News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
August 2009 Archive

Openings / Closings / Chef Shuffle / News Bytes / Sign up for our free, monthly newsletter / News Archive

Get news for restaurants in Los Angeles. Learn more about what's going on in your dining community. From chefs to new restaurants, you'll get the most out of Los Angeles restaurants when you know what's going on.

LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT NEWS - AUGUST 2009 Archive

OPENINGS

Sevan Azarian-Abdessian has opened Recess, an upscale café and gourmet marketplace in Glendale. Dishes include "eggs benny" with thyme hollandaise, a "pig headed" sandwich of prosciutto and fresh mozzarella, and the meaty "detention" pizza made with prosciutto, sopressata, salami and Canadian bacon. Also, find takeout Mediterranean styled salads and pastas, boutique sodas and desserts ranging from red velvet cake to chocolate-dipped macaroons. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner daily. Recess, 1102 N Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91202, 818-507-0592.

"Top Chef" victor Ilan Hall has opened The Gorbals Los Angeles downtown in the historic Alexandria hotel, named after a colorful immigrant neighborhood in Scotland. The menu mixes up Scottish, Jewish, Spanish and American flavors---expect haggis burgers, gefilte fish 'n' chips, and bacon-wrapped matzoh balls, along with king oyster mushrooms in warm marrow-walnut vinaigrette and lamb breast and mint. The Gorbals Los Angeles, 501 South Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013, 213-488-3408.

Amici Trattoria, a new sister spot of Beverly Hills' Trattoria Amici, has opened in Glendale at the Americana at Brand. Chef Piero Taputo dishes up Northern Italian specialties for lunch, dinner and small plates---there's also a wine bar and patio. Featured items include tuna carpaccio, prosciutto pizza, homemade pastas and chicken piccata. Lunch & Dinner daily. Amici Trattoria, 889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210, 818-502-1220.

L.A. Live has added the colorful Rosa Mexicano to its ever-expanding restaurant roster. The menu features upscale Mexican dishes including its famous guacamole en Molcajete made tableside, layered duck tortilla pie, huitlacoche quesadilla, and filet mignon with wild mushroom tequila cream sauce. Also, expect specialty margaritas and an extensive tequila list. Rosa Mexicano, L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015, 213-746-0001.

A new gourmet Thai spot, Soi 56, is open on the Cahuenga corridor in Hollywood. Alongside classic dishes of pad Thai and green curry, find small plates of crispy mussel crepes and frog legs, grilled filet mignon salad, crab noodles, roasted game hen rubbed with lemongrass, and a wide range of traditional tao yang charcoal-grilled skewers, the street food of Bangkok. Lunch Mon.-Fri., Dinner nightly. Soi 56, 1556 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028, 323-962-5656.

Intimate Noir Food & Wine has opened in Pasadena's Playhouse District, with prominent Pasadena chef Claud Beltran (previously with Derek's Bistro, Madeleines Restaurant & Wine Bistro) as chef/owner. The eclectic menu draws inspirations from Southern France, Northern Italy, New Orleans and beyond. Appetizers such as smoked salmon taquitos and Cajun gumbo are followed by the likes of hanger steak with chorizo gravy and wild boar chili verde. Co-owner Mike Farwell has created a wine list offering 300 selections, deep in Pinot Noir. Dinner Mon.-Sat. Noir Food & Wine, 40 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, CA 91106, 626-795-7199.

Chef Jean-François Meteigner's La Cachette Bistro has opened in Santa Monica. The menu features California-French bistro fare such as a tuna "burger" on brioche with horseradish sauce; buffalo short ribs with coffee rub and Cabernet jus; and duck breast with ginger rub, braised red cabbage, apple, orange chips and orange sauce. See the dinner in pictures in our blog. La Cachette Bistro, 1733 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-434-9509.

Eva has opened in the space formerly occupied by Hatfield's. Chef Mark Gold, previously of Joe's in Venice, prepares seasonal cuisine featuring ingredients such as Japanese beef, black truffle, fluke and foie gras. Eva, 7458 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036, 323-634-0700.

In Studio City, Mantee is a new Mediterranean cafe with an oasis-like back patio, named after the famous Armenian oven-baked ravioli dish. A sister spot to Beirut's famous Armenian-Lebanese restaurant Al-Mayass, the menu also features soujuk sausage crostini with fried quail egg, Armenian salad, hummus with pine nuts and sweet and sour cherry kebabs. Lunch and Dinner Tues.-Sun. Mantee, 10962 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604, 818-761-6565.

NEWS BYTES

Rock 'N Roll Wine Tasting Event at House of Blues
Rock 'n Roll Wine will host a live music and wine tasting event at the House of Blues in the VIP Foundation Room Friday, September 11, featuring the acoustic music of singer/songwriter Cofféy. The Vegas-born wine party will spotlight 15 wines from around the world and light hors d'oeuvres. Tickets for this event are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the tasting concludes at 10 p.m.; patrons may remain in the members-only Foundation Room for the remainder of the night. Tickets are available at www.rocknrollwine.com or by calling 702-240-3066. n/a.

Elements Kitchen to open next to Pasadena Playhouse
Elements Kitchen, the charmer on Fair Oaks Avenue south of Pasadena's Old Town, will be opening a second, more ambitious restaurant in the space adjacent to the historic Pasadena Playhouse in October. Elements Kitchen, 107 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Ste. 110, Pasadena, CA 91105, 626-440-0100.

Mantra Wine Dinner at Akasha Restaurant September 3rd
A special prix-fixe wine dinner at Akasha will take place Thursday, September 3 at 7:30 p.m., and will feature wines from Mantra Winery, a small production, family-owned winery from the Alexander Valley of Sonoma. Four wines will be paired with courses including bruschetta with grilled eggplant, peperonata and goat cheese, pappardelle with duck ragu, pork roast porchetta-style, and a bittersweet chocolate tart. The cost is $65 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Akasha, 9543 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, 310-845-1700.

$3 Tacos and Half-Priced Mojitos at Ciudad
Ciudad's happy hour has expanded to now include the bar and patio, Monday through Friday from 4 p.m.-7 p.m., and offers half-off house mojitos, margaritas, caipirinhas, sangria and select beer and wine, priced at $4.50. Tacos are $3, ranging from cilantro chicken to carne asada, chorizo, carnitas and shishito peppers. Nibbles priced at $5 also include house-made guacamole and quesadillas. Ciudad, 445 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-486-5171.

Riva Revamps with Italian Small Plates
At Riva in Santa Monica, chef Jason Travi has revamped the menu, replacing wood-fired pizzas with Italian small plates. New dishes include jumbo shrimp roasted with baby lima and cranberry beans, black figs stuffed with gorgonzola wrapped in bacon, braised veal cheeks on crostata, octopus fra diavolo, and pork belly with creamy fennel puree. Pizza is still offered Sunday-Tuesday. Riva, 312 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-451-7482.

Michael Voltaggio Launches New Menu at The Dining Room
Chef de cuisine Michael Voltaggio has launched a new menu at The Dining Room at The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa. Dishes include Pacific yellowtail sashimi with soy-watermelon, "sea sponge" and smoked egg yolk; and "Pastrami Pigeon" with puffed Gruyère cheese, "Brussels-Kraut" and a rye-infused jus. The Dining Room will feature this menu through the end of 2009 and will undergo a renovation and repositioning in early 2010. The Dining Room, The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa Pasadena, 1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena, CA 91106, 626-568-3900.

Summertime at The Backyard
The Backyard at the W Los Angeles Westwood is hosting special summer events on weekends through the end of September. On Fridays from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., chef Monique King offers her versions of backyard barbecue classics like barbecue glazed salmon, Southwestern style flank steak, and Greek chicken skewers. Guests can relax around fire pits and enjoy tapas and sangria during the twilight bonfires held on Saturdays from 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday's "W Hangover Brunch" features dishes like huevos rancheros, "Soak It Up" biscuits and gravy, and the "Ultimate" BLT. The Backyard, W Los Angeles Westwood, 930 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024, 310-443-8218.

Gladstone's to Get Revitalized
Sam Nazarian of SBE (the group behind XIV, The Bazaar by José Andrés and Katsuya, among other projects) has partnered with the owners of Gladstone's to give new life to the famous seafood restaurant. Gladstone's, 17300 W. Pacific Coast Hwy., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272, 310-454-3474.

Girls' Night at STK
Thursday evenings at STK, groups of ladies (four or more) will receive a complimentary bottle of champagne in the bar after dinner. STK, 755 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 310-659-3535.

Seasonal Suppers at The Standard
In celebration of the August harvest The Standard downtown is offering a month of Sunday suppers featuring seasonal ingredients, each Sunday from 5 p.m.-11 p.m. A three-course prix-fixe for $20 per person (two-person minimum) offers menu choices ranging from fried chicken with a jalepeno waffle, to summer bean cassoulet, grilled lamb tagliata, roasted tomato soup and almond-fig crostada. Standard Downtown, Standard Downtown, 550 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-892-8080.

Essex Public House Now Open for Lunch
Essex Public House is now open daily for lunch and serves rustic American fare conceived by executive chef Chris Ennis. The lunch menu features figs in a blanket, Dungeness crab-stuffed mushrooms, duck confit salad, grilled enoki mushroom pizza, organic curried chicken sandwich and short rib shepherd's pie. Essex Public House, 6683 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323-460-6608.

CHEF SHUFFLE

David Coleman has been named the new executive chef at Michael's on Naples in Long Beach, taking over from Matthew Poley. Coleman hails from San Francisco, where he cooked at the Campton Place Hotel, Salt House and Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery. Michael's On Naples, 5620 E. Second St., Long Beach, CA 90803, 562-439-7080.

CLOSINGS

Massino Ormani's Beverly Hills Italian restaurant Massimo has closed. Massimo, 9513 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, no phone.

Stefano Ongaro's Italian spot All' Angelo on Melrose is now closed. All' Angelo, 7166 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046, no phone.

The Kitchen, which many thought to be among L.A.'s best dim sum, has closed in Alhambra. The Kitchen, 203 W. Valley Blvd., Alhambra, CA 91801, no phone.

WeHo's chic little Italian eatery on Melrose, Murano, has closed. Murano, 9010 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90069, no phone.

One Sunset has closed on the Sunset Strip. One Sunset, 8730 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, no phone.

Los Feliz locals will find tapas and sangria no more at Steve Arroyo's Eastside Cobras y Matadors, which is now closed. The original Beverly Boulevard location remains open. Cobras y Matadors, 4655 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90027, no phone.

In Beverly Hills, the kaiten conveyor belts of Luckyfish have permanently stopped rolling. They will be re-opening in a new location soon. Luckyfish, 340 N. Canon Ave., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, no phone.

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to learn to cook? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.

View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in Los Angeles

Discover the top restaurants in Los Angeles for various cuisines and categories like sushi, steakhouses, pizza, happy hours, romantic dining and even gourmet food trucks. Find the best restaurants in LA here!

WINE OF THE WEEK

A brut non-vintage Champagne from one of the five oldest Champagne houses.

Read the article.

HOLIDAY WINES

Best wines to pair with your festive dinner.

Check the list.

GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDS

Over the years, we have been electing restaurants to be on GAYOT's Yearly Restaurant Awards.

Check the list.

News for Restaurants in Los Angeles August 2009 Archive

News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
August 2009 Archive