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News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
February 2010 Archive

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LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT NEWS - FEBRUARY 2010 Archive


OPENINGS

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.
 
Chef/owner Diego Balam, former sous-chef at O-bar, has opened Food Fair by Diego on Beverly Boulevard, just off Fairfax. The casual but ambitious neighborhood eatery features local artists and stylish contemporary American dishes such as house-cured salmon flatbread, spicy mussels, grilled goat cheese sandwich with onion jam on kalamata bread, homemade mascarpone gnocci, Angus burger and classic pot roast. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Daily. Food Fair By Diego, 7825 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036, 323-933-9314.
 
Chicago chef Rick Bayless (Topolobampo, Frontera Grill, Xoco) oversees the kitchen at Red O. Signature dishes include beef and pork meatballs with chipotle tomato sauce, caramelized onions and Yukon Gold potatoes; pork belly sopes with black beans, salsa negra and sesame; and goat cheese cheesecake with caramel corn and Mexican "root beer" sauce. Red O, 8155 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046, 323-655-5009.
 
Dish Bistro & Bar has opened in Old Pasadena, with chef Job Carder at the helm. Formerly of the Sonoma Valley, Carder maintains relationships with artisanal and organic wine country purveyors. The Cal-Med menu is broken into "bites," "small plates" and "larger plates" for versatility. Bites include snacks like deep-fried olives, while small plates range from charred octopus carpaccio with grapefruit and lemongrass vinaigrette to a parfait of brûléed foie gras layered over rillettes with apple-currant chutney. Larger plates examples include steak frites and duck confit. The restaurant is open for lunch Tuesday through Sunday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday, and for brunch on Sunday. Lunch Tues.-Sun., Dinner Tues.-Sat., Brunch Sun.. Dish Bistro & Bar, 53 E. Union St., Pasadena, CA 91103, 626-795-5546.
 

NEWS BYTES

Chaya Downtown Debuts its Japanese Beer Garden
Through the end of summer, Chaya Downtown is operating 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 is provided for this new venue, which includes 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.
 
Laurel Tavern Opens for Lunch
Studio City's popular Laurel Tavern is now open for lunch featuring modern American pub fare like burrata and beets, steamed mussels, chorizo sliders, grilled artichoke, smoked turkey club and hickory burger. To-go lunch and dinner is also available by calling 818-653-9030.         Laurel Tavern, 11938 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604, 818-506-0777.
 
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 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 through April. 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.
 
Bastide Open for Dinner
Joe Pytka's Bastide is now open for dinner. The restaurant recently reopened with chef Joseph Mahon (formerly of Sona) serving a more casual bistro menu for lunch. Dinner reservations are suggested. Bastide, 8475 Melrose Place, West Hollywood, CA 90069, 323-651-5950.
 
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.
 
M Café Beverly Hills
Chaya's contemporary macrobiotic restaurant M Café now offers a new breakfast, lunch and dinner menu at its Beverly Hills location featuring more "grab n' go" items and exclusive dishes. New menu items include sweet potato fries, wild salmon salad baguette, dilled organic tofu salad, curried tempeh salad, seared tuna tataki and the "big macro combo." Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Daily. M Café, 9433 Brighton Way, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 310-858-8459.
 
Indulge in Cassoulet this Winter at RH
Executive chef Sebastien Archambault of RH is preparing the traditional winter dish cassoulet for lunch and dinner on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through February 25. For lunch, guests can enjoy the rich, slow-cooked white bean stew with an appetizer and dessert for $30 ($23 for two-course menu) or on its own for $20. At dinner, cassoulet is offered for $22 as special to the normal à la carte menu. For reservations, please call 323-785-6090. RH, ANdAZ, 8401 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 323-785-6090.
 
Invest in a family farm at Napa Valley Grille
Chef Joseph Gillard and Westwood's Napa Valley Grille offer city folk a great opportunity to literally invest and participate in the success of a local family farm. Through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, customers make quarterly investments in a thriving artisanal farm, and receive a box of top-quality produce every week, which they pick up at the restaurant. Regular recipe advice from Gillard and an annual investors dinner at Napa Valley Grille keep participants engaged. For details, call the restaurant at 310-824-3322. Lunch Mon.-Sat., Dinner nightly, Brunch Sun.. Napa Valley Grille, Westwood Center, 1100 Glendon Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024, 310-824-3322.
 
Get Happy at Carousel
The Hollywood and Glendale locations of Carousel have launched their first-ever "happiest hours." Select dishes are priced from $3-$7 and include hummus and tabbouleh platters, falafel and pressed pita wraps. Also on offer are $3 beers, $5 well drinks and featured wines, and $6 specialty cocktails such as the Skinny Girl Chanel Addiction made with tequila, lime, Cointreau, St-Germain liqueur and honey. Happy hour is available Tuesday through Friday from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. at patio, sidewalk and bar seating. Carousel, 304 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91203, 818-246-7775.
 

CHEF SHUFFLE

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.
 

CLOSINGS

The Santa Monica location of Breadbar is now closed. Breadbar, 602 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401, no phone.
 

CULINARY EVENTS
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