West Hollywood Restaurants: The New & Soon to Be
June 11, 2018 — 3 Minute Read
This year’s crop of incredible new eateries should be on your summer to-do list. From a sainted New York cocktail lounge already debuting their fresh West Hollywood location, to two casual French concepts, here’s a list of where to dine and drink next in this neighborhood.
Viale dei Romani at La Peer
Opened: February 2018
An homage to the beauty of the Mediterranean coastlines, Casey Lane has created West Hollywood’s newest trattoria with a focus on Italian cuisine, with splashes of Sicilian and some Moorish influences as well. You can start with a palate-opener of raw fish preparations and wood-fired seafood, before moving on to their outstanding, heavier options like house-made pastas and thin, Italian-styled pizzas. Viale dei Romani has an in-house bread program, so make sure you ditch the gluten-free diet before your reservation and don’t skip the traditional chickpea crêpe Cecina served with falafel, crudo, and marinated local vegetables.
Employees Only
Opened: April 2018
It’s hard to pinpoint one thing that made the original Employees Only in New York City so famous. One of the very first, true classic cocktail bars to open in the early 2000s, it became an institution not just for perfect Sazeracs and Last Words, but also for a tarot-card-reading psychic, lively crowds, epic parties, and the tableside steak tartare. Now, West Hollywood has its own offshoot, with classic dishes carried over from New York including the Bone Marrow Poppers and that tartare, as well as a few new offerings like Henry’s Room––a space named after one of the EO founders, Henry LaFargue, with a roaring fire and plenty of classics and contemporary tipples. “Employees Only always was and always will be about empowering the human experience of our guests and fellow industry,” says original Employees Only co-founder, Dushan Zaric, who is overseeing the beverage program in LA. “My desire and intention is for EO LA to do that in a way that is appreciated and recognized by our guests and hospitality community.”
Saved by the Max Pop-Up Restaurant
Opened: May 2018
Fans of Saved by the Bell––the hit, teen TV sitcom from the ‘90s––can rejoice. A new pop-up restaurant, dedicated to the fictional diner on the show, launched on May 1. Expect all the ‘90s kitsch and neon, from squeaky, blue-and-red padded booths to arcade games from that same decade to a pun-filled drink menu and plenty of diner staples named for the cast of the show. The Kelly Kapowski Monte Cristo needs to be on your spring agenda. Purchase your tickets here.
Barbette
Opened: May 2018
A combination of gentlemen who know their way around a shaker tin and a busy barroom––Jared Meisler and Sean MacPherson of the nearby Jones––and New York veteran chef Robert Flaherty, formerly of White Gold Butchers NYC, opened Barbette in early May. This combination of talent in a team has food and drink fanatics here in Los Angeles very excited. Expect elegant takes on hearty classic options, like a thick-cut, juicy Steak Frites, but an equal if not heartier focus on in-season vegetable preparations and seafood. The mussels will likely be a star on the menu, as will their large salads, like the colorful Endive & Beet.
Tesse
Opened: June 2018
Coming to the corner of Sunset and La Cienega Blvd., Tesse (short for “delicatesse” which refers to charcuterie) will be serving up classic-but-approachable European cuisine by chef French chef Raphael Francois. Tesse will occupy a plaza space in the new, mixed use concept by Fred Segal. We feel sure this will be a wonderfully comforting, Parisian-inspired addition to a day of shopping pop-up stores and boutique fashion brands here.
Bottega Louie
Expected Opening Date: Late 2018
Sophisticated and elegant, Bottega Louie will open in West Hollywood with all that locals have come to know and love about the original location in Downtown––i.e., gorgeous pastries, delicate, colorful macaroons, and savory, café-styled plates. This space is slightly more contemporary by design. Expect airy, open features and clean, dramatic lines, with high ceilings. This location will have tons of natural light and classic touches within, but there will also be a massive patio for taking in some sunlight with your sugar, as well.