cheddar. Chef Greg also uses the following ingredients in the sandwiches that are also available to take home: St. Dalfour Black cherry jam, Spanish quince paste, Mrs. Bridges strawberry champagne preserves, Inglehoffer Sweet Hot mustard – don’t forget the wine or artisan beer selections.- The Oaks, 1915 North Bronson Avenue, Los Angeles, 323.871.8894, www.theoaksgourmet.com
Forage in Silverlake produces some of the freshest, farm-to-table comfort food on the East side. Owner Jason Kim, who worked at L’Orangerie and Lucques, is a farmer’s market advocate and really takes seasonal, local and sustainable produce seriously. Kim is trying to make this produce accessible and available to everyone in the neighborhood at reasonable prices because, “You can and should be eating like this everyday.”
- Forage, 3823 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, 323-663-6885, www.ForageLA.com
The charming Thyme Café & Market in Santa Monica is the perfect place to pop into if you’re having an impromptu dinner party and didn’t have time to make your Grandmother’s lasagna recipe, or even a large Caesar salad. It’s also a wonderful place to linger over a BLT Egg Sandwich on Baguette; turkey meatloaf or a snickerdoodle and coffee.
- Thyme Café & Market, 1630 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, 310.399.8800, www.thymecafeandmarket.com
Part wine bar, part restaurant and part market, the La Grande Orange concept was one of the first in this new wave of dining out. Known for burgers, soft tacos, sushi, ceviche, fresh market sandwiches and salads – the front entrance even displays a chef’s herb garden. One of the most popular items to take home is the oversized house English muffins; or an order of gelato for a walk down to the boardwalk.- La Grande Orange Café, 2000 Main Street, Santa Monica, (310) 396-9152, www.lgostationcafe.com
This Venice institution has a new dinner menu featuring quiche of the day, a variety of their classic croques, Beouf Bourguignon and several stews for heartier meals. For an extra added bonus, you can pick up a bottle of wine at the on-site market and have it with your meal. You can also take home the French condiments or dry salami, imported prosciutto, pate, cheeses, smoked salmon and baguette. This would all make for a lovely, nearby beach side picnic as well.
- French Market Café, 2321 Abbott Kinney, Venice, 310.577.9775, www.frenchmarket-cafe.com
The Patina Group has opened a Market Café downtown in the AT&T Center. The menu starts with a market breakfast of eggs, parfait or a burrito; and blends into a market burger, wraps and flat breads for lunch. Here you’ll find freshly baked sweets, such as, cupcakes, marshmallows, macaroons, brownies, cookies and chocolate bark. Patina Restaurant Group also packages and carries their own brand of candy from almonds to gummy bears. They sell exotic salts, jams, olives, tapenades, artisan crackers and Pasadena’s Little Flower Candy Company fans can find their caramels too.- Market Café, AT+T Center, Garden Level, Los Angeles, 213.536.4090, www.patinagroup.com/restaurants/
A downtown favorite featuring market breakfast and brunches, a take out counter for savory bites, baked goods and a bustling bar area. It’s great for gourmet shopping on the go, but the pizza here is worth getting a table and staying awhile. Need a quick hostess gift? They will make wonderful foodie gift baskets with Prosecco to Cliquot and gourmet crackers to crème brulee almonds and caramels.
- Bottega Louie, 700 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, 213.802.1470, www.bottegalouie.com
Sal Marino of Il Grano has created a casual café next door to his fine dining restaurant for pizza, pasta and panini. Italian comfort food, but not heavy handed, includes branzino or salmon, chicken parmagana and Snake River Farms pork Order from the to-go counter and shop for specialty olive oils, vinegar and olives.
- La Bottega Marino, 11363 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, 310.477.7777, www.labottegausa.com
Sweet Salt opened a few months ago by ‘Top Chef’ Alex Eusebio in Toluca Lake, and has already been dubbed ‘Joan’s in the Valley.’ The bounty here runs from soup to salads, sandwiches and sweets. Savory standouts include the lavender duck confit sandwich and short rib roll. For sweet-tooths: red velvet cookies and chocolate caramel bread pudding.
- Sweetsalt, 10218 ½ Riverside Dr., Los Angeles, 818-509-7790, www.sweetsaltfood.com
