LAReview
photo credit: Holly Liss
The Rose
Included In
As a general rule in opening a restaurant, it’s usually best to keep things pretty simple. Find your concept, streamline it, and execute it as cleanly as possible. This is all coming from people who have never opened a restaurant in their lives, but from our experiences, this seems to work out best.
Just don’t tell that to Rose Cafe.
The longtime Venice staple recently went under the knife (to much outcry from its longtime neighbors), and reemerged as a stunning, multi-concept dining emporium. Seriously, it’ll take you three separate visits to fully grasp everything that’s going on here. There’s a bakery, a to-go counter, a coffee bar, a full liquor bar, a studying area, and a small patio area clearly designed for you and your laptop. And then, of course, there’s the actual restaurant itself, complete with a separate patio that’s as impressive (and massive) as you’ll find in LA. The whole operation feels like some sort of YMCA for work-from-home Venice locals, and for those keeping count, that’s pretty much the whole neighborhood.
photo credit: Holly Liss
Somehow though, it all works. Walking into Rose Cafe is certainly overwhelming at first, but once you get your bearings, you realize the place flows extremely well. No concept overwhelms another, and the place is large enough so everyone seems to get the space they need. Now, is the food going to blow you away? No. But it probably doesn’t have to. Grab a latte and a warm croissant at the bakery and knock out those last five pages of your pilot on the community tables. Snag a seat at the bar at brunch and go to town on that all-day breakfast sandwich. Or cruise in at night with a sexy date and share a solid plate of carbonara under the stars. No matter the occasion, Rose Cafe will rarely disappoint.
With a cool, casual vibe, plenty of room to always find a seat, decent food, and a space perfect for absolutely anything, turns out it is fun to stay at the YMCA.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Holly Liss
All-Day Breakfast Sandwich
photo credit: Holly Liss
Grilled Cauliflower T-Bone
photo credit: Holly Liss
Bucatini Carbonara
photo credit: Holly Liss
Avocado Toast
photo credit: Holly Liss
Butcher’s Board
photo credit: Holly Liss