Their customers lap it up

SEVERAL times a week, West Hollywood resident Craig Hodes and his housemate, who goes simply by the name Tyler, dine together alfresco at the 3-month-old Prana Cafe, little sib to the luxe New American restaurant Republic, with which it shares a kitchen. Sometimes Hodes and Tyler split an omelet with a side of bacon. Other times Tyler gets his own hamburger patty. The staff coos over Tyler. One waitress calls him “baby.” He always gets cool water right away.

Hodes gets a warm welcome too. But he doesn’t get nearly as much love as Tyler. What gives? Tyler is a beagle. And Prana, a sleek, casual spot with mostly outdoor seating and a menu of salads and sandwiches as well as the usual egg and pancake breakfast fare, is a very dog-friendly place.

“We saw how many dogs were in the neighborhood and decided to move in that direction,” says manager Eric Todd, who purchased a dozen or so shiny silver metal water bowls for Prana’s canine clientele within days of the restaurant opening.

Todd guesses that nearly 50% of the cafe’s customers are dog owners. On weekends, that number can seem even higher, with the sidewalk jammed with yellow Labs (seemingly the most popular breed among Prana’s patrons), Chihuahuas and mutts.

Todd and chef Mark Mittleman are in the process of developing a doggy menu with dishes such as steak tartare. “We were really solidifying our menu for people first,” says Mittleman.

Some chefs might turn up their noses at cooking for pooches. But Mittleman has done it before. When he worked at the Beverly Hills Hotel, he regularly cooked for guests’ best friends. “Anything from chopped steak to filet mignon to chicken burgers. Even veggie burgers with soy cheese for some really crazy people with vegetarian dogs.”

Running such a dog-friendly place presents some challenges. “I’ve had a couple customers get agitated with all the dogs around,” says Todd. There was also the matter of training the busboys to promptly clear the dogs’ water bowls along with the tables so no one gets a shoe full of water. But mostly things have gone smoothly.

In any case, Todd and owner Mikayel Israyelyan are committed to the neighborhood dogs and their owners. (Not surprisingly, both are dog owners.) That’s earned them a loyal following among at least one demographic.

Says Mittleman, “We have a lot of repeat doggy business.”

-- Leslee Komaiko

Small bites

* Minx Restaurant & Lounge has opened in the old Rusty Pelican space in Glendale. The chef is Joseph Antonishek, who has done stints at O-Bar and Ja’an in L’Ermitage Hotel. Here, Antonishek is doing a global menu with dishes such as halibut roasted in banana leaves with a spicy red curry coconut sauce, and rack of lamb with minted couscous salad. Wednesday through Saturday nights, Minx will host a nightclub.

Minx Restaurant & Lounge, 300 Harvey Drive, Glendale, (818) 242-9191.

* Clementine, the popular bakery cum gourmet deli in Century City, has opened a satellite location at the Hammer Museum in Westwood Village. This new Clementine is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch only.

Clementine, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., West L.A., (310) 443-7037.

* SusieCakes, a bakery specializing in American comfort desserts such as banana pudding with vanilla wafers, whoopee pie (a chocolate sandwich cookie) and red velvet cake, has opened in Brentwood. Owner Susan Sarich’s bakery also offers espresso drinks, though glasses of ice cold milk seem to be the early favorite.

SusieCakes, 11708 San Vicente Blvd., L.A., (310) 442-2253.