Imagine a restaurant that will excite and delight both children and parents. Where kids can roam free on the patio, in the playroom (yes, playroom) and arcade while their moms and dads enjoy an honest-to-goodness cocktail in a lovely, peaceful setting. Your dreamy Friday night is here (assuming you live in California): Jessica Biel is co-founder of Au Fudge, a dining experience in West Hollywood. And we had a chance to talk with her business partner, Kimberly Muller, who has been fantasizing about the concept since childhood and is the author of the upcoming book The Story of Au Fudge.
“I read a lot as a kid and I loved to escape into the imaginary worlds that authors created,” Muller says. “Within the pages of books there were always elements of surprise and absurdities and magic. Au Fudge has all that; secret bookcases and outrageous desserts arriving to the table in a bathtub. The magic simply comes from seeing it all through the eyes of a child when all is filled with wonderment. The book of Au Fudge sets the stage for the Au Fudge experience.”
Ready to explore Biel and Muller’s little slice of heaven?
Dining area
Au Fudge is filled with creative ideas, from on-site au pairs to nooks where kids can play hide and go seek. Muller says she’s not sure there was much method to their madness. “We wanted to create a community clubhouse filled with everything we wanted; a great dining establishment where everyone’s needs are met,” she says. “The concept evolved and that was our process.”
Creative space
Kids are easily bored at restaurants, which is why this creative space is a genius idea. Stocked with toys, board games, and coloring materials, you’ll have a hard time peeling them away from this special place. The communal dining table even gives little ones a chance to socialize and share a meal with new friends.
Bar
Au Fudge’s cocktail and wine menu is a glorious tribute to adulthood — good luck getting that at your typical kids’ restaurant. Whether you’re in the mood for champagne, beer, wine or a “Jessica’s Rabbit’s Rabbit” (tequila, mezcal, agave, lime, cucumber jalenpeno, black volcanic salt), you’ll find the poison you need to help you unwind after a long day.
Marketplace
Au Fudge is more than a restaurant — it’s also a marketplace where you can stop and pick up coffee, candy, baked goods and even Jessica Alba’s Honest Company diapers and baby products (because why shouldn’t one great Jessica support another)?
Patio
What could be better than taking your party outdoors and giving your children the gift of fresh air? No surprise here: Au Fudge’s patio is all kinds of homey and adorable. “We wanted it to feel like you were at someone’s home,” Muller says. “When the grown ups are happy the children are happy and all coexist beautifully.”
Arcade
Remember old-fashioned arcades? Au Fudge gives them a modern twist in a classy setting that will definitely tempt adults to stick around and play a few games.
Staff uniforms are to die for
A restaurant is only as good as its staff. Judging by this server’s incredible outfit, it’s easy to see Au Fudge has style to spare.
Now, can we all book tickets to Cali, bring our families and spend all of our time exploring this new space? It looks out of this world.
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