Cafe Cordiale Makes Music Till the Wee Hours

Peter May of is keeping alive not only the one-time tradition of the cool late-night music and supper spot - but also a family restaurant-ing tradition started in 1963 right here in Sherman Oaks by his father David.

May Jr. owns and runs Ventura Boulevard's landmark Cafe Cordiale, 14015 Ventura Boulevard, where he features delectable entrees and specials, plus a light-fare supper menu, all accompanied by something missing in most of Los Angeles - live music shows 6 nights a week, lasting into the late hours.

May told Sherman Oaks Patch, "I've been doing live music here for 19 years now, and we do it late-night so it doesn't intrude on our early diners. We serve until 10:30 weeknights and midnight weekends, so it creates a kind of late night energy.

"We present everything from jazz to R&B, to rock and latin. The great Mac Davis recently performed here. Toshi Yanagi just arrived from playing the Jimmy Kimmel show. He's on the bill this week with four girl singers. So is a regular of ours, Herman Matthews, who has played with Richard Marx, Kenny Loggins and Tom Jones.

"It's great music. I'm keeping the fire burning that here in Sherman Oaks there's a night crowd, people who like late-night music and a late bite. We're providing it. And we don't have a cover charge. We've become the music crowd's 'Cheers.'

We also do lunches, of course." With seating for 120 in 3600 square feet, May opened Cordiale in 1985, "And in 1992, we started the music," he said. "At that time, it was only one night a week with
acoustic guitars.

Then we burned down in the earthquake of 1994, opening again from
those ashes in 1996. In remaking Cordiale, we've featured well spaced tables, intimate lighting, casually elegant atmosphere, nightly specials, and best of all, a lively bar that attracts a great crowd."

The congenial owner noted, "I love the social aspect of being the host in my own restaurant, beyond belief. It's the saving grace of working a ridiculous amount of hours."

He notes, "Most people have to go out somewhere to get together with their friends, but all my friends come to me. I love it."

May revealed, "My dad David started the original Hungry Tiger restaurant in Sherman Oaks back in 1963, in the early heyday of the Ventura Boulevard corridor.

"The concept came from a bunch of WWII guys called the Flying Tigers, but it was my dad who came up with the idea of putting in an oyster bar and having live music in the evenings. Boy, it took off. Hungry Tiger sat about 100 people and on a Saturday night,
they turned 600 covers."

"Here at Cordiale, I learned a lot from Dad, who's now 75. And to make sure he brings his expertise along, he's our Chef.

"Sometimes he does some of those old favorites from Hungry Tiger, like Clams Casino and the famous Clam Chowder that was his own
recipe.And my mom works here about 4 days a week too. So anyone who remembers Hungry Tiger, come on down. The gang's here."

Though born in England, Peter May grew up in Sherman Oaks, attending the town's Buckley School for 13 years. He said, "I know Los Angeles gets a bad rap for being plastic and unfriendly, but I don't get that at all in Sherman Oaks. I've been here since I was a kid, and have always found the people here to be warm.