clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Beauty and Essex Hollywood with drapes and stunning red-lit decor.
Beauty & Essex

Filed under:

The Most Anticipated New Los Angeles Restaurant Openings, Winter 2016

A Nas-backed fried chicken shop, New York’s clubbiest concepts, and the country’s best chefs set up shop in LA

There is little argument that Los Angeles is one of the most exciting places to eat in the country. The city’s winter restaurant opening lineup speaks to this lofty statement, with everything from passion projects by some of the country’s best chefs to gargantuan clubstaurants by New York City restauranteurs opening up in Hollywood.

Tao and Beauty & Essex speak to the major wave of Big Apple concepts that are making their way out west, along with notable comebacks by chefs like Evan Funke and Ricardo Zarate. Even iconic rapper Nas will make his LA restaurant debut with the opening of fried chicken joint Sweet Chick. Here now, the most anticipated winter restaurant openings in Los Angeles.

Rossoblu

Steve Samson
Wonho Frank Lee

Address: 1124 San Julian St., Los Angeles, CA

Major Player: Steve Samson, Dina Samson

The Situation: Things are heating up at City Market South, the planned new Fashion District multi-use complex that will soon house Sotto chef Steve Samson’s massive new Rossoblu. The name and the food are both derived from the middle mountain regions of Italy, where Samson spent time growing up. Expect highly regional food from roughly the Emilia-Romanga and Bologana areas (plus lots of wine), housed in an indoor-outdoor space with tons of patio seating and a downstairs private dining room.

Projected Opening: February 2017

Kismet

Kismet, Los Feliz
Kismet

Address: 4648 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

Major Players: Sara Kramer & Sarah Hymanson, Jon Shook & VInny Dotolo

The Situation: The New York City team behind Madcapra lays down sturdy restaurant roots with their follow-up Middle Eastern project Kismet, coming to the former Mother Dough space in Los Feliz early next year. Joining in on the fun is the Jon & Vinny team, who will help to bring the concept to life on the logistics end, mostly. Ultimately this is a Hymanson and Kramer project through and through, doing small plates and lots of mezze during all-day service, in a clean space with lots of light wood.

Projected Opening: January 2017

Felix

Address: 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice, CA

Major Player: Evan Funke, Gusto 54 Group

The Situation: It was a sad day when pasta maestro Evan Funke closed his beloved Bucato. Thankfully the chef’s handmade pasta and focus on market-driven fare is making a triumphant comeback via Felix, his new restaurant inside Venice fine dining stalwart Joe’s on Abbott Kinney. Funke will offer lots of pasta-watching to go along with some serious pizza-making in the open kitchen.

Projected Opening: Late January 2017

Cosa Buona

Zach Pollack
Alimento

Address: 2100 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

Major Player: Zach Pollack

The Situation: Alimento lead Zach Pollack is turning to Italian-American takeout fare, with a renewed focus on pizza at his new Echo Park spot Cosa Buona. You’ll also find classics like garlic bread, mozzarella sticks, shrimp scampi, and meatballs to enjoy in a tall corner space that formerly housed the long-running restaurant Pizza Buona. And yes, you'll even be able to get your food delivered.

Projected Opening: Late January 2017

Rosaline

Address: 8479 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA

Major Player: Ricardo Zarate

The Situation: Peruvian chef Ricardo Zarate is making a furious comeback to the LA dining scene after departing his three restaurants Picca, Paiche, and Mo Chica (the latter two have since closed while the former is still kicking on Pico Blvd). Zarate takes over the dormant former Comme Ca space,with a restaurant named after his own mother. Ultimately, Rosaliné will be an intimate look into the chef’s commitment to his native cuisine.

Projected Opening: February/March 2017

The Slanted Door

Charles Phan
Photo: Patricia Chang
Patricia Chang

Address: 1124 San Julian St., Los Angeles, CA

Major Player: Charles Phan

The Situation: San Francisco’s top-grossing independent restaurant by decorated chef Charles Phan is joining Rossoblu in the upcoming City Market South complex in the Fashion District. This is the first time Angelenos will get a taste of Phan’s James Beard award-winning modern Vietnamese cuisine, pushed into a big, beautiful stunner of a space that will offer room for hundreds of diners, both indoor and out.

Projected Opening: February 2017

Petit Trois Sherman Oaks

Wonho Frank Lee

Address: 13705 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA

Major Players: Ludo Lefebvre, Jon Shook, Vinny Dotolo

The Situation: With the city’s most perfect omelet and that crazy Big Mec burger, it was only a matter of time before the Ludo Lefebvre, Jon Shook, and Vinny Dotolo trio would decide to open up a second branch of their tiny Melrose restaurant. Now the former Il Tiramisu in Sherman Oaks is set to become Petit Trois 2.0, offering a more spacious experience thanks to a more ample dining room and charming side patio.

Projected Opening: January/February 2017

Tao

Tao Uptown New York

Address: 6417 Selma Ave, Los Angeles

Major Player: Tao Group

The Situation: Tao, one of the highest grossing restaurants in the country with locations in New York and Las Vegas, is finally bringing its pan-Asian cuisine to the city of Angels with its glossy debut adjacent to the incoming Dream Hollywood. Expect the massive, 30,000 square feet of sceney digs to be packed with celebrities and influencer types.

Projected Opening: First quarter 2017

Beauty & Essex

Beauty and Essex Hollywood with drapes and stunning red-lit decor.
Beauty & Essex, New York
Wonho Frank Lee

Address: 6417 Selma Ave, Los Angeles

Major Player: Tao Group

The Situation: Another Tao group property that will be next door to the buzzy Dream Hollywood is Beauty & Essex. You may have encountered the upcoming restaurant’s stunning Art Deco decor and faux pawn shop facade at its locations in New York or in the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, but now the NYC brand will make its home on the West Coast. It’s just another example of the renaissance taking place in Hollywood, in no small part due to New York restaurateurs expanding to the sunnier side.

Projected Opening: First quarter 2017

Gratitude

Gratitude, Newport Beach

Address: 419 N Canon Dr., Beverly Hills

Major Player: Café Gratitude (chef Dreux Ellis, beverage director Jason Eisner)

The Situation: Café Gratitude, the popular family of vegan restaurants with locations throughout LA, will bring its upscale concept, Gratitude to the Golden Triangle in Beverly Hills. The restaurant currently has one location in Newport Beach, but it will likely find a happy home in the ritzy neck of the woods with vegan dishes by chef Dreux Ellis as well as a fully organic beverage program by the cocktail maven Jason Eisner.

Projected Opening: First quarter 2017

Sweet Chick

Sweet Chick Sweet Chick

Address: 448 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA

Major Player: John Seymour, Nas

The Situation: Following on the heels of their success in Brooklyn, the Sweet Chick team plans to open right on Fairfax inside the former Rosewood Tavern space. Bringing a tried-and-true combo of fried chicken and waffles, this Nas-backed concept should own brunch in the neighborhood once it arrives.

Projected Opening: February/March 2017

Bar Angeles

Address: 4330 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

Major Player: Friends & Family Hospitality (Wade McElroy, Russell Malixi, Joey Booterbaugh)

The Situation: A long-dormant space right on Sunset Boulevard, tucked between Dinosaur Coffee and Malo in Silver Lake, is coming to life. Bar Angeles is an updated ode to the Elliott Smith mural there, and will include a full slate of cocktails as well as food from Cafe Birdie chef Joey Booterbaugh.

Projected Opening: January 2017

Mikkeller Bar

Mikkeller Bar, San Francisco
Patricia Chang

Address: 330 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

Major Player: Chuck Stilphen

The Situation: Global craft beer dominator Mikkeller Bar finally comes to Los Angeles, sparing no expense to bring their massive South Park location to life. With a sleep indoor-outdoor feel and one of the finest tap lists in all of Los Angeles County, this place is sure to be a hit with craft beer nerds and regular folks alike — especially once they start using their commercial-grade meat smoker in the kitchen.

Projected Opening: January 2017

Modern Times

Modern Times

Address: 830 S. Olive St., Los Angeles, CA

Major Player: Modern Times Beer

The Situation: Populist beer option Modern Times is coming to Los Angeles this winter, bringing 6,000 square feet of brewing, drinking, and dining space. The plan is to pour favorites from the company’s catalogue as well as one-off stuff from the on-site brewhouse, while letting customers linger with additions for coffee and vegan food to boot.

Projected Opening: February 2017

Freehand/Broken Shaker/Exchange

Facebook

Address: 416 W. 8th St., Los Angeles, CA

Major Player: Sydell Group (The Line, NoMad), Bar Lab (Gabe Orta, Elad Zvi), Alex Chang

The Situation: Downtown’s hotel growth continues with the upcoming arrival of Freehand, a Miami-based project from the Sydell Group that will include award-winning cocktail bar Broken Shaker, as well as a downstairs high-end option called Rudolph’s Bar & Tea. Dinner keeps a Middle Eastern style and comes from chef Alex Chang of the Paladar dinner series.

Projected Opening: March 2017

Picca

9575 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90035 Visit Website

Alimento

1710 Silver Lake Boulevard, , CA 90026 (323) 928-2888 Visit Website

Dinosaur Coffee

4334 Sunset Boulevard, , CA 90029 Visit Website

Rosewood Tavern

448 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323) 944-0980 Visit Website

Gusto

8022 West 3rd Street, , CA 90048 (323) 951-9800 Visit Website

Madcapra

317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (213) 357-2412 Visit Website

Pizza Buona

2100 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026 (213) 413-0800

Cafe Birdie

5631 North Figueroa Street, , CA 90042 (323) 739-6928 Visit Website

Ludobab

716 N Highland Ave,, Los Angels,, Los Angeles, CA (323) 484-8588 Visit Website

Sotto

9575 Pico Boulevard, , CA 90035 (310) 277-0210 Visit Website

Malo

4326 W Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90029 323 664 1011 Visit Website

Bucato

3280 Helms Avenue, Culver City, CA 90034 310-876-0286

Olea. Cellar,Craft,Cook

2001 Westcliff Drive, , CA 92660 (949) 287-6807 Visit Website
Where to Eat in LA Right Now

Warm Smothered Biscuits Arrive in Mid-City — And More Under-the-Radar Openings in LA

AM Intel

A Beloved Echo Park Doughnut Shop Is Flipping Into a Fast-Food Burger Stand

LA Restaurant Openings

From Austin With Ambition: LA’s Latest Sushi Contender Arrives in West Hollywood