la.foodblogging

I was really excited the very first time I went to R-23. I went with a group of people, and the person heading this expedition made us get their half an hour before the place opened for lunch! It wasn’t too bad of a wait until Café Metropol opened and the aromas from that restaurant tickled our noses, making all of our stomachs roar. Although there was a moment when we were tempted to commit mutiny and abandon R-23 for Café Metropol, we behaved and just decided to go back to try Café Metropol some other time. We did, and we were hooked.

Today, I had a rendezvous at Café Metropol with a few good friends, Joe, Lucy, and Barry (who regularly check this site). It was a horrible drive and really hard to find Café Metropol. I haven’t been there in a couple of months, and I actually forgot how to get there. Located near Little Tokyo, Café Metropol occupies space two doors down from R-23 in an industrial building. Signs are scarce for Café Metropol, but look for the ubiquitous R-23 signs, and you’ll find this place.

Once I got there and caught my breath, I decided to order a pizza. Although Café Metropol’s selection of salads and sandwiches or paninis are always good, along with their weekly specials, I love the ultra-thin crust pizzas here. People who like thick crusts or Chicago pan pizzas - go elsewhere!

Pizzas range in price depending on toppings and size. My friends and I all like our own personal pizzas, so we get the ultra-thin 12″. I had the buffalina ($9.50), which is a simple roma tomatoes, basil, mozzarella pizza. My friend Joe is hooked on their pesto pizza, so he had the Chicken Pesto ($10.50). Lucy ordered the prociutto pizza, which is thinly sliced prociutto on top of mozzarella, parmasean, and basil ($11). Café Metropol’s secret to making good pizza is in the dough, which I think is from Italy.

Barry had gone to Café Metropol with me on a different occasion and enjoyed the muffaletta, which he ordered again today. The muffaletta is huge, filled with eggplant, zuccini, roasted red bell peppers, salami, mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, basil, and pesto. Makes one wonder how all that can fit in a ciabatta roll, but they do. As if this isn’t enough, Café Metropol serves with the muffaletta a generous portion of mixed greens.

People who are looking for pasta dishes need to come back to Café Metropol for dinner. Choices will include various raviolis, baked lasagna, and cannelloni.

Additional tips:

There is ample street parking on side streets, but it can get pretty packed during lunch and dinner rushes. Valet parking only costs $3, a bargain in downtown.

Except for iced tea, I have not had a single tea drink there that was good, so avoid them. Various coffee drinks are fairly good.

For anyone who is a KCRW member, show your fringe benefits card and get 15% off your bill (alcohol included)!

Café Metropol
923 E 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 613-1537
Mon-Fri: 8am-9:30pm, Sat: 10am-9:30pm

By Pauline (see more of her posts).