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News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
November 2012 Archive

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LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT NEWS - NOVEMBER 2012 Archive


OPENINGS

Dave Reiss (A-Frame) has partnered with former Fraiche chef Jason Travi on the Hollywood restaurant littlefork. With A-Frame designer Sean Knibb revamping the former Shin BBQ space, the restaurant focuses on fresh shellfish, Northern Atlantic seafood, and smoked fish and meats. littlefork, 1600 Wilcox Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323-465-3675.
 
Chef Ludovic Lefebvre Chef Ludovic Lefebvre presents LudoBites TEN featuring the best dishes from his previous pop-ups. It's being held at Gram & Papas in downtown Los Angeles December 4-7, 10-14 & 17-21. Reservations have already been assigned, but a limited number of tables may become available due to cancellations. For more information, visit www.ludolefebvre.com/ludo-bites. LudoBites TEN, 227 E. 9th St., Los Angeles, CA 90015, no phone.
 
Adam Fleischman's Westwood empire grows with U-Mini, a (you guessed it) micro-Umami falling somewhere between fast food and gourmet burgers. Order on an iPad --- varieties include "dad's burger" (caramelized onions and cheddar) and a shiitake-based mushroom burger. There are also Umami fries and salted caramel shakes. Pick up your order and eat at the modern blond-wood tables or take the food to go. Lunch & Dinner daily.
 
The Century City Westfield has opened the first L.A. branch of the national chain Seasons 52, a fresh grill and wine bar concept. Expect cedar plank-roasted salmon, caramelized sea scallops, wood-roasted pork tenderloin and grilled lamb chops. The wine list offers 100 selections, with 60 by the glass. Lunch & Dinner Daily. Seasons 52, Westfield Century City, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90067, 310-277-5252.
 
The Westlake Village Inn has opened Stonehaus, a café and wine bar located in a rustic building amid a grove of olive trees and the hotel's private vineyard. A coffeehouse by day, Stonehaus morphs into a wine bar/tasting room in the evening, offering 45 wines by the glass, including the hotel's own private label. The building has the air of a Tuscan villa and includes an outdoor patio with mountain views and a waterfall. Open daily from 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Stonehaus, 31943 Agoura Rd., Westlake Village, CA 91361, 818-889-0230, 800-535-9978.
 
Sonja Perencevic, owner of Dan Tana's restaurant, and executive chef Dustin Trani have launched DOMA in Beverly Hills. The menu features starters such as crab cakes with roasted sweet pepper emulsion, burrata and basil oil; pizzas; and main dishes ranging from roasted butternut squash ravioli to grilled swordfish Milanese to braised beef cheek with roasted Tuscan vegetable quinoa. DOMA, 362 N. Camden Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 310-277-7346.
 
New in Studio City, just off the 101 is Spoonful, which takes over the space previously occupied by Henry's Hat. The new entry is a Southern-inspired gastropub, featuring staples like fried chicken, pulled pork sliders, shrimp and grits, po' boy sandwiches and cobblers. To go along with the Southern grub is a nice selection of beers, classic cocktails and whiskies. Spoonful is currently open dinner daily, with lunch hours to follow. Spoonful, 3413 Cahuenga Blvd. W., Studio City, CA 90068, 323-512-4800.
 
Susan Disney Lord's (Walt's niece) Bel Air Bar & Grill has reopened after remodeling, now with twice as much space, a Sunset Room for events, and a "Shack in the Back" serving breakfast, sandwiches and drinks. Behind a giant glass wall patterned with bougainvillea, expect prime filet mignon with port wine and seared sea scallops in shallot butter, as well as artisan cocktails. Bel Air Bar & Grill, 662 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049, 310-440-5544.
 
Echo Park's Cookbook shop owners Marta Teegan and Robert Stelzner have opened a new neighborhood restaurant, Cortez. Chef Alex Westphal dishes up sustainable, Spanish-inflected food with the likes of rabbit escabeche, steamed clams, Merguez sausage and a plethora of farmer's market produce-driven dishes like faro and charred collards or roasted squash with sage butter. But don't get too attached --- the menu changes every day. There's a small boutique (and frequently biodynamic) wine list and beer as well. Dinner nightly. Cortez, 1356 Allison Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90026, 213-851-8015.
 
Renowned Miami restaurateur Barton G. Weiss (Barton G. The Restaurant) will open a dramatic 1,900-square-foot outpost of Barton G. The Restaurant on La Cienega in West Hollywood in February 2013. The kitchen will be helmed by executive chef Jeff O'Neill (of Miami's The Dining Room at The Villa by Barton G.), and it will offer stylized, iconic American dishes including lobster pop tarts, citrus-spiked Samurai tuna, and Southern-inspired gizmo chicken with grilled peaches. Avant-garde cocktails will feature herbal-based recipes of fruit and vegetable bouillons, infusions, purées and extractions. Barton G. The Restaurant, 861 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90069, no phone.
 

NEWS BYTES

Sushi Roku Celebrates its 12th Anniversary in Pasadena
To commemorate its 12th anniversary in Pasadena, Sushi Roku is offering a special tasting menu for the entire month of December. The tasting menu includes 12 tastes of Sushi Roku from the past, present and future, including bite-sized portions of signature dishes like yellowtail sashimi with diced chiles, spicy tuna on crispy rice, and King crab with a champagne beurre blanc. The cost is $48 per person. Sushi Roku, 33 Miller Alley, Pasadena, CA 91103, 626-683-3000.
 
Jeremy Fox's Weekly Dinner Series --- Old Soul
Former Ubuntu chef Jeremy Fox has partnered with the This is Not a Pop-Up company to offer a weekly dinner series called Old Soul at Square One Dining in Hollywood. A four-course menu ($50) is available Thursdays through Sundays and offers the likes of black roux gumbo, chipped beef tongue and cool pumpkin chowder. Call 323-451-1767 or email [email protected] for reservations; more info and reservations also available on www.thisisnotapopup.com. Old Soul/Square One Dining, 4854 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90029, 323-661-1109.
 
New Caviar Vending Machines in 3 Locations
Just in time for the holidays, Beverly Hills Caviar has launched three luxury, top-shelf caviar vending machines, throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. Items range from small gifts such as a pink mother of pearl spoon ($5) to black truffle salt ($20) to Imperial River Beluga caviar ($500 for one ounce), and can be purchased with a quick swipe of the credit card. Find these luxe vending machines at The Westfield Century City, The Westfield Topanga and The Burbank Town Center.
 
Special Omakase Menu at Koi
Koi has launched a special $50 omakase menu. This 10-course tasting menu, available only at the sushi bar, includes four samples from the sushi bar, the signature Koi Fall Roll (salmon tempura with cucumber and cream cheese wrapped in soy paper and topped with pumpkin and avocado), four samples from the kitchen (such as lobster tacos and rock shrimp tempura), and mochi ice cream. Koi, 730 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 310-659-9449.
 
Madame Chocolat's Holiday Pop Up Shop
For the holidays, Madame Chocolat has a pop up location in the DL & Co boutique in Beverly Hills. There you'll find signature chocolate products and seasonal items available for purchase Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Madame Chocolat at DL & Co, 417 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 310-205-0025. For more information, visit www.madame-chocolat.com.
 
30% Off Mo-Chica for 30 Minutes
Through the month of November, Mo-Chica presents 30/30 media hora feliz, which offers guests 30% off the entire food and beverage menu for 30 minutes daily (5:30 p.m.-6 p.m.). Mo-Chica, 514 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, CA 90014, 213-622-3744.
 
60-Minute Power Lunch at Hotel Bel-Air
Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air has introduced a "60-Minute Power Lunch." The two-course prix-fixe menu is priced at $39 per person (exclusive of tax, service and beverages) and is available Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tortilla soup, roasted baby beets and goat cheese, or an organic butter lettuce salad can be ordered for starters, followed by a main dish of ginseng and honey marinated black cod, jidori chicken paillard or grilled London broil with roasted fingerling potatoes and chimichurri. Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air, Hotel Bel-Air, 701 Stone Canyon Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90077, 310-909-1644.
 
Wood & Vine Hosts Kids From Local Shelters for Thanksgiving
As part of the restaurant's ongoing relationship with the Los Angeles Youth Network (layn.org), Wood & Vine will be serving kids from local shelters for Thanksgiving lunch again this year. The restaurant will host the meal, plus a cooking class for the children on the morning of Thanksgiving. To help, drop off canned food to the restaurant (any time between 10am and midnight, daily) to be part of the can drive. Or donate via the envelopes in the check presenter, all of which will go straight to LAYN. Wood & Vine, Taft Building, 6280 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028, 323-334-3360.
 
New, Exclusive, Unnamed Bar at Chateau Marmont
A new exclusive, unnamed and hidden bar at Chateau Marmont requires being in the know to get on the reservation list (or being a guest at the hotel.) In the former private dining room, expect dark wood, leather, crystal, two tables and two booths, and drinks like the "Professor," made with gin, blood orange and fig bitters. Chateau Marmont, 8171 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046, 323-650-0575.
 
Michael McCarty Reinvents the “New” Michael’s
After undergoing a revamp, Michael's has launched a brand-new menu and fresh interior decor and has established a more approachable price range. Concentrating on accessible American farm-to-table cuisine, the restaurant unveiled new lunch and dinner menus, as well as a new mixology power bar and farm-to-glass cocktails program. The "new" Michael's features a best-of-the-best menu, along with specialties from a newly installed pizza oven, a raw bar, a wide selection of small plates, pastas, sides and tasting menus. Michael's, 1147 Third St., Santa Monica, CA 90403, 310-451-0843.
 
Anniversary Lobster Special at ROCK'N FISH Manhattan Beach
ROCK'N FISH in Manhattan Beach celebrates its 12th anniversary through the month of November with a little "Rock Lobster" shout out: guests can add a fresh lobster tail to any entrée order for just $12. Five-dollar specials on the signature grilled artichoke appetizer and (for those 21 and over) Navy Grog cocktail will also reign through November 30. ROCK'N FISH, 120 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, 310-379-9900.
 
Chef Suzanne Goin of A.O.C. A.O.C. Moving to a New Home
A.O.C., the popular wine bar that pioneered the small plates concept in L.A., will be moving from its current location seven blocks west to the building that housed Il Covo, at 8700 West 3rd Street in West Hollywood. The restaurant, owned by acclaimed chef Suzanne Goin and business partner Caroline Styne, will tentatively make the move in February. Dinner nightly. A.O.C., 8022 W. Third St., Los Angeles, CA 90048, 323-653-6359.
 
Bow & Truss Now Open for Lunch
NoHo's Bow & Truss is now open for lunch, with new menu items including pork cheek stew, amarillo sea bass, and an open-faced crab bocadillo with harissa aïoli. Bow & Truss, 11122 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601, 818-985-8787.
 

CHEF SHUFFLE

Sherry Yard is departing Spago Beverly Hills to open her own bakery at the old Helms Bakery space in Culver City. Yard plans to open the bakery next September; her replacement at Spago will be Della Gossett, formerly of Charlie Trotter's. Yard will remain at Spago through February 24, 2013. Spago Beverly Hills, 176 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 310-385-0880.
 
Border Grill Downtown LA Chef Scott Linquist (after New York stints at Gotham Bar & Grill and Dos Caminos) takes the helm at Border Grill Downtown LA as the new executive chef. He is also the author of Mod Mex: Cooking Vibrant Fiesta Flavors at Home, which highlights regional Mexican cuisine from Baja to the Yucatán to Oaxaca. Border Grill Downtown LA, 445 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-486-5171.
 

CLOSINGS

Reservoir, the three-year-old restaurant of chef/owner Gloria Felix, has closed. The intimate space had been a welcome addition to the Silver Lake dining scene. Reservoir, 1700 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026, no phone.
 
Owner/executive chef Paul Shoemaker has closed Savory in Malibu, citing a dispute with Point Dume Village landlord (and part-owner of Savory) Zan Marquis. Savory, 29169 Heathercliff Rd., Malibu, CA 90265, no phone.
 
Il Covo, located in a historic home previously occupied by Orso, closed at the end of 2012. The space will be taken over by chef Suzanne Goin's A.O.C. wine bar, currently located seven blocks east. Il Covo, 8700 W. Third St., Los Angeles, CA 90048, no phone.
 
Chef Mark Peel's Campanile closed its doors after a Halloween party on October 31, 2012. Campanile, 624 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036, no phone.
 

CULINARY EVENTS
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