WESTWOOD: We've mentioned the restaurant lifecycle before. First, there's rumor and gossip. Then Plywood (pre, regular and post). The Dish (opening). We'll go Inside, we might have a Journal (review). Of course, the Deathwatch. Then the inevitable Shutter. A for sale listing goes up, someone bites, applications are filed, and then we're right back where we started. Such is the case for Yamato, which will open in the former Eurochow space in November.
Before Eater LA was born, our big brother Curbed noted Eurochow's demise in May 2006. Then in January, we saw the Eurochow space listed for $700,000. By April, Yamato, an a local casual-dining teppan and sushi chain from the Canejo Valley and Orange County, scooped it up.. In August, we heard the concept would be an upscale kaseiki spot, something the Koi riffraff wouldn't be interested in infiltrating. And today we have an official release which claims Yamato will have traditional Japanese cuisine but also "non-traditional and innovative combinations of ingredients and cooking techniques" and "modest prices." Owner Ken Oyadomari recruited Toshi Tamba from Okada Restaurant at the Wynn Las Vegas and sushi chef Katsu Hanamure from Matsuhisa. YT Design, a New York-based Japanese architectural firm, will be responsible for the Eurochow-to-Yamato transformation. If only he could hire someone to deal with the horrible parking and traffic problems in Westwood, they'll be good to go.
· Ciao to Eurochow [Curbed LA]
· Got $700k? Let's Buy Eurochow! [~ELA~]
· Yamato Takes ove Eurochow [~ELA~]
· Plywood Report: Yamato in Westwood [~ELA~]
