While the recent arrival of Tom Colicchio, Todd English and Laurent Tourondel is certainly big stuff, locals are also thrilled about the return of LA culinary icon Alain Giraud. He's set to open Anisette Brasserie at the end of April in Santa Monica's Clock Tower Building; expect a 36-ft. zinc bar, tile floors and the sort of food that you'd find at Paris' L'Ami Louis and NYC's Balthazar (225 Santa Monica Blvd.).
Coming in May to the WeHo space that was last home to a short-lived steakhouse called Tangerine, Isla will be a casual Caribbean that'll have both a lighter style and a bar serving plenty of island-themed libations (8788 W. Sunset Blvd.).
It may be the beginning of a Downtown Restaurant Row when Seven Restaurant & Bar opens in May, adding an upscale Italian to the nearby Seven Grand for hipsters happy to hang in the shadow of Staples and LA Live (555 W. 7th St.).
The second location for uWink will open in May in the former Vert space on an upper floor of the Hollywood & Highland complex; created by Nolan Bushnell (inventor of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese), this eatery's gimmick is a touch screen on which you order your Californian meal and play games – how perfectly Hollywood (6801 Hollywood Blvd.).
Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, hosts of the Food Network's Two Dudes Catering, bring their renegade style from the tube to the LA table with Animal, set to open by early summer; also look for their new cookbook, Cooking in One Pan with Jon and Vinny (435 Fairfax Ave.).
Early summer should also bring the arrival of Organic Panificio, an Italian situated seaside in Marina del Rey, which plans to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with a side of stellar views (4211 Admiralty Way).