A neighborhood café has arrived in Brentwood, one best described as airy, casual, cheery, comfortable, contemporary, and satisfying all at once. Serving the best in California cuisine, Café Röckenwagner is officially open for business near Wilshire Boulevard and Barrington Avenue.
Brought to the upscale Los Angeles enclave by Hans Röckenwagner, the eatery features seasonal fare made with organic ingredients and signature styles. Also prominent at Café Röckenwagner: a line of desserts and pastries created by pastry chef, César Bermúdez Cifuentes.
The menu has a variety of dishes suited for just about any appetite or palate. Portions are just right. One can order an appetizer and main course and leave the restaurant feeling nourished and satisfied.
Each dish also comes with distinct flavor and freshness. For example, the Avocado Crostini, one of the restaurant’s most popular appetizers. It features fresh avocado spread over grilled bread and then cut into six pieces, each two bites in size. Though easily shareable, the flavorful Avocado Crostini ($8) is both fresh and light, meaning a diner can eat one full order and not feel stuffed.
During our visit to the restaurant last month, we also tried the Pretzel Burger ($16.50, lunch or dinner). The an eight ounce beef burger is served on a pretzel bun with Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, and tomatoes. Shoestring fries come with the dish. We ordered the burger medium-well; it melted almost immediately upon being bit into, a perfect blend of tenderness and bursting flavor.
Also on the lunch appetizer menu: Edamame Hummus served over spicy crackers ($6.50); Egglplant Fritters served with raita dipping sauce ($8); Grilled Octopus with soy glaze, carrot puree, and braised cabbage ($12); and, the soup of the day ($8).
The dinner appetizer menu features even more items, including: a vegetable soup with crème fraiche and pesto ($8); Pain Perdu with fried egg, bacon, roasted peppers and jalapeno-maple syrup ($11); Roasted Marrow Bones with sea salt and crostini ($10); and, Warm Brussel Sprouts and Kale with dates, pecans, and bleu cheese ($11), among other selections.
Other entrees include: Chilled Shrimp Salad with watercress, avocado, jicama and horseradish vinaigrette ($16, lunch); Curried Cauliflower Steak Sandwich with smoked eggplant, frisee, and pickled onion ($14, lunch); Pepper-Crusted Short Rib with giardiniera, horseradish and celery root puree ($36, dinner); The BW Cast Iron Lamb Burger with roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomato, harissa mayo and fries ($15, lunch or dinner); Marinated Skirt Steak with daikon kimchi, hearts of palm, and almond croquettes ($22, lunch or dinner); and, Orzo Pasta with peas, wild mushrooms, preserved lemons, and parmesan ($16.50, lunch or dinner), among others.
Kayson Chong, formerly of BLT Steak and BOA Steakhouse, is the restaurant’s chef.
Located on the first floor of The BW, a brand new mixed-use building at the corner of Wilshire and Barrington, Café Röckenwagner also provides room service to the building’s residential tenants.
The café was designed by Montalba Architects, Inc., and, at 1,500 square feet, is the largest location of Mr. Röckenwagner’s bakeries, cafes and restaurants.
An open floor plan with floor-to-ceiling windows, modern décor, even lighting, and a warm atmosphere, Café Röckenwagner seats 150 people in the main dining hall and another 80 in the patio. The tables are wooden, the chairs orange, and the place mats green, giving the café a very modern and contemporary feel.
All major credit cards accepted; street and valet parking are available.
Located at 1168 South Barrington Avenue in Brentwood, Café Röckenwagner is open Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, the restaurant is open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
To contact the restaurant by phone, call (310) 478-6313.
Reservations are recommended.
