Openings
Chef Kerry Simon's (SIMON L.A.) LA Market has opened at the JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. Live. The menu includes salads featuring farmers market vegetables, pizzas, and comfort fare such as organic chicken with braised beet greens, but also touches on global flavors with dishes like wok-charred edamame with ginger sea salt. Hand-crafted cocktails range from The Hollywood Groove with gin, apricot and ginger to the Mandarin Thyme that combines Absolut Mandarin vodka, Aperol and thyme. LA Market, JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. Live, 900 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015, 213-765-8930.
Wolfgang Puck's WP24 is projected to open in April on the 24th floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles. The restaurant, the second from Puck at downtown's L.A. Live complex (joining Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill), will feature Asian cuisine. WP24, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, 900 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015, no phone yet.
Culina Modern Italian has opened in the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, taking over the space that housed the Gardens restaurant. Chef Victor Casanova has prepared a menu of housemade pastas, pizzas and traditional Italian entrées, as well as a selection of crudo dishes. Culina Modern Italian, Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, 300 S. Doheny Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90048, 310-860-4000.
Katsuya Uechi has opened a Manhattan Beach location of The Izaka-Ya By Katsu-ya. Expect the same popular items served in the West L.A. spot, including soba noodles and salads, creamy rock shrimp tempura, crispy rice with spicy tuna and foie gras on Kobe beef. It's now open for dinner; lunch should follow. Dinner nightly. The Izaka-Ya By Katsu-ya, 1133 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, 310-796-1888.
Silver Lake welcomes the second outpost of the idiosyncratic Cowboys & Turbans---street food from India crossed with Mexican taco truck standards. Expect inexpensive fusion concepts featuring a fish 'naanwich,' spinach-tofu tikka masala, and tandoori quesadillas, tacos and burritos. Cowboys & Turbans, 2815 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026, 213-483-7778.
Loteria Grill has opened in Studio City. It's the third eatery by chef/owner Jimmy Shaw, whose original quick-food stand at the Farmers Market was followed by a full-service dining room in Hollywood. The Studio City outpost, located in a former Guacho Grill space, features an airy, skylit dining room with colorful art. The menu, identical to the Hollywood location, features a wide array of tacos, burritos, sopes and tostadas, as well as specialties such as huachinango a la Veracruzana (red snapper), mahi mahi in chipotle sauce, and chicken with mole sauce. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. No margaritas yet...the liquor license is pending. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily. Loteria Grill, 12050 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 92604, 818-508-5300.
New nightlife spots bar210 and plush have opened in The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. Marcel Vigneron ("Top Chef," The Bazaar by José Andrés) has created a menu of globally-influenced small plates such as pork belly sliders with pickled green papaya slaw and black garlic aïoli. Bar210 is open Monday through Saturday evenings, while Plush nightclub is open Thursday-Saturday nights after 10 p.m. bar210, 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 310-887-6060.
The former Boule space on La Cienega has now become Chili Addiction, featuring an extensive menu of haute and traditional chilis formerly only available at the Hollywood Farmer's Market. Regular chilis include versions with Prime rib, Texas red chile con carne, green chile and tomatillo, and vegan with soy. In all there are more than 40 varieties of rotating chilis on offer. Lunch and Dinner Tues.-Sun.. Chili Addiction, 408 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, 323-203-1793.
Chef Jason Kim (L'Orangerie, Lucques) and partner Amanda Bacon (Canele) have opened Forage in Silver Lake. A seasonal French-Cal-Med menu based on local farmer's market picks changes frequently; the neighborhood hype is all about the forage-barter concept, which lets customers bring in their backyard fruit and produce to exchange for bakery and other items. The menu features citrus beets with goat feta, faro and lentil salad with fennel, rotisserie Jidori chicken, Niman Ranch pork belly sandwich, grilled steak salad, and a daily quiche. Check the website for weekly forage calls. Lunch and Dinner Tues.-Sat., Brunch Sun.. Forage, 3823 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026, 323-663-6885.
Larkin Mackie, of Eagle Rock's popular soul food restaurant, Larkin's, is the co-founder of Mac & Cheeza downtown. The new eatery features a wealth of mac-and-cheese options, including some with rice noodles for those on gluten-free diets. Guests specify their desired noodles, cheeses (including soy cheese for vegans), meats (e.g. bacon, ham, chorizo) and veggies (e.g. jalapeños, mushrooms, green onions) to create unique, personalized dishes. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily, and stays open late on weekends. Lunch & Dinner daily. Mac & Cheeza, 223 W. 8th St., Los Angeles, CA 90014, no phone.
Chicago chef Rick Bayless (Topolobampo, Frontera Grill, Xoco) will be overseeing the kitchen at Red O, scheduled to open in April. Furthermore, plans are already in action to replace the Ma'Kai in Santa Monica with a second location of this modern Mexican resto-lounge concept. Red O, 8155 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046, no phone available yet.
News Bytes
A New Look For Tony's
Dive restaurant and bar Tony's Darts Away in Burbank is getting a makeover from a new "Tony," Tony Yanow, a beer enthusiast who plans to revamp the space and upgrade the beer selection and menu. Expect more than 30 California craft beers in addition to California wines, all on tap---no more bottled beers or wines. The new and decidedly un-divey Tony's will be unveiled in April 2010.
Lunch at Laurel Tavern
Laurel Tavern in Studio City is now serving lunch. On offer are burgers and grilled cheese and turkey club sandwiches as well as lighter options like burrata and beets and a goat cheese salad. Laurel Tavern's pub fare is also available to-go for lunch and dinner. Laurel Tavern, 11938 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604, 818-506-0777.
Chaya Downtown Debuts its Japanese Beer Garden
Beginning March 22 and running through the end of summer, Chaya Downtown will operate a Japanese beer garden on its outdoor patio every Monday evening, from 5 p.m. until closing. A special menu from executive chef Shigefumi Tachibe will be provided for this new venue, which will include snacks like chicken, beef tongue, shrimp, shiitake or short rib yakitori skewers, sake-steamed mussels, spring rolls, and albacore tuna poke, which can be paired with pitchers of Kirin beer. The heated patio, decorated with festive red lanterns, is perfect for downtown workers waiting out rush hour traffic. Chaya Downtown, 525 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-236-9577.
Free Lavazza Coffee at the Little Next Door
Through March 22, the Little Next Door will offer a complimentary Lavazza coffee with any purchase between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Little Next Door, 8142 W. Third St., Los Angeles, CA 90048, 323-951-1010.
Water Grill Expands its Raw Bar Selection
Downtown's Water Grill, long one of the city's most prominent seafood restaurants, has expanded its raw bar selections. A geographically diverse selection of oysters is offered, from British Columbia, New Zealand, New England, and Mexico, and chilled seafood items (e.g. sea urchin, Dungeness crab) are served by the piece, half-pound and pound. Additionally, new plateaux de fruits de mer (which can be customized upon request) range from $35 (for two) to the formidable "King" platter (serving 5-8) priced at $135. All platters include clams, king crab, shrimp, mussels, lobster, Dungeness crab, sea urchin, and periwinkles. Water Grill, 544 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-891-0900.
Guest Chef Debbie Lee at Breadbar
Debbie Lee, a finalist in the 2009 series of The Next Food Network Star, is launching a pop-up version of her Korean-style gastropub at Breadbar (on 3rd Street), which will preview dishes from her upcoming L.A. restaurant (projected to open in the fall). From February 24-April 10, the guest chef will feature a menu of "SeoulTown Tapas"---modernized, traditional Korean "pub grub," with dishes like robata-style skewers with kimchee-citrus pork, slow-cooked cod with chile-scallion sauce, roasted daikon and mountain rice, spicy chilled buckwheat noodles with poached octopus, and butterscotch cream puffs with chile-chocolate mousse. Breadbar, 8718 W. Third St., West Hollywood, CA 90048, 310-205-0124.
4+4=8 oz. Happy Hour at 8 oz. Burger Bar
8 oz. Burger Bar has introduced a 4+4=8 oz. happy hour, featuring $4 handcrafted cocktails, bottled beers, glasses of wine and snacks. Happy hour runs from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday and also from 10 p.m. until closing Monday through Thursday. 8 oz. Burger Bar, 7661 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046, 323-852-0008.
Los Angeles Chefs on Bravo's "Top Chef Masters"
Bravo has announced the contestants that will compete on the second season of "Top Chef Masters." Representing Los Angeles will be chefs Govind Armstrong (8 oz. Burger Bar), Susan Feniger (Border Grill, Ciudad, Susan Feniger's STREET), Ludovic Lefebvre (LudoBites) and Mark Peel (Campanile). Tune in to the premiere on April 7 at 11 p.m. (10 p.m. Central). 8 oz. Burger Bar, 7661 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046, 323-852-0008.
Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter Tea at The London West Hollywood
In celebration of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland film release, The London West Hollywood is offering a special Mad Hatter Tea from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily for the month of March. The four-course menu ($28 per person) is composed of teas ranging from Earl Grey to Cassis, sandwiches including tomato-cherry jam with aged English cheddar, and pastries featuring blackberry panna cotta, "Queen of Heart" tarts, "Jam Tomorrow" scones and Caterpillar Caps; finish with a "drink me" champagne toast. The London West Hollywood, 1020 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 310-854-1111, 866-282-4560.
Bombay Palace Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Specials
The Beverly Hills Indian eatery Bombay Palace is celebrating its 25th anniversary, with lunch and dinner specials that will run for the rest of 2010. The lunch buffet is $25 for two ($12.50 for one), and includes favorite appetizers, entrees, desserts, plus a beverage. The dinner special features the family-style palace feast for $25 per person, offering vegetable samosas, tandoori chicken, gilafi seekh kebab, jumbo tandoori prawns, chicken tikka masala, aloo gobi, rice pilau, garlic naan and bista kulfi for dessert. Bombay Palace, 8690 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211, 310-659-9944.
Chef Shuffle
Chef Walter Manzke is leaving downtown's Church & State to open his own restaurant. Replacing him is Joshua Smith, who was previously chef de cuisine at Anisette Brasserie. Church & State, Biscuit Company Lofts, 1850 Industrial St., Los Angeles, CA 90021, 213-405-1434.
Nicola Chessa is replacing Tomasso Tarantino as executive chef of Valentino in Santa Monica. Chessa hails from Sardinia in Italy and has previously worked at Giorgio Caffè & Ristorante at the Shoppes at Mandalay Place in Las Vegas. Valentino, 3115 W. Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310-829-4313.
Dong Choi has replaced Michael David as chef de cuisine at David Myers' brasserie Comme Ca. Choi was formerly sous chef, and the menu remains the same. Comme Ca, 8479 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 323-782-1104.
Closings
The Hump in Santa Monica will close on March 20, calling it a "self-imposed punishment" in light of the recent allegations against the restaurant for serving whale meat. The restaurant has also announced plans to make donations to organizations dedicated to the preservation of whales and other endangered species. The Hump, 3221 Donald Douglas Loop S., Third Fl., Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310-313-0977.
The Santa Monica location of Breadbar is now closed. Breadbar, 602 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401, no phone.
San Pedro's popular Greek restaurant Papadakis Taverna has closed. Papadakis Taverna, 301 W. Sixth St., San Pedro, CA 90731, 310-548-1186.
Citrus at Social, the Hollywood restaurant formerly helmed by legendary chef Michel Richard, is now closed. Citrus at Social, 6525 West Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028, no phone.
The Restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air has closed for renovations and plans to re-open in 2011. Restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air, Hotel Bel-Air, 701 Stone Canyon Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90077, no phone.
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