New Restaurants
| Name |
Address |
City |
Phone |
| Ate18 |
17620 Ventura Blvd. |
Encino |
818-728-1212 |
| Coco Noche |
1140 Highland Ave. |
Manhattan Beach |
310-545-4925 |
| Cuba Central |
114 S. Central Ave. |
Los Angeles |
213-687-3193 |
| Eat Well Cafe |
7385 Beverly Blvd. |
Los Angeles |
323-938-1300 |
| Magnolia Lounge |
492 S. Lake Ave. |
Pasadena |
626-584-1126 |
| Mike & Anne's |
1040 Mission St. South |
Pasadena |
626-799-7199 |
| Minotaure |
333 Culver Blvd |
Playa del Rey |
310-306-6050 |
| Prana Cafe |
650 N. La Cienega Blvd. |
West Hollywood |
310-360-0551 |
| Rack, The |
6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd. |
Woodland Hills |
818-716-0123 |
| redwhite+bluezz |
70 S. Raymond Ave. |
Pasadena |
626-792-4441 |
| Sur |
606 N. Robertson Blvd. |
West Hollywood |
310-289-2824 |
| Yatai Asian Tapas Bar |
8535 W. Sunset Blvd. |
West Hollywood |
310-289-0030 |
New Nightspots
Coming Soon
Adobe
With the Ivy at the Shore moving several doors north on Ocean Avenue, this busy Santa Monica block is going through a number of changes. A branch of Tengu will open later this year in the Ivy's former digs, while this new upscale Southwestern (1535 Ocean Ave.), planned for the space behind Tengu, is set to open in early 2007.
Blue Velvet
Yet another piece of the Downtown revival, this New American work-in-progress designed by Tag Front (Boa, Geisha House) is being built poolside at The Flat, a 150-unit residential development west of the Harbor Freeway (750 Garland St.). As an added bonus, the adjacent Blue Lounge will have floor-to-ceiling windows with a dramatic view of the Downtown skyline; due to open in early November.
Eleven
From longtime producer Sid Krofft (Land of the Lost, etc.) comes this New American restaurant and nightclub in West Hollywood's First National Bank Building (8811 Santa Monica Blvd.). Slated to debut in early November, it will feature fountains by WET Design (who did the dancing waters at the Bellagio in Las Vegas), cooking by Vincent Manna (formerly of Spago and Mélisse) and live entertainment nightly.
French Brasserie
The name sounds generic, but considering that it's being created by the hyper-trendy team that's given us local hot spots Falcon, Pearl Dragon and Voda, this brasserie just off the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica (Santa Monica Blvd. between 2nd and 3rd Sts.) just might be LA's answer to NYC's Balthazar; due to open in early 2007.
Royale
Opening by the end of the year in the newly remodeled Wilshire Royale Hotel (2619 Wilshire Blvd.), this Cal-Med aspires to be a destination restaurant evoking the elegance of Old Hollywood in newly hot Downtown LA.
Tanzore
In the Beverly Hills space (50 N. La Cienega Blvd.) that was for many years the upscale Gaylord Indian arrives this trendy Bollywood-style restaurant and lounge with design by Sat Garg, who made Tantra in Silver Lake one of the hottest spots in town.
T on Fairfax
Well, now, this is different – a postmodern tea parlor (435 N. Fairfax Ave.) dreamed up by a pair of club impresarios, who are betting that gourmet teas (more than 100), stylish sandwiches and a DJ add up to the Next Big Thing; we'll find out when they open in November.
Good Deals and Other News
The Westlake Village branch (2799 Townsgate Rd.; 805-557-1882) of this popular Jewish deli has opened.
This longtime waterfront favorite, with its distinctive Pacific Rim take on Cal-French cuisine, has a new pastry chef with a distinctive background – Esti Rothstein, who last did the sweets at Mario Batali's flagship, Babbo. Here, she's concocting desserts like chocolate truffle cake with Earl Grey mousse, ginger panna cotta with peach carpaccio and a chocolate caramel tart covered with sea salt.
The popular chicken specialist has added a new branch at 424 Lincoln Blvd. in Venice (310-392-3500), with another roost opening next year at 22333 Ventura Blvd. in Woodland Hills.
Brentwood's Cal-Ital hangout is beginning to march across the local landscape, first opening a satellite (Coral Tree Express) in Century City's Westfield Shopping Center (10250 Santa Monica Blvd.; 310-553-8737), and now expanding into the San Fernando Valley with a branch of the Tree at 17499 Ventura Blvd. in Encino (818-789-8733).
In mid-November, this Farmer's Market destination is branching into a very different marketplace – the Hollywood & Highland complex at (not surprisingly) Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in Hollywood.
Sausage meister Jody Maroni has discovered the joys of discount shopping centers. His latest branch just opened in Ventura County's Camarillo Premium Outlet Mall (740 E. Ventura Blvd., Camarillo; 805-384-9300), to be followed later this year by a branch in the Desert Hills Mall in Cabazon, just west of Palm Springs.
After years of serving cheese and wine in the Farmer's Market, this casual French bistro is heading toward the blue Pacific, with a new branch opening later this year on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.
Norman's
Chef Norman Van Aken is reviving the fine art of the happy hour with his "Twilight Tapas," offered Tuesday–Saturday from 5:30–7:30 PM in the restaurant's lounge and on the outdoor patio. Dishes can be ordered à la carte or as part of a $35 meal that includes three kinds of tapas plus dessert, all complemented by two-for-one drinks.
This Brentwood Italian is now offering an eight-course tasting menu ($55; $95 paired with five wines), served Mondays through Thursdays from 5:30–10:30 PM. Expect dishes like zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta and pecorino; risotto with lobster and asparagus; and boneless rack of lamb with artichokes and pecorino.
After 18 years of selling her baked goods exclusively at her Melrose desserterie, owner Jane Lockhart has finally decided to expand…a little. She's now offering her products at Gelson's in Century City (10250 Santa Monica Blvd.; 310-277-4288) – which means triple berry shortcake isn't just a West Hollywood thing anymore.