Roomy and Right for ‘Reality Bites’ Crowd

Zoom too quickly down Sherman Way and you might miss the Cobalt Cafe, sandwiched between an Italian grocery and a boutique. On a recent Wednesday night, there was lots of elbow room. But the students there to study or those trying to get better acquainted with a date didn’t seem to mind.

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THE SCENE: It’s pretty roomy for a coffeehouse. The midnight-blue curtains hanging in the two front windows, the floral wall-to-wall carpet, comfortable seating and dim lights create a cozy atmosphere. Blue Christmas lights are strung around a stage just large enough to fit a five-piece band. For those looking to recapture their childhood, there is a shelf full of old Milton Bradley and Tyco games, in addition to chess and Trivial Pursuit. In a back room sits a pool table, which looks as if it has decades worth of stories to tell.

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THE CROWD: This 20-something crew could have been extras in “Reality Bites.” Most of the guys have that Ethan Hawke look, from the just-woke-up hair-don’ts to the Kramer-like sweaters. The majority of women are obvious fans of those funky little second-hand shops on Melrose. Some patrons are buried in thick textbooks with fixed expressions of “Yes, I waited till the last minute; don’t bother me” on their faces. Others are with friends or dates just to sit and talk over a cup of java.

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THE MUSIC: Don’t be fooled by band names like Slop Jar, Ribcage and HairBall (not to mention the names we can’t print), which may mislead one to prepare for a mosh pit.

“Our live acts consist of jazz, rock, punk, alternative, just a wide variety of everything,” says the pony-tailed manager, Gino Garofalo. “We’ve even had a deejay here.” When bands or poets aren’t on stage, Garofalo keeps the music just as eclectic, ranging from Prince to No Means No.

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THE GOOD: It’s easy to slip into one of the love seats, curl up and get some reading done before the bands hit the stage around 9 p.m. The recorded music is kept low so that patrons talking together aren’t forced to scream, “What?” Also, healthy sandwiches, featuring various combinations of avocado, tomato, sprouts, cheese and turkey, are offered in addition to the usual coffee, tea and desserts. Prices range from $1.25 to $4.50.

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THE BAD: Thick and colored lamp shades make lighting very dim. This is perfect for someone on a date but not the best condition for reading.

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THE WORD: “Why are you playing Prince?” asks a patron to Gino immediately upon entering the cafe.

Cobalt Cafe, 22047 Sherman Way, Canoga Park. Open 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Mondays are open mike; Tuesdays, open poetry. Cover charges and show times vary. Call (818) 348-3789.