Mocha and Music

The Sherman Oaks coffeehouse Bada Bean is easy on the eyes and ears. Entering from a storefront illuminated by twinkling lights, you are suddenly surrounded by wood-paneled walls and the soft glow generated by an oversized chandelier.

Little touches everywhere--giant espresso tins above the windows, a bookshelf stuffed with old tomes--add to the homey feel.

On a small stage beside a pastry-stuffed counter, acoustic guitarists croon pretty harmonies. Looking around at the attractive crowd, you are quite happy--after all, you paid nothing to get in.

In existence for only four months, Bada Bean’s Tuesday night “open mike” music sessions are drawing loads of locals.

Thirty-two-year-old owner Lenny Mesi Jr. has been gratified by the growing success his 1-year-old cafe is having in the competitive open-mike world.

“I knew it was going to be tough, because a lot of coffeehouses have established nights,” he said. “But now we’ve gotten a lot of people from the other coffeehouses, although I probably shouldn’t say it! And it’s all been word-of-mouth.”

Part of that success comes from the talent onstage, which is pretty good, something that can’t always be said for such open-to-the-public performances. Truth be told, manager Andrea Oborsky and singer-songwriter Darren French, who acts as the night’s host, screen potential performers to keep quality high.

Coffeehouse regular Yochai Weiss, 25, of Van Nuys, approves of the Tuesday tunes, and he “generally can no longer stomach most open mikes, but this one isn’t bad.”

The performers, many of whom are also customers, help give Bada Bean its community feel.

French frequented the place before getting involved musically. Bella Vlasis, 34, a professional Madonna impersonator from Sherman Oaks, has brought her conga drum to jam with guitarist Gabriel Gettleson.

But she also comes to Bada Bean as a customer.

“I like the crowd, I like the coffee,” Vlasis says. “You can just hang out here. Everyone’s friendly.”

Mesi aimed for such an atmosphere after spending time learning the restaurant ropes as an employee of the Hard Rock Cafe. “I wanted an Old World, East Coast atmosphere that reflected my Italian roots,” he said. “I always wanted to have a cafe called ‘Bada Bean,’ because where I grew up, it was always like, ‘bada bing, bada boom,’ you know?”

BE THERE

Bada Bean is at 13718 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks. Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-2 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-to 2 a.m. Live music, comedy and other performances are presented seven nights a week. No cover. Italian sandwiches, desserts and coffee served. Call (818) 784-2232.