HOLLYWOOD: Looks like soul-food chef Yealang Smith, owner of downtown's Soul Food Café, is opening Soul in Hollywood. Smith is known for her healthy down-home food, everything from smothered chicken or braised short ribs to barbecued tofu, and she's been talking about this new restaurant since last March. According to Passion Life, Soul opens in the basement of the historic Hollywood Professional Building this August. [PLYWOOD]
DOWNTOWN: Bummed that Windows is closing? The Standard rooftop just not tall enough? Let's not forget about Takami Restaurant and Elevate Lounge, which we hear will open by the end of the month. Emil Eyvazoff's $4 million dollar baby on the 21st floor of the 811 Wilshire building has incredible views all the way around, and a lot of it is open-air. It looked cool to us even in the rubble stage. OK, so we're a little excited for it to open. [POST-PLYWOOD]
CENTURY CITY: We know Suzanne Tracht will open Tracht's this month in the Marriott in Long Beach, but we've heard little about the upcoming noodle spot she was to open with her sous chef, Preech Narkthong. Here's a new nibble: The restaurant, now tentatively called Tracht House, is considering somewhere around 2000 Avenue of the Stars. Yep, the CAA/ICM hordes have more good eats on the way. Plans are in the works, and we hear they're still looking for investors. Huvane? Anyone? [PRE-PLYWOOD]
CENTURY CITY: Bad marketing stunts and all, let's not forget that Harry Morton's Pink Taco opens at the Century City mall next week. June 16 we believe. [POST-PLYWOOD]
WEST HOLLYWOOD: We heard that One Sunset finally got its liquor license approved, so it's due to open any day now. Unofficially, it's already open for private parties, but we wonder if someone just stumbled up to the door and asked to be seated if the staff would oblige. We have a hunch the soft opening is in progress. Officially, One opens to the public sometime in the week of June 18. [POST-PLYWOOD]
SANTA MONICA: In other boozy news, Joe Miller finally and officially applied for the liquor license for Bar PintXO, taking over a former Greek restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd. near BOA Steakhosue. Back in February, we heard Miller was aiming for a late-summer opening. Let's hope he's still on target because we're ready to sit outside, drink wine and eat tapas made from SM farmer's market goods. [PLYWOOD]
