Paley Marks the Return of Hollywood's Dining Glamour

Matthew Kang is the Lead Editor of Eater LA. He has covered dining, restaurants, food culture, and nightlife in Los Angeles since 2008. He's the host of K-Town, a YouTube series covering Korean food in America, and has been featured in Netflix's Street Food show.

When chef Greg Bernhardt and Nicolas Fanucci joined forces with Plan Do See hospitality group for an iconic Hollywood restaurant, they had to jump at the opportunity to revive Hollywood's grand dining scene. Formerly home to CBS Studios, this Sunset Blvd-facing space once served media titans just steps from their offices. And now, with the stylish Neuehouse space next door and a slew of modern concepts like Sugarfish and sweetgreen, Paley is poised to bring back a sophisticated new dining experience for the 21st century crowd.

With a sweeping Art Deco-inspired design by Bishop Pass, along with input from owner-operator Plan Do See (out of Japan), Paley might be one of the more impressive places to open in Los Angeles this year. Every detail has been pored over, from the majestic bar to the laid back main dining room. It's the kind of power lunch hall where you'll find industry players and probably even celebrities noshing over a chicken confit sandwich or beef tartare with miso, grapefruit, and gochujang.

But Bernhardt's menu, which gladly takes ideas and flavors from around the world, reflects the kind of multi-cultural approach coupled with classic, New American techniques that's pervasive around town. Consider a parsnip soup with pickled mushrooms, or coal-roasted A5 wagyu with black soy, wasabi, and daikon pickle to start your meal. Entrees, which range anywhere from $18 to $32 on the dinner menu, will be sure to please any diner, with grilled duck breast, wood-roasted chicken with truffle sauce, and a dry-aged Manhattan steak helming that section.

Essentially, Paley fills the void of fine dining in this part of Hollywood, which is arguably the hottest place for development in LA. The dining room is good enough for a composed meal with the parents, and hip enough for a hot date. With so many fast-casual concepts littering Los Angeles at the moment, it's encouraging to see this return to civility. Paley officially opens for dinner on April 15. Lunch service commenced back on March 22.

Paley, 6115 Sunset Blvd