With a grand opening set for Dec 28 at 8 pm, this transplant comedy venue from MacDougal Street in New York's West Village, will soon be home to some of LA's best comedians, as well as poets, musicians and performance artists. According to owner Sal Frio, the goal is to provide a space for complete creative freedom for the artistic and comedy communities. "I want a place where people can see a real, raw New York City–style comedy show, here in beautiful LA," he says. "I'm combining the best of both worlds."
It's a dream he's been chasing for years, as Sal's has existed as a pop-up style comedy venue in different LA spaces while Frio worked to commit the time and money to create a permanent space. Two years ago, he bought the Vienna Cafe with the intention to make it a comedy/dining space, but then life and misfortune intervened and he had to sell it.
Fast forward to summer 2012, Frio successfully bought back the Vienna, gutted it and constructed his dream club. By night, Sal's Comedy Hole will be a laid-back club with a European feel; by day, it's a studio space for local talent. If it's anything like the New York hub, along with top-notch acts, the food at Sal's promises to be amazing, with authentic Italian cuisine. Dishes typically run $10-$15 a plate. For Sal's signature pasta bolognese ($10.95), he spends nine hours preparing the sauce. Don't miss the nutella crepes ($6.99), a personal recipe he's been perfecting for the last 28 years.