News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
December 2008 Archive

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LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT NEWS - DECEMBER 2008 Archive

OPENINGS

In Silver Lake, the former Zen Sushi has metamorphosed into Barbarella Bar, a 4,300-square-foot restaurant, bar and lounge inspired by the 1968 cult classic film. Expect an array of artisan beers, a large selection of wines by the glass, and specialty cocktails; global dishes include big and small plates such as Scottish organic salmon, burgers and Thai mussels. Dinner nightly. Barbarella Bar, 2609 Hyperion Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027, 323-644-8000.

Lawry's Carvery is now open at downtown's L.A. Live, offering convenient bites for pre-game or pre-concert, and to-go meals for pickup. Popular hand-carved sandwiches include prime rib au jus, oven-roast turkey and bbq beef brisket, accompanied by sides such as horseradish-mashed potatoes or creamed corn. Lunch & Dinner daily. Lawry's Carvery, 1011 S. Figueroa Street, Suite B115, Los Angeles, CA 90015, 213-222-2212.

Michael Zislis, the entrepreneur behind the Mucho Ultima Mexicana and the Shade Hotel, will open a location of ROCK'N FISH at downtown's L.A. Live in January. Like the Manhattan Beach original, the menu will offer steak and seafood as well as specialties like the blue cheese wedge salad, oak-grilled artichoke, and New Orleans barbecue shrimp. ROCK'N FISH, L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Ste. A-160, Los Angeles, CA 90015, no phone available yet.

Yealang Smith's Soul will open this spring on Hollywood Boulevard in the newly restored Hollywood Professional Building. Smith, who formerly owned downtown's Soul Folks Café, will dish up her famous fried chicken, smothered pork chops, smoked baby back ribs, seafood gumbo and Southern breakfasts for diners 24 hours a day. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily. Soul, 7046 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028, 323-839-3380.

Conny Andersson, the former executive chef at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, has opened AK Restaurant + Bar in Venice. A high-end organic and sustainable Cal-Med menu also spotlights classic Scandinavian dishes such as house-cured gravlax, Swedish meatballs and herring three-ways. AK Restaurant + Bar, 1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291, 310-392-6644.

In the Cahuenga Corridor, the mahogany-lined Bar Delux has opened, featuring 1930s Art Deco stylings, signature cocktails, and small plates created by Eric Greenspan of The Foundry on Melrose. Dishes include whisky-glazed pork belly, baked brie, lobster and tequila mole, bacon-wrapped tenderloin and traditional caviar service. Dinner Tues.-Sat. Bar Delux, 1624 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323-461-6800.

Celestino Drago (Drago, Enoteca Drago, Il Pastaio) has opened DRAGO Centro in the City National Plaza downtown. Specialties from the modern Italian menu include stuffed roasted squab; langoustine carpaccio with pomegranate, micro herbs and yuzu dressing; and crispy risotto cake with octopus and young garlic sauce. In addition to the main dining room, DRAGO Centro features a separate lounge area with a menu of bar snacks as well as Italian-inspired aperitifs and cocktails. DRAGO Centro, City National Plaza, 525 S. Flower St., Ste. 120, Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-228-8998.

The rockin' gothic Lucifer's Pizza has opened in Los Feliz, and features thin-crust gourmet pizzas such as roast pumpkin and proscuitto, Greek lamb and rosemary, and smoked salmon, cream cheese capers and arugula. Rumor has it that deliveries will be coming via a vintage 1960s hearse. Lunch & Dinner daily. Lucifer's Pizza, 1958 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027, 323-906-8603.

Nightlife guru Cedd Moses and Grace chef Neal Fraser have teamed up to re-open Cole's, the oldest restaurant in L.A., which dates back a full century. Having claimed to invent the original French Dip, the new spot features vintage décor, a meat-carving station and a back bar that will showcase exclusive handmade cocktails. Lunch & Dinner daily. Cole's, 118 E. Sixth St., Los Angeles, CA 90014, 213-622-4090.

Venice's new Asian macrobiotic eatery Seed is helmed by Eric Lechasseur, formerly of M Café de Chaya, and features organic curry bowls, roasted vegetable panini, asian salads, and savory tempeh or bean and grain burgers; desserts include vegan green tea cupcakes, seasonal mousses and chocolate truffles. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily. Seed, 1604 Pacific Ave., Venice, CA 90291, 310-396-1604.

Restaurateur Gabe Morales, formerly of Republic and Boa, has opened Provecho in the Wilshire Building downtown. The haute Mexican menu features dishes like chorizo-stuffed quail, coffee-mole-crusted foie gras parfait, duck confit sopes and an expansive ceviche/raw bar, as well as an 80 bottle-plus tequila list. Dinner nightly. Provecho, 800 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017, 213-489-1406.

NEWS BYTES

All' Angelo's All New Menu
In keeping with the demands of the recession, All' Angelo owner Stefano Ongaro has stripped away the white tablecloths and fine crystal at his acclaimed Melrose restaurant to offer a more affordable trattoria menu, with rustic regional Italian dishes all priced $20 or less. Selections include braised tripe, artichoke and shrimp pizza, hand-cut bigoli pasta with duck, mushroom and radiccio lasagna, and milk-braised veal. All' Angelo, 7166 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90046, 323-933-9540.

Pared Down Apple
In another sign of the economic times, Apple Restaurant & Lounge has scaled down its menu, though several of the starters remain---including the crispy Georgia rock shrimp, Kobe beef sliders, and crab cakes with fennel salad. Prime filet with a potato cake and black peppercorn sauce, and roasted chicken with cauliflower and grain mustard make for heartier fare, while desserts are now served as smaller "Sweet Bites." Apple Restaurant & Lounge, 665 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 310-358-9191.

Chipotle Burrito Valet
Parking issues have been solved at the UCLA location of Chipotle, which now offers a burrito valet. Customers can call, fax or order online with their credit card, pull up to the restaurant and call on their cell phone for curbside delivery. Chipotle, 1077 Broxton Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90189, 310-824-4180.

Huckleberry Bakery to Open in ‘09
Rustic Canyon Wine Bar & Seasonal Kitchen owner Josh Loeb and pastry chef Zoe Nathan will open Huckleberry in mid-February/early March 2009. This bakery project will be located on Wilshire Boulevard, just a few blocks west of Rustic Canyon. Rustic Canyon Wine Bar & Seasonal Kitchen, 1119 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-393-7050.

Happy Birthday to Morton's
Morton's The Steakhouse is celebrating its 30^th birthday not with cake, but with burgers! From 5 p.m.-6 p.m. on December 21, diners at the bar will be offered complimentary Mini Prime Cheeseburgers. When Morton's co-founders Klaus Fritsch and Arnie Morton first worked together at the Playboy Club, Fritsch made his signature hamburger and sent it out to Arnie Morton, who proclaimed it the best hamburger he'd ever eaten. The duo went on to build the business partnership that has become Morton's. Los Angeles area locations of Morton's The Steakhouse include Beverly Hills, Woodland Hills, Burbank and downtown Los Angeles. For more information, please visit www.mortons.com.

Café Del Rey Extends Happy Hour
Overlooking the picturesque harbor in Marina del Rey, Café Del Rey has expanded its happy hour to run from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. and 9 p.m.-11 p.m. every day. Mixologists have created a new list of featured cocktails ($6), and chef Jason Niederkorn will offer a menu of small plates, which includes potato and bacon croquettes, crispy manchego, fresh oysters, and spicy tuna tartare. Café Del Rey, 4451 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292, 310-823-6395.

SugarFISH Offers SugarFLIGHT Curbside Service at LAX
In Marina Del Rey, Kazunori Nozawa's SugarFISH is now offering "SugarFLIGHT" take-out service for passengers traveling through LAX. Customers can call 15 minutes before pickup and their orders will be brought to their car curbside at the restaurant. Nozawa's traditional sushi comes in a specially designed bento box, which is fully recyclable. The "trust me" menus run $13.50 to $26.50. SugarFISH, Waterside Marina del Rey, 4722 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292, 310-306-6300.

Scotch Tastings at Whist
For the winter season Whist at the Viceroy Santa Monica is inviting Scotch enthusiasts to gather around the fire pits on Sunday evenings for Scotch tastings. A rotating menu of high-end Scotch brands are priced at $1 per vintage, and a Scotch appreciation class on the last Sunday of every month features a five-flight tasting for $20, or $30 with appetizers. Whist, Viceroy Santa Monica, 1819 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-451-8711.

DineLA Restaurant Week Returns
Taking place from January 25-30 & February 1-6, the second annual dineLA Restaurant Week offers diners the opportunity to indulge in specially priced three-course menus from a variety of LA restaurants, including Patina, BLVD 16, Katsuya and Grace. Meals will be available in three price categories: Deluxe Dining is $16 for lunch and $26 for dinner; Premier Dining is $22 for lunch and $34 for dinner, and Fine Dining is $28 for lunch and $44 for dinner (beverages, tax and gratuity are not included). In addition, many of the participating restaurants will be offering wine pairings for an additional charge.

The Little Door's Happy Hour
For a happy hour that really is only an hour, visit the The Little Door's romantic garden patio for "L'heure de l'apéritf," Sunday through Wednesday from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Wines by the glass are $9, and there's an $18 cheese plate special. The Little Door, 8164 W. Third St., Los Angeles, CA 90048, 323-951-1210.

Discounted Nobu Nibbles
At Nobu Los Angeles, specials on cocktails and a large assortment of cold and hot tapas are discounted Sunday through Thursday all night in the bar and lounge only. Most dishes average around $8, including scallop with jalapeno salsa, king crab ceviche with truffled kabocha, and Nobu's sashimi tacos. Nobu Los Angeles, 903 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 310-657-5711.

Toast to the Holidays
During the holidays, The Peninsula Beverly Hills offers a variety of festive drinks to celebrate the season. Guests can warm up with hot holiday cocoa served with either marshmallows, a candy cane, or a dash of Amaretto. Other libations with a kick include the Grasshopper Martini, Eggnog Martini and Mulled Red Wine. The Peninsula Beverly Hills, 9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212, 310-551-2888, 800-462-7899.

CHEF SHUFFLE

Brian Redzikowski is the new executive chef at BondSt Beverly Hills, replacing Hiroshi Nakahara. Redzikowski draws from his stints at Matsuhisa and Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas to revitalize the menu emphasizing innovative sashimi dishes. BondSt Beverly Hills, Thompson Beverly Hills, 9360 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212, 310-601-2255.

CLOSINGS

In Loz Feliz, Tangier, a popular local spot for live music and drinks, is now closed. Tangier, 2138 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027, no phone.

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to learn to cook? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.

View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in Los Angeles

Discover the top restaurants in Los Angeles for various cuisines and categories like sushi, steakhouses, pizza, happy hours, romantic dining and even gourmet food trucks. Find the best restaurants in LA here!

BEYONCE INSPIRED LIBATIONS

Try these whiskey cocktails inspired by Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album.

Check the recipes.

BOURBON IN YOUR AIOLI

This cashew aioli recipe gets a kick with bourbon.

Get the recipe.

GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDS

Over the years, we have been electing restaurants to be on GAYOT's Yearly Restaurant Awards.

Check the list.

News for Restaurants in Los Angeles December 2008 Archive

News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
December 2008 Archive