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News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
August 2010 Archive

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LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT NEWS - AUGUST 2010 Archive


OPENINGS

Cleo, the signature restaurant of Sam Nazarian's Redbury hotel, has opened its doors to the public. Expect flatbreads, mezzes and Mediterranean small plates like moussaka and mussel tagine with saffron, tomato, chickpeas and spinach. Cleo, The Redbury, 1717 Vine St., Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323-962-1717.
 
The interior of Chi Dynasty in Studio City The Muse Lifestyle Group and Jonathan Chi have teamed up to open Chi Dynasty in a sleek dining space on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City. Diners can expect large portions of familiar Chinese dishes like Mongolian beef and kung pao chicken executed with fresh ingredients. Chi Dynasty, 12229 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604, 818-753-5300.
 
Studio City has a chic new pizza and wine bar, 8 1/2 Taverna. Italian chef/owners Fabrizio Di Gianni and Enzo Sanseverino dish up a slew of tantalizing pizzas like the Tartufona topped with mozzarella, mascarpone, shitakes and truffles. Small bites range from steamed mussels to frogs legs and langostino tacos; also expect pastas, burgers, salads, gourmet Italian-style sandwiches and daily specials. A select list of Italian wines comes from Di Gianni, who is also a sommelier. 8 1/2 Taverna, 11334 Moorpark St., Studio City, CA 91602, 818-308-1100.
 
Following his successes with Scarpetta in New York City and Miami, chef Scott Conant has opened another location of his Italian restaurant Scarpetta at the Montage Beverly Hills. The menu features signature dishes such as spaghetti with tomato and basil; creamy polenta with truffled mushroom fricassée; and roasted baby goat with rapini, pancetta and potatoes. The space, designed by Studio Gaia, comprises an Old Hollywood-inspired dining room, bar area and al fresco courtyard. Scarpetta, 225 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 310-860-7970.
 
Salt's Cure, a venture of chefs Chris Phelps (Canelé) and Zak Walters (Cube), offers brunch and lunch---dinner shortly---in its West Hollywood digs, which include a butcher's case and a selection of take-out meals. For brunch, there are griddle cakes, smoked fish or ricotta fritters with jam, and a Rueben or BLT are offered for lunch. Check out the deli case for take-home charcuterie, a whole chicken or potted pâté. Brunch and lunch are served Wednesday through Monday, with dinner service beginning shortly. Brunch & Lunch Wed.-Mon. Salt's Cure, 7494 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046, 323-850-7258.
 
A second branch of Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop, the popular Beverly Hills salad-centric, quick-serve eatery has opened in Century City. The new eco-friendly restaurant seats a total of 70 guests, and offers bicycle delivery to nearby office buildings. Signature dishes, like the antioxidant orchard salad (grapes, celery, agave-roasted walnuts, dried cranberries, crumbled blue cheese, mint, red onion, cucumbers and seasonal berries with housemade pomegranate-whole grain mustard vinaigrette), and the Buffalo "wangs" lite salad (turkey bacon and grilled chicken tossed in chipotle-orange barbecue sauce) are offered, as well as wild mushroom and truffle pizza and a turkey burger. Lunch and dinner are served Monday through Saturday. Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop, 1888 Century Park E., Los Angeles, CA 90067, 424-239-8700.
 
Ado, in Venice, which suffered fire damage on the night of June 6-7, reopened on August 12 after being closed more than a month. Ado, 796 Main St., Venice, CA 90291, 310-399-9010.
 
The new Santa Monica Place, located two blocks from the beach and next to the Third Street Promenade, has debuted its rooftop dining deck, with six chef-driven restaurants and wind-swept ocean views. The indoor-outdoor component of the dining deck comprises 17,000 square feet in a modern design dominated by extensive glass and open areas. The restaurants include the hybrid wine bar/beergarden Sonoma Wine Garden, the contemporary Japanese restaurant Ozumo, restaurateur Richard Sandoval's Zengo and La Sandia, as well as Pizza Antica and Chris Yeo's XINO.
 

NEWS BYTES

Terrace Happy Hour at XIV
Michael Mina's XIV hosts a XIV terrace happy hour Thursday through Saturday from 7 p.m.-10 p.m., featuring 50 percent off appetizers and signature cocktails. XIV, 8117 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046, 323-656-1414.
 
Free Corkage at Water Grill Until 2011
Downtown's perennial seafood favorite, the Water Grill, is waiving its corkage fee---formerly $20---until the end of the year. Water Grill, 544 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-891-0900.
 
Lola's Summer Sale & 5 for $15 Menus
Through August, Lola's is offering 5 for $15 menus before 8:30 p.m. Mon.-Tues. and Fri.-Sun. For $15, diners can enjoy the daily special entrée (herb-crusted salmon, spaghetti and meatballs, etc.) along with a paired cocktail. Meanwhile, Wednesday and Thursday evenings feature the three-course Summer Sale menu priced at $25, including cocktail. Lola's, 945 N. Fairfax Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90046, 323-654-5652.
 
Morning Nibbles at Nelson's
Nelson's, one of the oceanfront restaurants at the Terranea Resort, has introduced a "Morning Nibbles" menu available on weekends from 7:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. On offer are breakfast items like housemade granola, streusel coffee cake, chorizo quesadilla and a smoked salmon and cream cheese brunch wrap in a spinach tortilla. Nelson's, Terranea Resort, 6610 Palos Verdes Dr. S., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275, 310-265-2800.
 
Vertical Wine Bistro Hosts Special Happy Hour for Flea Market Foodies
Guests coming from the monthly Rose Bowl Flea Market (the second Sunday of every month) can enjoy discounted bar bites, wines by the glass, specialty cocktails, and select beers at Vertical Wine Bistro, with happy hour pricing every Sunday the event is in session, from 5 p.m.-midnight. The special is available in the restaurant's bar and lounge area to those bargain hunters who check in on Foursquare at both the flea market and at Vertical that same evening. Specialty bites include corn fritters with cured salmon and crème fraîche ($8) and a short rib burger ($10). Pair with classic cocktails including the signature Fio-Lolita, which is made with gin, blueberries, brown sugar, organic blue agave nectar, lemon juice, cava and rhubarb bitters ($7). Featured wines by the glass ($6) and beers ($5) are also available. Vertical Wine Bistro, 70 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103, 626-795-3999.
 
Alfresco Happy Hour at Saddle Peak Lodge
The rustic Saddle Peak Lodge is hosting an alfresco happy hour Wednesday through Friday from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Guests can take in the views of Malibu Canyon while enjoying half-price cocktails. Wine tasting and small plates like wild game corn dogs from executive chef Adam Horton are also available. Saddle Peak Lodge, 419 Cold Canyon Rd., Calabasas, CA 91302, 818-222-3888.
 
New "Brunchtime" Menu at AMMO
AMMO has stopped Saturday lunch service and is now serving a new "brunchtime" menu on Sundays. Chef Dan Mattern's dishes include a fried egg sandwich with prosciutto, arugula and aioli, and beef short-rib hash with roasted potatoes, cipollini onions and two poached eggs, while pastry chef Roxana Jullapat is offering pecan sticky buns, cheddar buttermilk biscuits and breakfast beignets with fruity dipping sauces. Additionally, GM Benny Bohm has created a selection of new specialty cocktails that features options like an elderflower mimosa and heirloom tomato Bloody Mary. AMMO, 1155 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, 323-871-2666.
 

CHEF SHUFFLE

"Top Chef" contestant Jamie Lauren, previously of Absinthe Brasserie & Bar in San Francisco, will be chef at Beechwood in Venice starting in October. Beechwood, 822 Washington Blvd., Venice, CA 90292, 310-448-8884.
 

CLOSINGS

Hakobe, the high-end Japanese eatery that took over the former Lodge space on Restaurant Row, has closed. Hakobe, 14 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211, no phone.
 
On Beverly Drive, the Brazilian restaurant Bossa Nova has closed; the Sunset, Pico and Robertson locations remain open. Bossa Nova, 212 South Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212, no phone.
 
Melisse owner/chef Josiah Citrin's Caché Restaurant & Lounge has closed. Caché Restaurant & Lounge, 3110 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90405, no phone.
 

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