News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
May 2017 Archive

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LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT NEWS - MAY 2017 Archive

OPENINGS

The Cat & Fiddle has opened in a new location

Hollywood mourned the loss of its beloved The Cat & Fiddle, but the British pub has re-emerged on Highland Avenue in the former Mud Hen Tavern space. The Cat & Fiddle, 742 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, 323-468-3800.

Chef Zach Pollack (Alimento) has opened Cosa Buona in Echo Park. Expect Italian-American fare like an eggplant Parmesan sandwich, mozzarella sticks, peel 'n' eat shrimp scampi and Hawaiian pizza. Cosa Buona, 2100 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026, 213-908-5211.

Yard House has opened in a prime downtown Burbank location across from the AMC Burbank 16 movie theater. Choose from 130 beers on draft and a wide-ranging menu of salads, tacos, pizzas, burgers, steaks and "house favorites" like jambalaya, Nashville hot chicken and fish and chips. Yard House, 100 E. Palm Ave., Burbank, CA 91502, 818-840-6700.

Chef Ludo Lefebvre (Trois Mec, Petit Trois, etc.) will open Coffee & Waffles, operating out of a trailer parked at the Native Hotel on PCH in Malibu. Look for several sweet and savory waffles, and coffee from local roasters Eucalyptus & Pine. Coffee & Waffles, Native Hotel, 28920 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu, CA 90265, 424-644-0517.

Frankland’s Crab & Co. has opened in Encino

Chef Phillip Frankland Lee brings a casual new “seafood shack” experience to his hometown of Encino, with Frankland's Crab & Co. Scratch|Restaurants again assembles their team of pastry chef Margarita Kallas-Lee, barman Devon Espinosa, and designer Jordan Olson for this latest venture. Look for by-the-pound fresh catches like chilled white gulf prawns, wild-caught king crab legs, or Maine lobster; there’s also branzino fish and chips, shellfish chowder, and fried oysters and clams. Frankland’s Crab & Co., Encino Place, 16101 Ventura Blvd., #250, Encino, CA 91436, 818-906-9609.

Anca Caliman (Lemon Poppy Kitchen) has opened a charming storefront Romanian restaurant, Parsnip, on York Boulevard in Highland Park. Look for traditional cooking suited to an LA palate: eggplant dip, dumplings stuffed with polenta and peppers, flatbread with feta and dill and Romanian chopped salad. Heartier fare includes beef goulash, stuffed cabbage and chicken paprikash. Parsnip, 5623 York Blvd., Highland Park, CA 90042, 323-739-0240.

A stylish Café Gratitude spinoff (and sister to the Newport Beach flagship) has opened on Canon Drive in Beverly Hills. Gratitude offers an upscale, all-organic plant-based menu and has a light, bright setting that includes original art, chic banquettes and Moroccan tile. The patio boasts marble tables and olive trees. Executive chef Dreux Ellis (Café Gratitude) prepares some greatest hits from his other café menus, like mole enchiladas and pad thai kelp noodles, as well as new specials to be announced. Gratitude, 419 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 424-389-1850.

Filifera is a hip neighborhood rooftop hangout at the new Hollywood Proper Residences

Spiffy new Hollywood Proper Residences offers residents and the general public a hip neighborhood rooftop hangout, Filifera, just in time for summer. Kelly Wearstler designed the sleek poolside space overlooking a twinkling Hollywood landscape. Look for seasonal handcrafted cocktails like the Lavender Collins and Passionfruit Fizz, as well as select wine and beer. Snacks include cheese and charcuterie plates, and nibbles such as olives, pickles and crudités. Filifera, Hollywood Proper Residences, 1550 N. El Centro Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323-499-4009.

“Machete” actor and budding restaurateur Danny Trejo continues his culinary expansion across Los Angeles with Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts in Hollywood. Traditional donuts (glazed, cinnamon crumb, etc.) can be found alongside Mexican-inspired creations in flavors like horchata, tequila-lime, Mexican hot chocolate and tres leches. Trejo's Coffee & Donuts, 6785 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90038, 323-462-4600.

Jean-Georges Beverly Hills will open on June 1, 2017

French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten will open his first California restaurant, Jean-Georges Beverly Hills, at the new Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on June 1, 2017. Vongerichten will also oversee The Rooftop by JG, a casual restaurant/bar situated alongside the rooftop pool. Watch GAYOT's exclusive interview with Jean-Georges Vongerichten and hotel owner Beny Alagem. Jean-Georges Beverly Hills, Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, 9850 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 310-860-6666.

Chef Mark Peel (Campanile) will flip his Grand Central Market spot Bombo into a fast-casual seafood concept called Prawn at the end of May 2017. Look for seafood stews and chowders, fish and chips, warm albacore salad and lobster rolls, as well as grain bowls topped with daily seafood. Peel plans to multiply the eatery, following up the downtown location with one in Pasadena in late summer. Prawn, Grand Central Market, 317 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013, No phone.

Chef Daniel Mattern and pastry chef/baker Roxana Jullapat (Campanile, a.o.c., Cooks County) have opened Friends & Family in East Hollywood’s Thai Town. Expect morning eggs, pancakes and elevated bakery goods; and for lunch, salads, quiche, grain bowls, and hot and cold sandwiches. Dinner (coming soon, along with wine) will be more ambitious. The front counter is stocked with pastries and takeaway loaves. A full lineup of Counter Culture coffee and espresso drinks is available. Friends & Family, 5150 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027, 323-668-2000.

Vegan restaurant Cruciferous has opened on Fountain and Vine in Hollywood. Look for fresh from-scratch pastas, bread baked in-house daily, and main dishes crafted from local farmers market vegetables, as well as various fermented foods. Elevated plant-based fare includes General Tso’s Brussels sprouts, green spring risotto, smoked chili-rubbed cauliflower, kabocha squash donuts and roasted banana flan. Wine should be coming soon. Cruciferous, 1253 Vine St., Ste. 8, Los Angeles, CA 90038, no phone.

Co-founders Lawrence Rudolph and chef Joe Miller have named Santa Monica’s new Rudy & Hudson California Diner after their respective grandfathers. Striving to balance a classic New York City luncheonette and iconic California roadside coffee shop, Rudy & Hudson offers a menu of elevated traditional diner fare, as well as breakfast all day. Look for the likes of french toast filled with toasted coconut and banana with passion fruit sauce and powdered sugar, Cobb salad, a smoked brisket sandwich, barbecue baby-back ribs, California sand dabs and buttermilk fried chicken. Rudy & Hudson California Diner, 1920 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404, 424-581-6444.

From the Rustic Canyon crew comes Tallula's, a Mexican restaurant in Santa Monica. In this vibrant, casual spot, guests can tuck in to turkey enchiladas, fish tacos, lamb and black beer "birria" and more. Tallula's, 118 Entrada Dr., Santa Monica, CA 90402, 310-526-0027.

Chef Chris Phelps has opened Breakfast by Salt's Cure in the original West Hollywood location of Salt's Cure. Diners can dig into the signature oatmeal griddle cakes, along with variations incorporating TCHO dark chocolate chips, bananas and toasted walnuts, pink lady apples and spiced brown sugar, or blueberries and flax crumble. Breakfast by Salt's Cure, 7494 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046, 323-848-4879.

Chef-owners and partners Emily Fiffer and Heather Sperling have opened Botanica in Silver Lake. The restaurant’s design includes high ceilings with exposed wooden beams; elements of concrete, wood and neon; and a market, bar and back patio. Look for contemporary dishes like caramelized leek and fava tartine with lemon and rosemary, cast-iron pimenton clams with Red Fife wheat berries, and spiced grilled lamb kebabs. Botanica, 620 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026, 323-522-6106.

Dominique Ansel will open a bakery and restaurant at The Grove in Los Angeles

French pastry chef Dominique Ansel, chef/owner of Dominique Ansel Bakery and Dominique Ansel Kitchen, will open 189 by Dominique Ansel, a bakery and full-service restaurant at The Grove in Los Angeles. Patrons routinely line up for his famous invention the "Cronut," a half croissant-half doughnut. However, this project will also feature savory options and a full bar program. Look for a Fall 2017 opening. For more information, visit the official website. 189 by Dominique Ansel, The Grove, 189 The Grove Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90036, no phone.

Mama Lion is the new, swank restaurant from chef Michael Hung

Mama Lion, the new, swank restaurant from chef Michael Hung (formerly of Viviane and Faith & Flower), makes its debut in Koreatown on Western Avenue and Sixth Street, near the Wiltern Theater. Look for a contemporary menu and elevated cocktails by Aidan Demarest. Mama Lion, 601 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90005, 213-377-5277.

TAO Group’s expansive complex surrounding the Dream Hollywood hotel includes hipster-luxe, late-night pizza joint Luchini Pizzeria & Bar. Look for specialty cocktails like the “Smokin’ Hot Peach” with mezcal, peach schnapps and citrus, and reasonably priced beer and wines by the glass. Choose from two styles of pizza --- Neapolitan and Sicilian --- with classic toppings as well as the likes of wild mushrooms and pickled jalapeños. Beyond pizza, there’s also a Fontina cheeseburger, marinara braised spare ribs, antipasto, salad and avocado crostini. Lunch & Dinner daily. Luchini Pizzeria & Bar, 1607 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028, 323-593-7771.

Culver City denizens will be happy to discover chef Josef Centeno (Bäco Mercat, P.Y.T., Orsa & Winston) has opened BäcoShop on Washington Boulevard, in the former Chop Daddy’s space. The star attraction is the chef’s well-loved bäco sandwich, made with specialty house-baked bread and filled with items such as coffee-rubbed grilled steak and charred scallion, chili shrimp, slow-roasted pork and fava fritters. Also find salads (you can add a bäco filling) and sophisticated vegetable dishes, as well as sides like pasta and potato salad. Desserts include daily soft serve and rice pudding. To drink, expect wine and beer, including the signature BäcoBeer Sumac Imperial IPA. Lunch & Dinner daily. BäcoShop, 9552 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, 424-258-6301.

NEWS BYTES

SOCA Launches New Happy Hour Bar Menu & Spanish Gin Tonics
In Sherman Oaks, SOCA has launched a new bar menu featuring Latin and Asian-inspired seafood bites in addition to six signature Spanish Gin Tonics. Expect elevated G&Ts like the No. 1 (Gin Mare, Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic, kumquats, thyme) and No. 5 (Spirit Guild Astral Gin, Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic, satsuma, lemongrass, makrut leaf). Happy hour nibbles include oysters with a bacon-herb crust and manchego, lobster roll on brioche and Korean crab dumplings. Available daily from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. ($10-15). SOCA, 14015 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, 818-301-4300.

CHEF SHUFFLE

Chef Jonathan Waxman will open a restaurant at Westfield Century City

Chef Jonathan Waxman, one of the pioneers of California cuisine, will open a restaurant at Westfield Century City in Spring 2018. The self-described "neighborhood restaurant,” which does not yet have a name, will join the much-anticipated L.A. location of Eataly and many other new dining options at the redeveloped center.

CLOSINGS

Andrew Kirschner's seafood spot SMYC (Santa Monica Yacht Club) has shuttered. SMYC, 620 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401, no phone.

Casa Vega is temporarily closed through May 24, 2017. Casa Vega, 13301 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, 818-788-4868.

Atwater Village has lost longtime favorite Canelé due to rising rents. It’s reported that Gjelina duo David Wilcox and Guy Tabibian will open their restaurant Journeymen in the space, focusing on seasonal vegetable dishes. Canelé, 3219 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039, no phone.

Rustic Kitchen Market & Café is temporarily closed due to smoke and water damage from a fire in the building. Rustic Kitchen Market & Café, 3523 S. Centinela Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90066, 310-390-1500.

Chef Mark Peel replaced Bombo at Grand Central Market with Prawn

Chef Mark Peel replaced Bombo at Grand Central Market with a new seafood-focused concept called Prawn. Angelenos will remember Peel from his fine-dining restaurant Campanile, which shuttered in 2012. (A more casual spin-off serves hungry travelers at LAX.) Bombo, Grand Central Market, 317 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013, 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!

BEST SPRING BEERS

Check out GAYOT's list of Best Spring Beers to find crisp brews, wheat ales and American IPAs.

Check the list.

BEST SUPERFOODS

GAYOT's list of the Best 10 Superfoods covers the most health-promoting fruits, veggies, and more.

Read the article.

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 May 2017 Archive

News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
May 2017 Archive