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Seeing Stars: Restaurants of the Stars..
1638 N.
Las Palmas Ave,
Hollywood, CA / (323) 462-7674
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Les Deux
Cafe first closed in 2004.
It made a comeback in 2006, and seemed to be doing well again at first.
They held the season 5 DVD launch party for the TV
series "24", and Donald Trump
introduced a new line of vodka there in early 2007. And there were a lot of after-parties,
including the TV Guide party for the Emmy Awards.
They drew back Leonardo DiCaprio, Britney Spears,
Lindsay Lohan, Prince, Robbie Williams, Rod Stewart, Chris Rock,
Wilmer Valderrama, Danny Masterson, Paris Hilton, Hilary Duff, Mary-Kate
Olsen and Jenny McCarthy, among others.
But
it didn't last, and Les Deux finally closed its doors for good. As of 2013,
the space is currently occupied by Sadie Kitchen and Lounge.
I'll leave this old page up for a while, in case anyone wants to read about the club.
But bear in mind that the article below was written before the restaurant
closed in 2004.
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| "Sometimes,
you discover celebrity hangouts in the most unlikely locations...."
I said that
in my article about the Hollywood
Hills Coffee Shop, and it bears repeating here.
Imagine this. You're
a tourist walking down Hollywood Boulevard, just east of Highland. You've
passed the giant dinosaur sticking out of the top of the Ripley's Museum,
you've passed the Guinness museum, and the Hollywood McDonald's...
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The Cafe's deceptive exterior. |
| The boulevard is
starting to look even tackier as you continue east and pass the courtyard
of the recently restored Egyptian Theatre. You hang a right on the next
street, Las Palmas Avenue, and it looks like you're absolutely nowhere.
A nondescript parking lot looms to the left, looking like a dozen other
nondescript parking lots in Hollywood. Except perhaps you notice that there
is what looks like an old Craftsman-style bungalow taking up space on the
north edge of the lot... |
| You venture closer.
There's no sign to indicate that there's a restaurant inside, but there
are people coming and going. And the wall before you is covered with flowering
climbers. You step inside...
Suddenly, you're
not in Kansas anymore. The host leads you to a romantic patio right out
of the south of France. Wait a minute. That woman over there looked a bit
like Madonna...
And wasn't that 'Dharma'... er, Jenna Elfman
in the corner? You glance at the menu.
The prices are high. Who's that singing? Looks like
Sharon Stone...
Welcome to Les
Deux Cafe, one of Hollywood's hottest discoveries - a hard-to-find
oasis in the middle of Hollywood's urban sprawl.
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Other
celebrities spotted here have included Jerry Seinfeld,
Cameron Diaz,
Sting,
Mariah Carey,
Lauren Holly,
kd lang,
Bono,
Prince,
Pamela Anderson
& Tommy Lee,
Matt Dillon,
Ben Stiller,
Tobey Maguire,
Eric Clapton,
Shirley MacClaine,
Kirstie Alley,
Tori Spelling,
Billy Corgan,
Lisa Marie Presley,
Natalie Imbruglia,
Shannon Doherty,
Karen Black,
Jennifer Love Hewitt,
and Sarah Gilbert.
The Cafe
was also the scene of several major Tinseltown parties, including
the post Grammy Awards party, the MTV Music Awards post-party, a Baywatch
cast party and Lenny Kravitz's
1999 birthday party. It has also become a virtual commissary for Paramount
Studios.
My favorite story
about Les Deux came via the Associated Press: actor Val
Kilmer was surprised when fellow actor
Mickey Rourke
interrupted his dinner here to ask for an autograph! "My buddies and
I think you were the best Batman ever," said Rourke, as Kilmer signed
his napkin.
Besides the dining
room, and the patio (considered by many to be one of the most attractive
outdoor dining experiences in L.A.), there's always the bar/lounge, with
its comfortable couches, where there is live music until late to go along
with the celebrity-spotting. Billy Zane's
sister, Lisa,
was a regular cabaret singer here on Wednesday nights, and Joni Mitchell
has been known to drop by and sing a song
now and then. So has Boy George.
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|
 In
August of 2001, Charlize Theron
celebrated her 26th birthday at Les Deux Cafe.
Unfortunately, the
focus here is so much on the ultra-cool scene that the food and service
has suffered. Many have reported service to be lax - some say it's downright
rude. And while some critics like the French food served here, most think
it is dull and overpriced. Expect roast duck, rack of lamb, soft shell
crabs, a lobster & tabouleh salad... But its customers aren't here
for the food or the service.
(Fortunately, the
Times reported recently that the kitchen seems to finally be coming
around, and is now "better than average.")
Les Deux Cafe offers
lunch on weekdays and dinner Monday through Saturday. Reservations are
a good idea (although some people say they won't help much.) Dress is casual-chic.
 Getting
there: Les Deux Cafe is located just one
block south of Hollywood Blvd, in a parking lot between Las Palmas Avenue
and Cherokee Ave. From Hollywood & Highland, just go two short
blocks east, turn right (south) on Las Palmas, and the lot will be on your
left (east) side.
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for something in particular? Search the Seeing-Stars website!
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