Empty over the Holidays, L'Angolo Cafe Hopes to See Bigger Crowds in 2008

By Eric Richardson
Published: Monday, January 07, 2008, at 01:41PM

L'Angolo Cafe Eric Richardson

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Stopping by for lunch on Friday I asked Hannah Kim how dinner was doing at L'Angolo Cafe, the restaurant she runs with her father at 9th and Main. She said that the fall had seen a steady trickle of business, but that it had all but disappeared during December. Since opening a year ago, the eatery has dropped breakfast but added evening and Saturday hours.

The situation illustrates how tough it can be for Downtown restaurants to pick up dinner business in out of the way locales, but also brought up a question I've been meaning to ask: do Downtown's demographics make it more likely to empty out during the holidays? Are the young professionals moving into lofts more likely to head out of town en masse to visit family over Christmas than are the more varied demographics of another neighborhood?

In any case, it's worth giving a plug to go check out L'Angolo for dinner. The menu's got a great assortment of seafood and pasta that gets cooked over a full flame. The spot is just at the southern tip of the Historic Core, and is right where the DASH makes its turnaround during Art Walk service.

L'Angolo Cafe is at 101 W. 9th street. Dinner hours are 5 - 9pm Monday through Saturday. Also open for lunch 11am - 3pm.



Comments

1
Michael writes:

I've been to L'Angolo a few times for dinner and I really love that place. The service is always really great and the food is delicious (especially the rib-eye).

It does seem pretty empty most of the time, but I also get the feeling that they aren't doing much advertising... I'm sure it's hard at first, but hopefully these types of places will start to build up their dinner clientel as time goes by.

# on Jan.07.2008 AT 03:48 PM
2
David Kennedy writes:

It has been my observation over the years that, yes, most downtown residents head out of town for the holidays. The parking lots thin out. There is less trash generated. (My building doesn't have a trash chute.) I think this reflects to some degree the rootlessness of most residents. Possibly, increasing home ownership and family formation would see more residents enjoying the holidays at home.

# on Jan.07.2008 AT 04:10 PM
3
Andrea writes:

After having had a great lunch there once I went for dinner one night some time ago, but the menu was so much more expensive that we decided to go somewhere else.

# on Jan.11.2008 AT 09:46 AM
4
Peter writes:

Stopped in for dinner on Saturday night, around 7:30 p.m. Found the restaurant empty. My wife and I enjoyed a great house wine with dinner. Our meal was freshly prepared and well presented. I had the Jambalaya and my wife had the rack of lamb. both were delicous. The prices were reasonable and the service was great. I'm planning on hosting a dinner for my daughter who will be graduating college soon.

# on Feb.11.2008 AT 01:07 PM
5
Peter writes:

Hosted a dinner party for 30 on May 10th celebrating my daughter's graduation from college. The restaurant was set up great. Mr. Kim worked with my wife and I in putting together a great menu, prior to the party. The wines, dinner, desert and atmosphere were perfect. The service was excellent. The price was more than fair and we had a great time. I hope much success to this fine establishment. I know that most if not all of my guest, will be making return visits.

# on May.29.2008 AT 01:08 AM

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