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News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
December 2011 Archive

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LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT NEWS - DECEMBER 2011 Archive


OPENINGS

U-Sushi, a quick-service concept where diners custom-design their own rolls, has opened in Beverly Hills. Customers select from about 40 fresh ingredients, including various fish, vegetables and sauces, which are then machine-pressed into a personalized sushi roll. U-Sushi is open for lunch and dinner daily. Lunch & Dinner daily. U-Sushi, 168 S. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212, 310-777-7655.
 
Caulfield Caulfield's, named after The Catcher in the Rye's famous protagonist, has opened on the lobby level of the Thompson Beverly Hills. Executive chef Cody Diegel has composed a menu of American bistro fare, featuring dishes such as tomahawk chop steak for two with homemade steak sauce. Caulfield's, Thompson Beverly Hills, 9360 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212, 310-388-6860.
 
In West L.A., Freddy Smalls has opened with former Ubuntu chef Jeremy Fox and San Francisco's Plum alum Charlie Parker helming the stoves. This haute neighborhood bar and kitchen offers grub like steak tartare with smoked egg yolk, grilled Monterey squid, and house-made charcuterie including oxtail terrine and duck rillettes. Hailing from Seven Grand, David Fleisher has created a sophisticated handcrafted cocktail program. Dinner nightly. Freddy Smalls, 11520 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064, 310-479-3000.
 
Brasserie/gastropub 3rd Street Station, with a design inspired by the great train stations of Europe, will open shortly on West 3rd Street. Proprietors Dion Rottman and dining/nightlife veteran Sky Reiss offer a menu that includes beer-battered fish and chips, New York strip with bordelaise sauce, house-made brats, and duck fat fries, all served in a space conceived by designer John Sofrio (Built, Inc.). The chef is Greg DeMichiel. The restaurant will be open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. 3rd Street Station, 8486 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90048, 323-782-8466.
 
Chadney's Restaurant, the once-popular establishment across from Burbank's NBC studios, has been boarded up since 1998. Finally, the site has been claimed by the operators of Casa Cabo Bar & Grill. There are considerable interior improvements yet to be completed; the Mexican restaurant is anticipated to open in early 2012. Casa Cabo Bar & Grill, 3000 W. Olive Ave., Burbank, CA 91505, no phone.
 
Club owners/restaurateurs Guy Starkman and Darren Dzienciol (The Beverly, Jerry's Famous Deli) have opened Sherbourne in West Hollywood. Executive chef Keven Alan Lee (Lutece, Las Vegas) has created an haute classic American menu including savory onion funnel cakes, a grilled bone-in prime rib Tomahawk steak for two, plank-roasted salmon and barbecued prawns. Start off dinner with a "spud mixologist" offering choices from the gourmet rolling mashed potato cart. Artisan cocktails involve lots of muddling and infused liquors. Dinner Tues.-Sat. Sherbourne, 327 N. Sherbourne Dr., West Hollywood, CA 90048, 310-289-5942.
 
The folks behind Rustic Canyon Wine Bar & Seasonal Kitchen and Huckleberry Cafe & Bakery, Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan, have opened Milo & Olive in Santa Monica. Morning breakfast includes baked eggs with roasted tomato and braised greens, in addition to a plethora of gourmet baked goods ranging from a cheesy rye biscuit to sweet cream brioche. Lunch and dinner feature fried local squid, braised beef short ribs, and artisan pizzas with house-made pork belly sausage, butternut squash and sage, and roasted potato with rosemary cream. Coffee is from Verve, and the boutique wine and beer list is short and select. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily. Milo & Olive, 2723 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403, 310-453-6776.
 
Heirloom LA will open a tasting room in Eagle Rock. This catering company/food truck operator has made a name for itself with lasagna cupcakes and other goodies. For more information, visit heirloomla.com.
 
Café Motif opened December 6 inside the new Motif lifestyle store, specializing in both home furnishings and fashion. The breakfast menu includes a Nutella croissant, bagels with lox, and breakfast burritos, while health-conscious lunches feature quinoa and arugula salad with mint, garbanzo beans and cucumbers; a chicken curry sandwich; salmon tartine and Caprese panini. The eatery, inspired by a Parisian café with al fresco dining, is open Monday through Saturday. CafĂ© Motif, 930 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035, 424-777-0079.
 

NEWS BYTES

DineLA Restaurant Week Returns
Taking place over two consecutive weeks (January 22-27, January 29-February 3), this winter's dineLA Restaurant Week offers diners the opportunity to indulge in specially priced three-course menus from a variety of LA restaurants. 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).
 

CHEF SHUFFLE

Dylan Hallas (Osteria Mozza, The Bazaar by Jose Andres) has been appointed the new chef de cuisine at Villetta in Santa Monica. Villetta, 246 26th St., Santa Monica, CA 90402, 310-394-8455.
 
Chef Brendan Collins (Waterloo & City) is once again overseeing the menu at the restaurant at Palihouse Holloway. One of his recent changes was adding a British-influenced prix-fixe brunch offered on Sundays. Palihouse Courtyard Brasserie, Palihouse Holloway, 8465 Holloway Dr., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 323-656-4100.
 

CLOSINGS

The West L.A. and Sherman Oaks branches of Mr. Cecil's California Ribs have closed with plans to re-open in new locations. The Manhattan Beach Mr. Cecil's remains open, and catering is also still available. Mr. Cecil's California Ribs, 1209 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, 310-546-5400.
 
Chef Evan Kleiman has closed her restaurant Angeli Caffe. The last day of service was January 13, 2012. Angeli Caffe, 7274 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90046, no phone.
 
Water Grill closed for a month-long renovation that begun on December 18. The downtown Los Angeles seafood destination is scheduled to re-open January 24, 2012. Water Grill, 544 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-891-0900.
 
Chef Roy Choi (Kogi Korean BBQ-To-Go, Chego, A-Frame) has replaced Beechwood with a new dining concept called Sunny Spot. Beechwood, 822 Washington Blvd., Venice, CA 90292, no phone.
 
Typhoon's Pan Am Room at the Santa Monica airport has closed. It will now be used as a private space or as a quieter seating option when there are live jazz nights at sister restaurant Typhoon, which is located downtstairs and remains open. Typhoon's Pan Am Room, 3221 Donald Douglas Loop S., Third Fl., Santa Monica, CA 90405, no phone.
 

CULINARY EVENTS
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