New Restaurants
New Nightspots
| Name |
Address |
City |
Phone |
| Boulevard 3 |
6523 W. Sunset Blvd. |
Hollywood |
323-466-2144 |
| Edison, The |
108 W. Second St. |
Los Angeles |
213-613-0000 |
| J Restaurant & Lounge |
1119 S. Olive St. |
Los Angeles |
213-746-7746 |
| Mandrake |
2692 S. La Cienega Blvd. |
Culver City |
310-837-3297 |
Coming Soon
NYC über-chef Laurent Tourondel has announced plans to open a branch of BLT Steak in the West Hollywood space (8720 Sunset Blvd.) long occupied by Le Dome; after an extensive remodel, he should be grilling by the summer of 2007.
And speaking of celebrity chefs from NYC, word has it that construction delays will keep the LA branch of Tom Colicchio's Craft, to be located in the new Creative Artists Agency building in Century City (2000 Ave. of the Stars), from opening until April 2007 – which means agents at soon-to-relocate CAA will either have to brown bag it for a while, or turn Houston's into the next Grill on the Alley.
Ketchup
The Dolce Group (Dolce Enoteca, Geisha House) will try its luck in the ill-fated Sunset Millennium complex (8590 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood) with this saucy entree, a trendy dedicated to the pleasures of American comfort food due to open in spring 2007.
Good Deals and Other News
Holiday-Themed Cooking Classes
The Farmers Market branch of Sur La Table (6333 W. Third St.; 323-954-9190) is offering a series of cooking events; themes include "Celebrating Hanukkah" (December 6th; 6:30 PM; $65 per person), "Italian Christmas Eve Dinner" (December 7th; 6:30 PM; $65 per person), "Gingerbread House Workshop" (December 9th; 2 & 10:30 PM; $45 per person), "Holiday Cookie Exchange" (December 10th; 2 PM; $65 per person), "Easy Holiday Brunch" (December 12th; 6:30 PM; $65 per person) and "Gifts from the Kitchen" (December 16th; 2 PM, $45 per person; 10:30 PM, $65 per person).
Bistro Verdu
A Thursday night chef's "Tasting Table" matches a four-course off-the-menu dinner with vintage wines selected by the nearby Rosso Wine Shop; seating is limited to 12 people (7 PM; $40 per person).
Bridge
The noble truffle is celebrated every Tuesday at this Modern Italian with a five-course white truffle tasting menu of pumpkin and potato soup with white truffles; Piemontese mushroom tortino with white truffle fondue; gnocchi with sautéed chicory and white truffles; veal tenderloin alla Rossini with white truffles; and – yes! – zabaglione caldo with white truffles ($200 per person; $235 with wine).
This increasingly ubiquitous Chinese seafood chain has taken over the West LA space occupied until recently by JR Seafood (11901 Santa Monica Blvd.; 310-268-2463).
On Monday nights, this La Brea American offers a "Starving Artist Prix Fixe" feed for $18, which features a choice of goat cheese fondue or Caesar salad, chicken mole or mac 'n' cheese and s'mores or fried apple pie, along with an all-night happy hour that includes $2 Pabst Blue Ribbons and $6 mojitos; and since here in Hollywood, we're all artists in one way or another, it's a special that's open to everyone.
"Thursday Wine Tastings" led by Adam Leemon ("Sommelier to the Stars") include wine samplings and a light meal to match; call for a list of upcoming featured wineries (6–8 PM; $25 per person).
The menu at Sumant Pardal's ambitious Pan-Asian now includes Japanese shichirin dishes cooked on a portable tabletop clay grill that uses a type of smokeless charcoal called bincho – a fine way to sizzle platters of steak, prawns, salmon and tuna, with dipping sauces to match.
Until the end of December, Piero Selvaggio will offer his annual "Festa dei Tartufi," a nightly eight-course feast featuring truffled dishes incorporating the likes of Nantucket bay scallops, Four Story Hill Farm pheasant and, of course, a white truffle risotto that unleashes the very essence of the fungi ($175 per person; $225 with wines).
- Authentic Cafe
- Mama Voula
- Norman's