Newly opened in Old Pasadena: Agnes, an all-day restaurant, fromagerie, and marketplace from husband/wife team Vanessa and Thomas Tilaka Kalb, an Iowan and a Californian who met in the kitchen of Flour + Water in San Francisco. The menu is focused on modern, reimagined Midwestern family dishes served on mismatched crockery (the restaurant is named after Thomas’ maternal grandmother, Mary Agnes, who he says “liked just one gin and tonic when company came over”).
LA architect Oonagh Ryan of ORA Studio designed the interiors with flexibility in mind; a fromagerie in front doubles as a room for culinary workshops, and the dining area opens onto a courtyard surrounded by a kitchen garden.
Working with British furniture makers Another Country, known for their commitment to sustainability, the ORA team outfitted the interiors with pieces from the collection, which is influenced by British Country style, the Shaker movement, and Japanese woodwork.
Above: Located in the Old Pasadena historic district, the 4,600-square-foot restaurant occupies a former police horse stable built in 1922 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Above: A secluded outdoor patio, outfitted with a suite of Another County’s Outdoor Two tables and benches, opens off the main dining area. Above: The main dining room overlooks the open kitchen’s wood-fired hearth. The banquettes are upholstered in retro-inspired plaid, and Series One Pedestal Tables from Another Country are paired with Oak Hardy Chairs. Above: Casual seating in the market space, with Stool Four seating. Above: The cheesery and market area, with butcher block tables on wheels for dining and display. Another Country’s Hardy and Series Four bar stools provide seating. Above: Jars of preserved vegetables, fruits, herbs, and pickles on display in the prep area, which features a wrap-around stainless steel counter. Above: The prep kitchen space also functions as a private dining room with communal seating. Above: The halls are lined with classic wainscoting. Above: The bathrooms have an olive green/pale pink palette and old-fashioned sink skirts.
Have a Question or Comment About This Post?
Join the conversation