let’s try this again… panini cafe opens tomorrow!
Looking for information on Downtown LA?
Angelenic is the essential news resource for those living, working and visiting Downtown Los Angeles. Check out our homepage for the latest restaurant, retail, and cultural news in the neighborhood.
RSS or email feeds make it easy to receive angelenic in your inbox every morning!
This time, the crew behind Panini Cafe means business.
A flurry of kitchen staff and waiters are on site today in preparation for tomorrow’s grand opening. Final inspections have been passed and everything is green lit for go.
Breakfast will begin serving at 7:00am tomorrow morning.
Panini Cafe
600 W 9th Street (corner of Hope)
Los Angeles, CA 90015
213-489-4200
mypaninicafe.com
Open Daily: 7:00am to 10:00pm
-bring your appetite, panini cafe opens next week
-panini cafe lights up a street
-panini cafe to resurrect skyline condominiums retail
Check out these related posts:
22 comments
I’ve passed by Panini Cafe and I’ll make sure to drop in sometime in the near future. Any new developments south of 7th (and open past 8pm) are good news to me!
This is happy news. I look forward to a report once you and others have had a chance to sample the food. Fingers crossed. I suspect you’ll be there long before me.
You know, it would be really nice if the people who run Grand Hope Park fixed the clock across the street. The clock works, as in it tells the time (usually). However, years ago when the park first opened, the clock tower actually chimed in the most idiosyncratic and unpredictable manner. It was quite charming and unlike anything I’d ever heard.
I recall vividly the first time I visited the park with a bunch of kids. We were picnicing nearby when the clock began to chime. The look of delight on the childrens’ faces was priceless. I liked it, too. I’d love to hear it again. I’m sure it would add a charming detail to breakfast at Pannini’s.
I’m waiting to Open, Open, Open .. I feel like the mervyn’s tv commercial..lol.
Looks great!!!!!
When I walked by today there was the smell of delicious cooking food and it looked like the staff was going through a dry run. Everything looks ready to go for tomorrow. Woo hoo! :)
We are excited as well!! I hope we can bring Bridget the bully to the patio! I’m impressed they got up and running way faster than Quiznos, PastGina and Roebecks which were all started long long ago! They left a menu in our building (Packard) and it looks soooo good! just my style. Panini here we come!!
Speaking of Quiznos and Pastagina it looks like they’re not far behind. The equipment has been installed and there’s a “now hiring” sign in the Quiznos window. Just down the street Maui Wowie and Fashion Cafe are moving along. South Park is going to have plenty of dining options by the end of the year!
I’ll be dreaming of those breakfast panini’s tonight(or is it Paninie?)
I have a question regarding permit delays. When these restaurants get delayed by the “efficiency” of county inspectors and cannot begin to break ground, is the tenant responsible for the rent? I am looking to start a restaurant but am a bit concerned with this issue. Thanks in advance for any responses.
Two things:
1) Had lunch at Panini Cafe today and loved it. This place will be everything everyone hoped it would be - great food, reasonable prices, attentive service and comfortable dining environment.
2) Anonymous:
Yes the tenant is responsible for rent during this time. It’s a problem Rich and I have heard all too often. I don’t want to discourage you, but know that 2-3 months of delays are common when opening a restaurant in this city.
you should update the restaurant delivery page… they have a min. order of $100 to deliver, and they aren’t going to be offering it for a while according to the employee I spoke to on the phone tonight. :)
thanks stephen for answering the question.
I can’t wait to try it. Being from OC they have been very successful in Corona Del Mar.
BTW, Colori Kitchen is open on Wed. nights now…just ate there tonight and had an amazing meal! Go on Wednesdays.
checked this place out last night. just as advertised: solid sandwiches and everything at a very reasonable price point. And the place was pretty crowded all evening.
This is exactly the kind of place the area needs…dinner is cheaper here than a trip across the street to ralphs.
Anonymous/Stephen: Whether the tenant pays rent prior to a restaurant opening depends on the agreement the tenant has with the landlord. Depending on the landlord’s flexibility to negotiate, you can come to an agreement that rent becomes due only after the business operation begins. Although, there will probably be an implied assumption that tenant is to make all best efforts to keep the process running as efficiently and expediently as possible.
SO, you’re absolutely right. Anything can be negotiated in a lease. Many of the restaurant/business owners I know personally have been stuck in situations where another week of paying rent without income would’ve put the business in jeopardy before getting off the ground.
People coming into the market today should be aware of this reality and the hardships of others before. But to get to the core of the issue, aside from rent obligations, some delayed businesses are still responsible for payroll during this time, in addition to endless permitting fees and the constructions cost of having to meet code requirements — even after they think they’ve done everything right.
This can put unnecessary strain on smaller businesses trying to open with limited capital upfront.
Anon, make sure you get a contractor who is familiar with downtown code and is well connected. Don’t even try to bring in someone who hasn’t completed a job in the area. And you definetely can negotiate because it is typically in the LLs interest for you to pay a rent you can manage. If you have a solid contractor LL may feel more secure.
As for the food it was pretty solid. Not great or high end but just what locals need. The hummus plate with the eggplant babaganooj is amazing. Chicken sanwhich was dry…
Word is they might go BYOB until they get their liquor license - how great would that be!?!
What I want to know is how’s breakfast?
I’m going tomorrow morning, I’ll post when I’m back :)
ate there last night…and tonight. it’s really yummy. last night had the salmon and brie panini and ‘twas delish. tonight went back for the filet shish and it was truly very tasty. good portions, well prepared, very friendly staff. i’m stoked it’s in the ‘hood. and the breakfast menu looks promising.
I went to dinner there tonight and the food was great. I had the babaganooj eggplant dip with pita slices and the salmon kabobs. The babganooj was good, but lacking any real flavor. Usually, when I have had babaganooj at other restaurants there is a bit more flavor, i.e. garlic. The salmon kabobs were great. The fish was cooked perfectly, very moist and flavorful. The portions are huge! The babaganooj and the kabobs would have EASILY fed two VERY HUNGRY adults. All the food was good and I left feeling like I got a GREAT deal. I had an appetizer, entree and a bottle of Pelligrino for $27.00. Great value for the money. The patio is nice and surprising quiet for being right on 9th. Great place to dine with friends and highly recommended for a local bite to eat. The only down side (for some of us) is that they do not allow smoking on the patio, which would be nice. Daniel the waiter was friendly and prompt. The other staff was very gracious and polite. Job well done guys!
do they allow dogs on their patio?
soooo glad there’s no smoking on the patio. this is 2008, after all. ;)
Leave a Comment