Prama Cafe

11/10/08

Closed

by dahatherley at Citysearch

Walked over yesterday to find Prana Cafe was closed. Hope it comes back--definitely my favorite breakfast place in the area.

07/21/08

Great for Saturday/Sunday Brunch

by lifeserial at Citysearch

Prana is a fantastic place to grab a bite to eat on Saturday or Sunday morning. It's usually filled with cute couples, casual folks reading the newspaper and small groups. If you like tiny pups and people watching, look no further. I personally love the space a whole lot. You can sit "inside," though you're still outside, at booths tucked into the restaurant's alcove; or you can sit right on the sidewalk under a row of lush, manicured trees. When I have been there, it has been busy but still quiet and the staff was great. I recommend the French Toast or the eggs and toast (it comes with yummy hashbrown potatoes). Their menu is really geared toward those who are health-conscious and like fresh eating. Go on Sunday and pick up some flowers or locally grown produce at the Farmer's Market held just up the block on Melrose Place.

• Pros: Outdoor seating, Great food, Relaxing
• Cons: They don't serve dinner

Relaxed outdoor cafe makes for a casual corner at the fancy intersection of La Cienega and Melrose Place.

by Katie Hill at Citysearch

In Short
The less formidable counterpart to heavyweight sister restaurant Republic, this breakfast and lunch café makes for a laidback spot to dine al fresco on healthy comfort food. Providing a pleasant outdoor dining experience, the simple wicker chairs and maple café tables line the sidewalk, some covered by canvas canopy, others shaded by the trees lining this leafy street. Strategically located on the corner of La Cienega and Melrose Place, patrons can hope to catch a glimpse of celebrity shoppers ducking out of neighboring Monique Lluhlier, Marni or Oscar de la Renta. The menu is comprised mainly of contemporary American favorites, with some subtle Asian influences in dishes like the Thai, a breakfast option with scrambled eggs, diced shrimp, Thai chilies and Krapao leaves in lettuce cups. Lunch is traditional, no-fuss food like a dressing-drenched smoked chicken Cobb salad and barbecue braised short ribs. Smoothies made with ingredients like fresh fruit, flax seeds, bee pollen, ginger ice cream and ginseng extract have clever names like "Blues Away" and "Love Jones."

Hits: Tasty, light menu with plenty of healthy options. Cheap eating that is difficult to find in a very upscale neighborhood. Service was friendly and made lots of recommendations.

Misses: There is only one single-stall bathroom, which could be potentially noisy during high-traffic hours.

07/21/07

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME

by laweho at Citysearch

THIS PLACE IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO LOS ANGELES, LET ALONE WEHO AND MELROSE PLACE. MY BUDDIES AND I WENT THERE LAST SUNDAY AND WAITED AN HOUR TO GET SEATED. NO ONE EVEN PAID ATTENTION TO US! THE MANAGER CAME OUTSIDE AND TOOK CARE OF EVERYTHING...HONESTLY HE WAS THE BEST THING THERE. THE FOOD WAS WAY TOO OVERPRICED AND LAME! I ASKED FOR MY EGGS POACHED AND THEY CAME OUT SCRAMBLED! THEN I ORDERED A CHICKEN WRAP AND LO AND BEHOLD A SHOCKER....THEY RAN OUT OF CHICKEN......MELROSE PLACE...REALLY??!! MY COFFEE WAS ICED COLD, THERE WERE OBNOXIOUS DOGS BARKING AND OWNERS NOT CARING. THE WAIT STAFF LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD THEIR HEADS CUT OFF RUNNING AROUND. IT WAS EMBARRASSING!! THEN I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE PLACE REPUBLIC RESTAURANT WHICH IS AFFILIATED WITH PRANA AND I BELIEVE HAS THE SAME OWNERSHIP. TURNS OUT THEY ARE BAD NEWS! THESE PEOPLE ARE SKETCHY!! IT IS SO SAD BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A CUTE LITTLE SPOT AND HAS CUTE POTENTIAL BUT I AM NOT WASTING MY TIME OR MY MONEY AT A SHADY, OVER HYPED FOR NOTHING, TRAGIC SIDEWALK CAFE. I WOULD RATHER GO TO NORM'S AND GET BETTER FOOD AND BETTER SERVICE.