RESTAURANTS • First Word
The Skinny: Kino Kaetsu and chef Giles Clark of beloved seasonal Japanese restaurant Yess have launched Café 2001, an all-day cafe in the same building with a similar quality of food and drink.
The Vibe: During the day, laid-back. Local neighborhood regulars sit at round tables in comfortable Victorian-style chairs. What the lofty, exposed brick-walled space lacks in width, it makes up for in height. Its sun-drenched mezzanine seating gives nostalgic ’90s coffee shop, but with 2025-level coffee and culinary offerings. Clean modern angles, cement floors, and clear glass balconies are juxtaposed with eclectic vintage furniture. The style is hard to pin down, as is the restaurant’s service concept that morphs throughout the day from breakfast to lunch to happy hour, with natural wines and cocktails, followed by a limited early dinner menu on weekends. Dinner is more dimly lit, and often includes art and performance nights, transforming the cafe into a moody music and art venue welcoming collaborations with local artists.
The Food: The lunch menu of Japanese-inspired sandwiches, featuring an impressively tender pork tenderloin Katsu, is the main draw. The cherry tarts are so perfect-looking they’ve already become the cafe’s signature image. And don’t miss the standout smoked trout served with crisp, bread-shaped hashbrowns, dollops of crème fraîche, and huckleberries.
The Drink: Cappuccinos served in French glassware are strong and brewed with precision during the day, while at night, they’re serving up a selection of natural wines.
The Verdict: Café 2001 in all its variations offers thoughtful food and drink. That said, go for lunch when the scene is brighter and busier. –Heather Platt
→ Café 2001 (Arts District) • 2001 E 7th St • Tue-Thu 8a-4p, Fri-Sun 8a-830p • Walk-ins only.