Two critics, one restaurant. This week both S. Irene Virbila and Jonathan Gold preview Brix@1601, a wine-centric restaurant that opened at the Hermosa Pavilion a few weeks ago. Miss Irene says Michael McDonald's food isn't breaking any barriers but it's good and well-executed. There's talk of sliders and steaks. Gold basically agrees, but also gives mad props to Caitlin Stansbury, "one of L.A.’s rock-star sommeliers, a whip-thin woman with the haunted eyes of a lead guitarist and the ability to make Greek rosés and South African syrahs seem like the most desirable liquids in the world." We took a quick look a few weeks ago, but there's nothing like a shiny new photo gallery to bring it all home. (1601 Pacific Coast Hwy, Hermosa Beach, 310.698.0740)
· First Look: Brix@1601 [LAT]
· Brix @ 1601: The Newest Home of Rock-Star Sommelier Caitlin Stansbury [LAW]
· Eater Inside: Brix@1601 [~ELA~]
Consider this a little preview Inside for Brix@1601 at the Hermosa Pavilion. Hermosa developer Gene Shook opens the 10,000-square-foot space, all leather, stone, brick, vaulted ceilings, on Monday, April 21. The crew is full of recognizable names: chef Michael McDonald, most recently exec chef of the Roosevelt Hotel; GM Francois Xavier Ghys, who's done time at L’Orangerie, Spago, and Le Bernandin and Aureole in NYC; sommelier Caitlin Stansbury, most recently at The Lodge (although we swear she served us our wine at Bastide early on); and pastry chef Renee Ward from Las Vegas. The menu sounds seasonal, West Coast sensibilities (Dungeness crab salad, braised oxtail sandwich, veal chop with cauliflower gratin) with more than 300 wines on the list. A standalone wine retail store, Brixwine, will also debut on Monday. Hey, look, some early Plywood.
HERMOSA BEACH: A tipster sent some cellphone snaps of progress at Brix@1601 in the Hermosa Pavilion, just north of Hermosa Pier. "Looks huge with many private rooms. Also a retail wine space next door." Supposed to open late April. In previous Plywood, we learned it also have a private wine cellar, rooftop lounge, "lots of chandeliers, leather booths and bricks all over" but no one mentioned the tree columns.[PLYWOOD]
MANHATTAN BEACH: We reported earlier this year that DeliBoys in the Metlox Center was closing, even if it was still open when we called to confirm. But it's officially dunzo. Brad Metzger tells us Sashi, a "high-end, Koi-type" Japanese restaurant, will be moving in, with Makoto Okuwa as executive chef. Okuwa worked with Masarahu Morimoto for several years and even appeared on Iron Chef with the Iron Chef. Owners are Jeff Benson and Greg Harris, a couple of South Bay real estate guys; KAA Design Group is in charge of design. They're shooting for a late summer/early fall debut. [PRE-PLYWOOD]
A development group bid to purchase an entire block of beachside restaurants and bars in Hermosa Beach, including the 57-year-old Mermaid restaurant, the Poop Deck bar, Good Stuff, and a Pier Plaza building containing Cantina Real restaurant and Lappert’s Ice Cream. The Mermaid block was put up for sale after longtime owner, Quentin “Boots” Thelan, died last year. The restaurant---and all the others involved in the pending sale---remain open, and developer Brad Scott said they are "still formulating our long-term plan for the property.” If the Mermaid does eventually close, fans of the divey, stiff-cocktail, surly bartender, non-douchebag Hermosa hang are certain to shed some tears.
· More downtown changes: Gallery C ends, Mermaid in escrow [Easy Reader]
Let's stay on the beach for a bit, shall we? Some news from the South Bay makes it way to our inbox today. Got something to share from this, or your, side of the 405? Lay it on us.
MANHATTAN BEACH: They said it would open in November, and what do you know: Mucho Ultima Cantina opens this Sunday in the former Michi space (903 Manhattan Ave.). Here's a sample menu, without prices, but you get the idea. This is a Mike Zislis, owner of nearby Shade Hotel, project. [THE DISH]
HERMOSA BEACH: We've seen some breadcrumbs about Brix@1601 coming to the Hermosa Pavilion, but now hear the restaurant is delayed until February "due to construction issues." More about the space from our tipster: "It is going to be a cafe, a dining room, a private wine cellar underground for people to store wine, and a rooftop private lounge. The chef used to work for the Goodalls at Dakota at the Roosevelt Hotel. They are spending a ridiculous amaount of money, something like 25 million, or so is said by the two gentlemen who own it. Expect lots of chandeliers, leather booths, and bricks all over." Lots of bricks at Brix. Clever. [PLYWOOD]
MANHATTAN BEACH: When Michi Takahashi packed up earlier this year to go back to Japan, it was rumored that his popular pan-Asian Michi restaurant went through a bidding war between the brothers who own Blue 32 in Hermosa Beach and Mike Zislis, who owns MB's trendy Shade Hotel and Rock 'N Fish restaurant. Looks like Zislis won: He's opening Mucho Ultima Mexicana, a "high-end Mexican restaurant," in the former Michi spot on November 14 if all goes as planned. [EaterWire]
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MANHATTAN BEACH: We 
