A Nas-backed fried chicken shop, New York’s clubbiest concepts, and the country’s best chefs set up shop in LA
There is little argument that Los Angeles is one of the most exciting places to eat in the country. The city’s winter restaurant opening lineup speaks to this lofty statement, with everything from passion projects by some of the country’s best chefs to gargantuan clubstaurants by New York City restauranteurs opening up in Hollywood.
Tao and Beauty & Essex speak to the major wave of Big Apple concepts that are making their way out west, along with notable comebacks by chefs like Evan Funke and Ricardo Zarate. Even iconic rapper Nas will make his LA restaurant debut with the opening of fried chicken joint Sweet Chick. Here now, the most anticipated winter restaurant openings in Los Angeles.
Rossoblu
Address: 1124 San Julian St., Los Angeles, CA
Major Player: Steve Samson, Dina Samson
The Situation: Things are heating up at City Market South, the planned new Fashion District multi-use complex that will soon house Sotto chef Steve Samson’s massive new Rossoblu. The name and the food are both derived from the middle mountain regions of Italy, where Samson spent time growing up. Expect highly regional food from roughly the Emilia-Romanga and Bologana areas (plus lots of wine), housed in an indoor-outdoor space with tons of patio seating and a downstairs private dining room.
Projected Opening: February 2017
Kismet
Address: 4648 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
Major Players: Sara Kramer & Sarah Hymanson, Jon Shook & VInny Dotolo
The Situation: The New York City team behind Madcapra lays down sturdy restaurant roots with their follow-up Middle Eastern project Kismet, coming to the former Mother Dough space in Los Feliz early next year. Joining in on the fun is the Jon & Vinny team, who will help to bring the concept to life on the logistics end, mostly. Ultimately this is a Hymanson and Kramer project through and through, doing small plates and lots of mezze during all-day service, in a clean space with lots of light wood.
Projected Opening: January 2017
Felix
Address: 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice, CA
Major Player: Evan Funke, Gusto 54 Group
The Situation: It was a sad day when pasta maestro Evan Funke closed his beloved Bucato. Thankfully the chef’s handmade pasta and focus on market-driven fare is making a triumphant comeback via Felix, his new restaurant inside Venice fine dining stalwart Joe’s on Abbott Kinney. Funke will offer lots of pasta-watching to go along with some serious pizza-making in the open kitchen.
Projected Opening: Late January 2017
Cosa Buona
Address: 2100 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
Major Player: Zach Pollack
The Situation: Alimento lead Zach Pollack is turning to Italian-American takeout fare, with a renewed focus on pizza at his new Echo Park spot Cosa Buona. You’ll also find classics like garlic bread, mozzarella sticks, shrimp scampi, and meatballs to enjoy in a tall corner space that formerly housed the long-running restaurant Pizza Buona. And yes, you'll even be able to get your food delivered.
Projected Opening: February/March 2017
Rosaline
Address: 8479 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA
Major Player: Ricardo Zarate
The Situation: Peruvian chef Ricardo Zarate is making a furious comeback to the LA dining scene after departing his three restaurants Picca, Paiche, and Mo Chica (the latter two have since closed while the former is still kicking on Pico Blvd). Zarate takes over the dormant former Comme Ca space,with a restaurant named after his own mother. Ultimately, Rosaliné will be an intimate look into the chef’s commitment to his native cuisine.
Projected Opening: February/March 2017
The Slated Door
Address: 1124 San Julian St., Los Angeles, CA
Major Player: Charles Phan
The Situation: San Francisco’s top-grossing independent restaurant by decorated chef Charles Phan is joining Rossoblu in the upcoming City Market South complex in the Fashion District. This is the first time Angelenos will get a taste of Phan’s James Beard award-winning modern Vietnamese cuisine, pushed into a big, beautiful stunner of a space that will offer room for hundreds of diners, both indoor and out.
Projected Opening: February 2017
Petit Trois Sherman Oaks
Address: 13705 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA
Major Players: Ludo Lefebvre, Jon Shook, Vinny Dotolo
The Situation: With the city’s most perfect omelet and that crazy Big Mec burger, it was only a matter of time before the Ludo Lefebvre, Jon Shook, and Vinny Dotolo trio would decide to open up a second branch of their tiny Melrose restaurant. Now the former Il Tiramisu in Sherman Oaks is set to become Petit Trois 2.0, offering a more spacious experience thanks to a more ample dining room and charming side patio.
Projected Opening: January/February 2017
Tao
Address: 6417 Selma Ave, Los Angeles
Major Player: Tao Group
The Situation: Tao, one of the highest grossing restaurants in the country with locations in New York and Las Vegas, is finally bringing its pan-Asian cuisine to the city of Angels with its glossy debut adjacent to the incoming Dream Hotel Hollywood. Expect the massive, 30,000 square feet of sceney digs to be packed with celebrities and influencer types.
Projected Opening: First quarter 2017
Beauty & Essex
Address: 6417 Selma Ave, Los Angeles
Major Player: Tao Group
The Situation: Another Tao group property destined for the buzzy Dream Hotel Hollywood is Beauty & Essex. You may have encountered the upcoming restaurant’s stunning Art Deco decor and faux pawn shop facade at its locations in New York or in the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, but now the NYC brand will make its home on the West Coast. It’s just another example of the renaissance taking place in Hollywood, in no small part due to New York restaurateurs expanding to the sunnier side.
Projected Opening: First quarter 2017
Gratitude
Address: 419 N Canon Dr., Beverly Hills
Major Player: Café Gratitude (chef Dreux Ellis, beverage director Jason Eisner)
The Situation: Café Gratitude, the popular family of vegan restaurants with locations throughout LA, will bring its upscale concept, Gratitude to the Golden Triangle in Beverly Hills. The restaurant currently has one location in Newport Beach, but it will likely find a happy home in the ritzy neck of the woods with vegan dishes by chef Dreux Ellis as well as a fully organic beverage program by the cocktail maven Jason Eisner.
Projected Opening: First quarter 2017
Sweet Chick
Address: 448 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA
Major Player: John Seymour, Nas
The Situation: Following on the heels of their success in Brooklyn, the Sweet Chick team plans to open right on Fairfax inside the former Rosewood Tavern space. Bringing a tried-and-true combo of fried chicken and waffles, this Nas-backed concept should own brunch in the neighborhood once it arrives.
Projected Opening: February/March 2017
Bar Angeles
Address: 4330 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
Major Player: Friends & Family Hospitality (Wade McElroy, Russell Malixi, Joey Booterbaugh)
The Situation: A long-dormant space right on Sunset Boulevard, tucked between Dinosaur Coffee and Malo in Silver Lake, is coming to life. Bar Angeles is an updated ode to the Elliott Smith mural there, and will include a full slate of cocktails as well as food from Cafe Birdie chef Joey Booterbaugh.
Projected Opening: January 2017
Mikkeller Bar
Address: 330 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
Major Player: Chuck Stilphen
The Situation: Global craft beer dominator Mikkeller Bar finally comes to Los Angeles, sparing no expense to bring their massive South Park location to life. With a sleep indoor-outdoor feel and one of the finest tap lists in all of Los Angeles County, this place is sure to be a hit with craft beer nerds and regular folks alike — especially once they start using their commercial-grade meat smoker in the kitchen.
Projected Opening: January 2017
Modern Times
Address: 830 S. Olive St., Los Angeles, CA
Major Player: Modern Times Beer
The Situation: Populist beer option Modern Times is coming to Los Angeles this winter, bringing 6,000 square feet of brewing, drinking, and dining space. The plan is to pour favorites from the company’s catalogue as well as one-off stuff from the on-site brewhouse, while letting customers linger with additions for coffee and vegan food to boot.
Projected Opening: February 2017
Freehand/Broken Shaker/Exchange
Address: 416 W. 8th St., Los Angeles, CA
Major Player: Sydell Group (The Line, NoMad), Bar Lab (Gabe Orta, Elad Zvi), Alex Chang
The Situation: Downtown’s hotel growth continues with the upcoming arrival of Freehand, a Miami-based project from the Sydell Group that will include award-winning cocktail bar Broken Shaker, as well as a downstairs high-end option called Rudolph’s Bar & Tea. Dinner keeps a Middle Eastern style and comes from chef Alex Chang of the Paladar dinner series.
Projected Opening: Mach 2017