Warren Schwartz Debuts Warren's Blackboard in NoHo

Warren Schwartz (Westside Tavern, Saddle Peak Lodge) has finally found a home in The Valley at Studio City's new Beverly Garland, as the hotel's executive chef. Before producing a full-fledged dining room, he's running Warren's Blackboard, an interim concept that quietly replaced Tula's a few weeks ago as an experimental and community-focused eatery blending comfort food with seasonal ingredients. Inside, expect an unmemorable interior, slightly spruced up and modernized, but comfortable. As for the initial menu, think chopped chicken liver, crispy buttermilk calamari, and butternut squash soup to start.

For mains there's braised lamb shank with heirloom tomato pasta, halibut with pea pesto, and ceviche mixto with grilled spot prawns. The cocktail list is better-than-average, composed of palomas, mai tai's and sloe gin fizzes. Finally, since this is a hotel, Schwartz has a straightforward diner menu for breakfast and lunch, boasting eggs Benedict, omelettes, and kale chicken Caesar salad. Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and until 11 p.m. on weekends. [Eaterwire]