Los Angeles : Coming Soon

Bastide Returns

BuzzEditor — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:39:00 GMT

A former incarnation of Bastide

Photo: Alen Lin

If you've followed the insanely random openings and closings of Joe Pytka's Bastide, you'll take this news as we have, with a grain of salt: LA Weekly and Eater are running with the story that Bastide is readying to reopen once again in mid-November with former L'Orangerie chef Jérôme Voltat as, you guessed it, a bistro. Fingers crossed (8475 Melrose Pl.; 323-651-5950).

In the Works: Butter Tart Bakery, More

BuzzEditor — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:37:00 GMT

Already looking to the horizon for new places to nosh? Here are five more in the pipeline:

Increasingly ubiquitous chef Andre Guerrero ( BoHo, Oinkster, Marché) plans to take over longtime favorite Butter Tart Bakery by the end of October/early November, when he'll begin offering a menu of baked goods and casual dishes in the vein of Santa Monica's Huckleberry Café and Pasadena's Europane (4126 Verdugo Rd., Glassell Park).

Raphael is due in Studio City perhaps by the end of the month, and according to its extremely colorful (though not very specific) website, diners can expect: "A fine, dining experience...exceptional wine selections...eclectic, elegant, exquisite...exceptional quality...irreproachable style...internationally inspired dishes" (11616 Ventura Blvd., Studio City).

In the second-story mini-mall space last occupied by Gaucho Grill, rising super-chef Jimmy Shaw is building his third Lotería! Grill (joining locations in Fairfax and Hollywood); it's due by the end of the year (12050 Ventura Blvd., Studio City).

A few doors east of Cole's and The Varnish, on the Spring Street side of the Pacific Electric Building, Mignon, a stylish wine and cheese bar has just begun construction with an opening possible by the end of the year (128 E. Sixth St.).

Nearby Market Bar is slowly coming together as well. The ambitious project to turn a large art-gallery space into a combination gourmet market, wine shop, bar and Mediterranean grill should be a major destination for the legions of Gen Zers heading for the downtown lofts; if all goes well, expect a summer 2010 opening (610 S. Main St.).

Coming Soon: Stuzzichini

BuzzEditor — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:50:00 GMT

Just what San Vicente Boulevard in Brentwood needs – one more Italian restaurant! This latest addition, Stuzzichini, sits in the office building space adjacent to Toscana, across from Palmeri and Pecorino, down from Sor Tino, Pizzicotto, Osteria Latini and Vincenti (to say nothing of the Italianesque California Pizza Kitchen). Though in this case, as the name suggests, the dishes will lean towards the tapas of Venice. Due to open by the end of the year (11633 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood).

Rustic Ice Cream

BuzzEditor — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:10:00 GMT

The culinary duo of Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan (Rustic Canyon) clearly have a burgeoning sweet tooth. First they opened the pastry-intensive Huckleberry – and now, according to Food GPS, they're doing ice cream in a space that used to be home to a branch of Mrs. Field's (obviously, there's a sugar vibe at this storefront). The exotic frozen treats will be designed by Shiho Yoshikawa (formerly Slanted Door) – look out Pinkberry – when the venture opens early in 2010 (26th St. and San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood).

Fall Preview

BuzzEditor — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:55:00 GMT

Photo: Micky

With fall almost here, it's time to look forward to the new restaurants soon to hit town:

Eva: With Hatfield's moving into the Melrose Avenue space that was once home to Citrus, chef Mark Gold (formerly Cafe Pinot and Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge) is taking over its former digs. Expect market-driven Californian cuisine, plus a menu-less Sunday "Dinner Party" – a family-style meal of dishes made from whatever is fresh at the farmer's markets (late fall; 7458 Beverly Blvd.). [Update: We hear that Eva's gotten its approvals early, and will be launching sometime next week.]

Glass and Mirrors: It's been at least a year since we reported that Mark Peel (Campanile) had taken over the La Brea and Melrose space last occupied by Oasis. And it seems as if Peel's casual New American–Mediterranean is back on track, with an opening possible by the end of the year – perhaps pushed along by the success of ex-wife Nancy Silverton's Mozza. There's nothing like a little competition to keep things interesting (611 N. La Brea Ave.).

Lazy Ox: Restaurateur Michael Cardenas (aka "Sushi Mike," ex Sushi Roku, Katana and Boa) and chef Josef Centeno (ex Opus and Meson G) combine to create the latest in a long line of Downtown Eclectics in a Little Tokyo condo complex (late fall; Sakura Crossing, San Pedro and Second Sts).

Noodles Are Good: Though there are rumors that Sang Yoon will be opening another Father's Office Downtown, his next world to conquer will apparently be noodles-of-many-nations in Helm’s Bakery, adjacent to the FO in Culver City (due to open by the end of the year; 3229 Helms Ave., Culver City).

The Oaks Gourmet: The space that for decades has been home to Victor's Liquor & Delicatessen (a major source of upscale takeout and alcohol for the industry denizens of Bronson Canyon and the Hollywood Hills) is being taken over by restaurateur Greg Morris (The Spanish Kitchen), who's added seating both inside and out, along with a menu by chef Greg Paul (early October; 1915 N. Bronson Ave., Hollywood).

The Olive on Sunset: Greg Morris is also behind this Italian bistro, which will take over the BOA Steakhouse in the Grafton Hotel after it moves a couple blocks west in a few weeks (early October; The Grafton Hotel, 8462 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood).

Rockwell: This multistory restaurant and lounge is being positioned as a destination for artisanal beers and casual bar food (exotic burgers, flatbread pizza) for those in need of an after-hours hang on the East Side (late September; 1714 N. Vermont Ave.).

Suzpree: Suzanne Tracht and Preech Narkthong's Asian fusioner is due to open down the street from JAR by late fall (7771 Beverly Blvd.).

3rd + Spring Artisan Market: This year-round market began its roll out this summer with the opening of Blue Cupcake and Lot 44 Coffee, and joining them later this year are a French bakery, a tea company, a fish vendor and others (www.3rdandspring.com).

– Merrill Shindler

Coming Soon: BP Oysterette and More

BuzzEditor — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:12:00 GMT

Summer isn't over, but news of autumn's first few newcomers is already in. Here are three to watch out for next month:

In the space that used to be home to a branch of Richie Palmer's Pizzeria comes BP Oysterette, a casual seafooder across from the ocean (and next to Boa) that should be cracking its oysters by the end of September (1355 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica).

The name, The Den of Hollywood, is a bit cringe-worthy, but the casual American menu from a graduate of JiRaffe should be the big attraction at this late-night destination in the heart of the Sunset Strip due to open by mid-September (8226 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood).

Also aiming for mid-September is Rockwell. Situated adjacent to vermont (the restaurant) on Vermont (the street), this multistory restaurant and lounge is positioned as a destination for artisanal beers and casual bar food (exotic burgers, flatbread pizza) for those in need of an after-hours hang on the East Side (1714 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz).

Cornering the Market

BuzzEditor — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:55:00 GMT

Blue Cupcake

Photo: courtesy of Blue Cupcake

Seattle has its Pike Place Market. San Francisco has its Ferry Building Marketplace. And if some developers in Downtown LA have their way, we'll have our Artisan Market in the Douglas Building at the corner of Spring and 3rd Streets, in the midst of Downtown's Historic Core. The year-round market began its roll-out on July 20 with the opening of Blue Cupcake and Lot 44 Coffee, and planned arrivals over the next few months include a French bakery, a tea company, a fish vendor and more, all filling the space's indoor atrium. For further details, visit www.3rdandspringpublicmarket.com.

What's Cooking With Drai, Peel?

BuzzEditor — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:47:00 GMT

With the new, ultra-posh W Hotel set to open in Hollywood in December, there's been much speculation about its anchor restaurant, with rumors of numerous New York heavy rollers ready to fill the space. But the latest word is that it will be prodigal son Victor Drai, returning a decade after he left La Cienega Boulevard for the Las Vegas Strip. When you consider that his current venues in Vegas are Tryst and XS, it's probably fair to expect more of a well-lubricated scene than a restaurant, though, when Drai's Hollywood opens at the end of the year (6250 Hollywood Blvd.).

It's been quite a while since we reported that Mark Peel (Campanile) had taken over the La Brea and Melrose space last occupied by Oasis (and by many restaurants before that). Fortunately it seems as if Peel's concept for the location, a casual New American–Mediterranean called Glass and Mirrors, is back on track, with an opening possible by late summer (611 N. La Brea Ave.).

More Hal's on the Way

BuzzEditor — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:38:00 GMT

For more than 20 years, long before Abbot Kinney was even vaguely trendy, Hal's Bar & Grill was the destination of choice for local artists. And sometime later this summer, there will be a Hal's sibling that should be a fine place to go for a margarita and chips, opening just a few doors down from the mothership (1357 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice).

An NYC Cuban Invasion

BuzzEditor — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:36:00 GMT

Add a dash of Cuba to the list of New York imports coming our way. This summer should see the arrival of Left Coast outposts of Café Habana and Habana Outpost. The former, which originates in Manhattan, is heading to Malibu while the latter, a Brooklynite, is coming to Venice – hopefully with no suggestion that East Coasters view Venice as the Brooklyn of California.

Summer Soothsaying

BuzzEditor — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:03:00 GMT

Peripatetic chef Laurent Quenioux, best known for Downtown's erstwhile 7th Street Bistro, is due to return with Bistro LQ in the space currently occupied by Jean Pierre Bosc's Mimosa (Bosc will continue with his Café des Artistes in Hollywood). After a fresh coat of paint and a redesign, expect an opening in mid-July (8009 Beverly Blvd.).

With La Cachette Bistro due to open in Santa Monica by August 1, chef Jean Francois Meteigner is opting to close (except for private parties) his Century City–adjacent original at the end of July. He's also talking about launching a new La Cachette in Century City proper, once his LC Bistro is up and running.

Restaurants have come and gone in the space adjacent to the Pasadena Playhouse over the years; the latest to arrive is the New American Elements Kitchen, due to open this summer (39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena).

Quinn and Karen Hatfield have opted to move their minuscule (and much loved) Hatfield's to move into the Red Pearl space. In the meantime, there's talk that the Hatfield's space will be occupied by chef Mark Gold, formerly of Leatherby's Café Rouge in Costa Mesa – watch this space for further details.

Finally, rumors are flying that chef-restaurateur Philippe Chow (of Philippe in NYC, Mexico City, Miami Beach, East Hampton – and soon in Las Vegas) is on the hunt for an LA location, possibly Dolce on Melrose if they move…or possibly not. Wherever he winds up, in the tradition of Wolfgang versus Wolfgang, we'll now have Chow versus Chow, an interesting development since Philippe used to cook at Mr. Chow. Let the won ton wars begin!

Coming Soon: Two Italians and Some Ribs

BuzzEditor — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:51:00 GMT

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).

Trader Vic's Almost Live

BuzzEditor — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Trader Vic's opens soon

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Those seeking the comforts of one of Trader Vic's fine mai tais will soon have an alternative to the Beverly Hills lounge. On April 25, an elaborate new iteration – the only Vic's outpost managed by the Valencia Group – is opening at L.A. Live. Though the food menu is still being finalized, the drink menu [PDF] promises all the mai tais, scorpion bowls and rum cups you remember from yesteryear (800 West Olympic Blvd.).

La Cachette Sashays Into Santa Monica

BuzzEditor — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:57:00 GMT

La Cachette

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Chef Jean Francois Meteigner plans to expand his La Cachette brand with a casual bistro sib, La Cachette Bistro, due to open this summer a block south of the Santa Monica Pier (1733 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica).

But for those who can't wait for the new bistro to open, Meteigner is offering a new "Hybrid Menu" that mixes La Cachette classics with dishes from the upcoming restaurant, including tuna burgers on brioche, calamari salad with Korean red chiles and duck cassoulet ($10–$25; 310-470-4992; reserve online).

Simzy's Soon

BuzzEditor — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:26:00 GMT

Simzy's is one of two new South Bay eateries in the works from the Simms family (of the Mimi's Cafe and Lazy Dog Cafe chains), with a menu of pub grub created by chef Anne Conness (formerly Napa Valley Grille). It’s due to open by the end of April (229 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach).