Café 2001
Cafe · Historic Core ·
Modern British cafe, wine bar with katsu sando
Modern British cafe, wine bar with katsu sando
"During the four years Konbi was open in Echo Park, I was a devotee of its katsu sandwiches, often going out of the way to line up outside the window for crispy slabs of pork tucked between fluffy milk bread. And while there are plenty of other outstanding katsu sandwich spots (including Katsu Sando in Chinatown), I still chase the high of Konbi. On a recent trip to Cafe 2001, I felt reunited with the sandwich from my memories. Although Cafe 2001’s katsu sandwich doesn’t have slaw like Konbi’s did, the two feel like cousins to me with a balanced, savory sauce; thick-cut pork; and cloud-like bread. Sliced into thirds, the sandwich is easy to share with a group. Be sure to add in orders of sage-tinged french fries and a slice of bright lemon tart with a bruleed top. — Rebecca Roland, deputy editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest" - Matthew Kang
"Chasing the Konbi katsu sandwich high, I found a worthy cousin here: thick-cut pork katsu tucked in cloud-like milk bread with a balanced, savory sauce—no slaw, but all the nostalgia. Sliced into thirds, it’s easy to share, and the best add-ons are sage-tinged french fries and a bright lemon tart with a bruleed top." - Eater Staff
"An all-day Arts District hang that refuses to be just one thing, this bi-level former bank space channels an underground-rave-meets-mad-scientist vibe, with brick walls, a high-fidelity sound system, and classical music echoing while guests sip coffee, matcha, or wine from a slim selection of bottles. The menu from former Yess sous chef Giles Clark straddles European and Japanese inclinations — think a katsu sandwich, fat-specked terrine, and shortbread-crust tarts — and it works whether I’m after a full meal, a mid-day sweet, or simply somewhere to show off an outfit. The katsu sandwich remains a staple: thick slabs of breaded pork on fluffy milk bread slathered with a Bulldog-esque sauce, cut into three easy-to-share slices. Whole garlic cloves and fried sage leaves are tucked into a tall tangle of crispy, salty french fries that are worth ordering on their own. A pristine lemon curd tart finished with a thin layer of bruleed sugar balances just enough sweetness with bright citrus tartness; a side of sour cream adds welcome tang, and the shortbread crust holds it all together without distracting from the filling. It can be difficult to find — look for the spray-painted plank of wood and a set of doors whose paint is peeling to know you’re going the right way — and if Frankenstein’s creature came to life here, he’d probably emerge with a penchant for matcha, pet nat, and Japanese fashion. Right now, it’s the place to be." - Rebecca Roland
"A daytime extravaganza by Giles Clark (Den Tokyo, St. John London) — who came stateside with mentor Junya Yamasaki (who helms Yess next door) — occupies a unique industrial space featuring a wraparound mezzanine, skylights, and brick walls variously described as both Brutalist and Victorian (the grandma-style furniture evokes the latter). The food reads as modern British with Jamie Oliver energy but leans toward the niceness of Fergus Henderson: the country terrine is described as spectacular, studded with pistachios and cracked black pepper and wrapped so tightly that a slice of chopped pork becomes a lovely thing to behold. A cocktail-sized chilled borscht is a delightful summer soup; huckleberry jam and yogurt underneath smoked salmon on a crispy potato hash work despite the contrasts of sweet, creamy, and salty; the pork katsu sando forfeits a crispy exterior but gains juiciness; and merguez sausage with crispy, twig-like fries arrives with dense aioli and harissa as a nod to a Marseilles street food, though Clark often skips the bread and lets the finger-ready bites sit on a plate. The room was buzzing on a Thursday with every table full, and the reviewer describes the project as the kind of place that defies immediate understanding — an attribute the writer rather enjoys in an age of predictability. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest" - Eater Staff
"Ambiance isn’t Café 2001’s forte, but this quiet all-day bistro at least shines where it counts: serving an elegant Japanese-European menu that’s sophisticated enough for a proper sit-down lunch. For a place that serves elegant dishes like beautifully marbled terrines and pork tenderloin sandos with rosy cross sections, Café 2001 is speedy like a fast-casual restaurant. Everything arrives within minutes, so you can be in and out before your post-lunch meeting, but we recommend carving out time for Café 2001’s creative coffee drinks and a slice of one of its excellent fruit tarts." - brant cox, sylvio martins, cathy park