Thursday, January 23, 1997
RESTAURANT:
Variety, casual ambiance add to appeal of Venice eateryBy
Stephanie Sheh
Daily Bruin Contributor
For the hungry UCLA student, the convenience of Westwood Village
has a lot to offer. But even though it has a little bit of
everything, students may long to get away and try something
new.
A mere 15 minutes by car will bring students to Rose Café
and Market in Venice, which serves a variety of foods. Parking is
free. Like Westwood, this restaurant offers a little bit of
everything: a restaurant, a cafe and a store. In keeping with its
name, Rose Café is adorned with large roses painted on white
walls and a single fresh red rose at each table.
With simple white tables and contrasting black chairs, the quiet
restaurant area is well-lit. The service is fast and the food,
which arrives in large portions, is delicious. The Italian-style
entrees range from $9-12 and the different salads are approximately
$5-7.
However, if one is in the mood for more casual cuisine, head
over to the deli/café section of the restaurant, which is
perfect for a quick lunch or late-night supper. In addition to
traditional deli offerings such as turkey and roast beef
sandwiches, the café offers items like hamburgers, seared tuna
and swordfish sandwiches.
There is also a huge variety of meat, seafood, pasta and
vegetarian salads, made fresh daily, which do not contain
preservatives. The deli’s other specialties are lasagna, pizza,
quiche and tacos. Most deli items average $4-$7. There is a
selection of fine wines and imported beers to accompany the
meals.
For those with room for dessert, there is the bakery, which
sells an assortment of delicacies. Cakes are available by
individual slices as well as by the whole. The chocolate truffle
cake will surely please the chocolate addict. A mug of rich hot
chocolate will make these sweet treats go down easier.
The ambiance of Rose Café rivals its food. It is a good
place for a group of college friends to just hang out.
The student may especially enjoy the deli part of the
restaurant, which has a more casual menu and atmosphere. People can
sit on stools and talk to friends, sip coffee, eat cake and listen
to the live jazz or blues music, which can be experienced every
Friday and Saturday night from 8-11 p.m. And for those who wish to
take in the warm California air, there is plenty of seating
available outside.
Finally, there is the market part of Rose Café and Market.
Surprisingly, it does not feature the expected fruits and
vegetables; it is actually a gift shop that sells Rose Café
T-shirts, brightly colored pottery, candles, picture frames and
other quaint items that make good gifts.
All in all, Rose Café and Market offers the choice of
either a formal or casual dining experience. The food is good and
the atmosphere makes it a fun place to just hang out. It is a great
excuse for the average UCLA student to get out of Westwood.
FOOD: Rose Café and Market, located in Venice, mixes fine
dinning with an informal bakery and deli cuisine. It also offers
catering. Every Friday and Saturday nights there is live music. For
more information call (310) 399-0711.
SHAWN LAKSMI
The Rose Café in Venice, with its excellent Italian
cuisine, offers live jazz and reggae on weekends.