A Cafe for Music Lovers

Could that be Gustavo Dudamel, L.A. Phil’s new  leading man, shaking his dark curls as he makes a point over coffee with a friend? Probably not, just a look alike, but that young guy lugging a cello may be a future star. Same for that girl with the violin case.

The scene is the Colburn School Plaza Café, located behind the prestigious Colburn music school in downtown Los Angeles.

It’s entirely possible that Dudamel might show up there one day, taking a break from Disney Hall across the street.

And why not? It’s a pleasant place to sit, a beautiful, glassed-in space that soars like the music so close by. 

The coffee (Peet’s) is good. The service is cordial. And the food fits a music student’s budget. The wide ranging menu changes every week. There is lots of Italian food, panini, pesto and so forth, as well as ethnic dishes such as Thai chicken salad and Baja fish tacos.

The day I went in, the special was chicken curry Madras. To be sure, the curry wasn’t anything you’d find in Chennai (Madras). That doesn’t mean it wasn’t pleasant.  Sides included lentils--not Indian dal, but regular, plainly seasoned supermarket lentils. And cauliflower, more gently flavored than Indians like it, but all the better to soothe a budding soprano’s throat.

Another day, Italian wedding soup was loaded with marble-sized meatballs, tomatoes, spinach, red bell pepper and other vegetables, basil and couscous in garlic-scented chicken broth. All this for only $2.69 for a small bowl, $3.69 for a larger serving.  And croutons and crackers for the taking.

Just around the corner from MOCA, the cafeteria-style café is slightly hidden but worth seeking out. It's a nice place to relax, even if you'rd rather play one of the games the cafe provides than a piano or flute.

Colburn School Plaza Café, 200 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Tel: (213) 621-4515. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Comments

[Barbara]

Oh, how ghastly. I am sorry to hear such bad things about the Colburn cafe as Rigby reports. I hope the coffee is still good.

[rigby]

Watch out for the fruits in the parfaits and the tomatoes in the salads... they're brown and overly squishy sometimes.

[Barbara]

Eleanor, your comment about the Colburn School cafe from a student's point of view is important. Let the management know too. Have you tried other options? There are some good eating places in the Grand Central Market not far away.

[eleanor]

I completely disagree with your review. The food is terrible and very overpriced for a music student. For Colburn Conservatory students who are required to eat there daily, there are very few choices from week to week (especially for vegetarians) and the choices are unhealthy - high in carbohydrates and fat and low in vegetables. In the "Outtakes" department, every single salad contains meat or cheese. The Cafe is not satisfactory.

[Barbara]

Thanks for your detective work. At least the prices are reasonable at the Colburn Cafe. The last time I looked at food at Disney Hall, the prices seemed high for what they offered (in the self-service deli).

[carter]

Went on your suggestion last week after a LA Phil rehearsal, and while quite pleased with the food and value, as you were, I noticed the place is operated by Compass, better known as the parent company to Patina Group! Now wondering if it all comes out of the same catering kitchen as MOCA, Disney Hall and the Music Center, etal.