Restaurateur Thierry Perez helped put Culver City on the culinary map when he partnered with chef Jason Travi to open Fraîche (followed by Riva in Santa Monica). Even though they've separated, Eater reports Perez plans to continue to bring fine dining to Culver City with his next project, Ben Fatto, due to open by the end of the year in a yet-to-be disclosed space.
BOA Steakhouse is heading a few blocks west in a few weeks, to be replaced in The Grafton
by an Italian bistro called The Olive on Sunset, created by Greg Morris
of Spanish Kitchen fame, who hopes for a quick turnover that will have
him cranking up his pizza ovens by early summer (The Grafton Hotel,
8462 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood).
After succeeding on the Westside and in Sherman Oaks, the down-home BBQ chainlet Mr. Cecil's California Ribs is expanding to the South Bay, in the space that was last home to La Creperie Café; after much renovation, expect an opening in late summer (1209 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach).