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News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
September 2009 Archive

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LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2009 Archive


OPENINGS

The former Blue on Blue at the Avalon Hotel has become chef Mirko Paderno's stylish new poolside restaurant Oliverio. Paderno, formerly of All'Angelo and Dolce, has created an Italian menu featuring beef carpaccio, spaghetti with spicy langoustines, saffron risotto with pan-seared bone marrow, goat cheese and black summer truffle pizza, branzino with candied tomatoes, and Piemontese bone-in rib-eye. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Daily. Oliverio, Avalon Hotel, 9400 West Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212, 310-277-5221.
 
Smith Bros. Restaurants has changed the name of its Crocodile Café to Cafe 140 South, transforming it into more of a brasserie concept, although much of the casual California menu remains the same. The company, which also owns the Rose City's Parkway Grill, Smitty's Grill and Arroyo Chophouse, has converted its short-lived Spitfire Saloon in Old Pasadena into a French-inspired bistro, Cheval Blanc (41 S. De Lacey St., Pasadena, 626-577-4141). Lunch & Dinner daily. Cafe 140 South, 140 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101, 626-449-9900.
 
In Santa Monica, BP Oysterette has opened on Ocean Ave., featuring breezy views and New England seafood dishes including a wide variety of fresh oysters on the half shell. Expect daily ceviches and crudos, mussels in wine and garlic sauce, fisherman's stew, a bucket of steamers, a lobster roll, and fish and chips. Landlubber options include a Caesar salad, Kobe beef dog and hangar steak in chimichuri sauce. Lunch & Dinner daily. BP Oysterette, 1355 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-576-3474.
 
The enormous former Goa space has been replaced by an upscale sports bar-restaurant, Capitol City Sports Grille. Expect upwards of 60 beers, artisanal cocktails and a menu featuring Sicilian meatball sliders, house-smoked pork ribs, tuna on crispy rice, tri-tip salad, mac 'n' cheese, pulled pork sandwich, thin crust pizzas and burgers. Lunch & Dinner daily, Brunch Sat.-Sun. Capitol City Sports Grille, 1615 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323-465-1750.
 
Palate chef Gary Menes and restaurateur Andre Guerrero have opened marché L.A. in Sherman Oaks in the former Max space. The market-driven menu will change weekly, with diverse and refined dishes such as melon soup with Belize shrimp and cucumbers, pork belly with peaches and dandelion greens, and rolled skirt steak with bone marrow. Dinner Mon.-Sat. marché L.A., 13355 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, 818-784-2915.
 
In Santa Monica, The Fifth Amendment Alehouse is now open on Broadway, featuring nearly two-dozen craft beers on tap, 30 more in bottles, and exotic burgers and wursts. Expect bison and llama burgers, with artisanal sausages ranging from venison with merlot and blueberries, to pheasant with cognac and elk and wine. Lunch & Dinner daily. The Fifth Amendment Alehouse, 129 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-386-1428.
 

NEWS BYTES

DineLA Hits the Road
From September 28-October 2, RoadStoves  and dineLA are teaming up for the first-ever dineLA Restaurant Week food truck. Each day a different restaurant will be hosting the dineLA Restaurant Week food truck serving complimentary fare throughout its respective neighborhood from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. along with the chance to win dinners for two at each restaurant. Participating restaurants and their respective neighborhoods are Dakota at The Hollywood Roosevelt (Hollywood), The Foundry on Melrose (Mid City), Anisette Brasserie (Santa Monica), Lawry's The Prime Rib (Beverly Hills) and Rosa Mexicano (Downtown).
 
Yassmin Sarmadi Buys Out Partner Steven Arroyo at Church & State
Co-owner Yassmin Sarmadi has bought out her partner, Steven Arroyo, at Downtown's year-old Church & State. Walter Manzke continues to serve as chef at the lively bistro, which has become one of the central city's most popular restaurants. Arroyo still owns Cobras & Matadors on Beverly Boulevard. Church & State, Biscuit Company Lofts, 1850 Industrial St., Los Angeles, CA 90021, 213-405-1434.
 
Weekend Brunch Now Served at La Cachette Bistro
In its beachy new Santa Monica digs, La Cachette Bistro is now serving brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. In addition to many regular lunch items, expect brunchy specialties like organic eggs benedict on brioche with smoked salmon, and piperade topped with sunny side up eggs served with roasted fingerling potatoes and spicy tomato sauce. La Cachette Bistro, 1733 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-434-9509.
 
Checkers Downtown Revamps Dining Room & Menu
Recently taking over as executive chef at Checkers Downtown, Todd Allison has announced his new menu to accompany the dining room renovation. Expect highlights like herb-crusted rack of lamb with rancho gordo heirloom bean ragout, shank meat and natural jus, and roasted-garlic and fava bean angnolotti with chanterelle mushrooms, crispy pancetta and English pea coulis. Twice each month Allison will also offer prix-fixe tasting menus. An adjacent outdoor dining patio and the lobby lounge will re-launch simultaneously, featuring a new menu of small bites and eclectic cocktails. Checkers Downtown, Hilton Checkers Los Angeles, 535 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-891-0519.
 
Brunch at The Bistro Garden
The Bistro Garden at Coldwater has begun serving "Sunday at the Gardens Brunch" featuring live music in the dining room. German apple pancakes and eggs Benedict with home fries are just a few of the menu items available. Reservations are suggested. The Bistro Garden at Coldwater, 12950 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604, 818-501-0202.
 
Nick & Stef's Celebrates 10th Anniversary
In honor of its 10th Anniversary, downtown's Nick & Stef's Steakhouse is offering a three-course tasting menu for $39.95, available through November. Diners can start with a Caesar salad, soup or iceberg lettuce wedge with Maytag blue cheese before enjoying grilled filet mignon, organic chicken or salmon, complete with side dishes. For dessert, lemon meringue pie with blackberry honey or a trio of gelato are available. Nick & Stef's Steakhouse, 330 S. Hope St., Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-680-0330.
 
Fleming's Features Filet Mignon
Through September 30, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar celebrates their most popular steak, the filet mignon, with a three-course prix-fixe for $45. It features a trio of filets prepared three ways---Wellington, Oscar and au poivre. The meal includes salad, a side, and a trio of crème brulees for dessert. For $10, add a flight (three two-ounce tastes) of paired wines. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Ste. A135, Los Angeles, CA 90015, 213-745-9911.
 
20 Wines From 20 Regions of Italy at Cube
Cube is offering 20 wines by the glass from 20 different regions of Italy. Every day a new regional wine, priced at $12 or less, will be featured (in alphabetical order), starting with Abruzzo. The special runs weekdays and Saturdays until September 30. Cube, 615 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036, 323-939-1148.
 
Burger Nights at Caché Restaurant & Lounge
Chefs Josiah Citrin and Nyesha Arrington have introduced Burger Nights on Wednesdays and Thursdays at Caché Restaurant & Lounge. The burger design changes each week based on available market ingredients, but past variations have featured applewood smoked bacon, Cantal cheese, heirloom tomatoes and Caché "Secret Sauce." Priced between $18-24, the burgers are served with double-fried french fries. Caché Restaurant & Lounge, 3110 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310-399-4800.
 

CHEF SHUFFLE

At The Bazaar by José Andrés in Beverly Hills Joshua Wigham has replaced Michael Voltaggio (now at The Dining Room at Pasadena's Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa) as new chef de cuisine. Wigham has helmed the stoves at several other José Andrés' Washington D.C. restaurants, including Café Atlantico and Zaytinya. The Bazaar by José Andrés, SLS at Beverly Hills, 465 S. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90048, 310-246-5555.
 
Patina Tony Esnault is now executive chef at Joachim Splichal's flagship downtown restaurant Patina. This French-born chef was most recently executive chef at Adour Alain Ducasse in New York, and has previously worked at L'Auberge de L'Ill in Alsace and Le Louis XV in Monaco. Esnault collaborated with Splichal in late September to develop a new menu for Patina. Patina, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 141 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213-972-3331.
 

CLOSINGS

The popular Yucatan spot Chichen Itza has closed the doors of its MacArthur Park location. The original Chichen Itza remains open in Mercado La Paloma near Exposition Park. Chichen Itza, 2501 West Sixth St., Los Angeles, CA 90057, no phone.
 

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