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New Restaurants

New Nightspots

Coming Soon

Craft

After flirting with the notion of opening a restaurant in Los Angeles for the past couple of years, chef Tom Colicchio is finally following through. An outpost of Craft – his foodie-friendly New American with locations in NYC and Dallas – is expected to open in early 2007 adjacent to the new Creative Artists Agency building in Century City (2000 Ave. of the Stars).

Vertical Wine Bistro

The newest addition to the Old Town dining mix will be this upscale restaurant and wine bar (70 N. Raymond Ave., Old Pasadena) from film producer Gale Anne Hurd (Aliens, The Terminator) that's scheduled to debut in mid-October. It will offer a selection of 100 wines by the glass, along with 20 wine flights and European small plates by chef Sara Levine (formerly of Zax, Aubergine and Opus Bar & Grill).

Good Deals and Other News

Boa

Those hankering for rib-eye steak with eggs (any style), chorizo hash with grilled halibut or Kobe beef corn dogs should consider the new Sunday brunch at this high-style beefery, served at the Santa Monica location only, from 11 AM–4 PM.

Chakra

This spicy Orange County Indian has opened a new branch at 151 S. Doheny Dr. in Beverly Hills (310-786-7858), adjacent to the Writer's Guild Theatre, in the space last occupied by the Maurya Indian Restaurant.

Clementine

Century City's most popular bakery and sandwich shop has opened a branch in Westwood's Hammer Museum (10899 Wilshire Blvd.; 310-443-7037), offering tasty chow to culture vultures from Tuesday through Saturday, for lunch only.

Dakota

On Sundays, this Hollywood Roosevelt steakhouse takes 50 percent off its wine list (bottles only).

The Hungry Cat

Following the major success of the original Hungry Cat in Hollywood, chef David Lentz and his wife, über-chef Suzanne Goin of Lucques and A.O.C., are opening a second Cat two hours north in Santa Barbara (1134 Chapala St.), with plans to start serving their amazing chowder by the end of the year.

LA Food Show

A Beverly Hills sequel (252 North Beverly Dr.) to the original LA Food Show in Manhattan Beach – itself an upscale sequel to the California Pizza Kitchen chain – should open by the middle of 2007.

Opus

Josef Centeno (formerly of Aubergine and Meson G) is now in the kitchen of this Californian steakhouse, where he plans to institute a more casual Eclectic menu with prices to match. Dishes will range from yellowtail sashimi (with lardons) to the inevitable braised short ribs, complemented by "Spontaneous Tasting Menus" priced at $30, $60 and $90, plus a separate small-plates menu at the bar.

Red Pearl Kitchen

After shuttering Meson G, the ubiquitous team of Tim and Liza Goodell are well under way to re-purposing the space (6703 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles) as a branch of their Huntington Beach Pan-Asian – which delivers casual fare in stylish environs. It's due to open by mid-September.

Tlapazola Grill

This wildly popular West LA Oaxacan has found a second home in Marina del Rey at 4059 Lincoln Blvd. (310-822-7561), where the brothers Roman and Samuel Cruz are serving trademark dishes such as crispy pork carnitas with tomatillo sauce and grilled salmon with mole de pipian.

Tower Bar

The stylish dining room in the Sunset Tower Hotel has spawned The Terrace, a poolside sibling featuring – what else? – chef Piero Morovich's stylish Italian-accented poolside chow, including Sicilian-style crab cakes, grilled langoustines and chicken alla Diavola.

• Dino's Italian Inn
• JR Seafood
• Troquet (Costa Mesa)