April Bloomfield’s The Hearth & Hound Now Taking Reservations Starting December 8

The Hearth & Hound, the latest project from serial restaurateurs April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman, opens its wide doors on December 8 in Hollywood, with reservations now available on OpenTable. Formerly the Cat & Fiddle space, they’ve been working on this restaurant along Sunset Blvd for the better part of three years. Here are some facts to know about The Hearth & Hound ahead of its opening.

1. The namesake hearth goes into the center of the main dining room and will be the foundation for Bloomfield’s approachable, but well-crafted comfort fare. Known for a no-fuss approach to everything from gastropub to seafood to Italian food, the British chef will develop a menu with Mediterranean flavors going into seasonal vegetables, fish, game meats, and whole animals over the hearth’s live fire. Already the LA Times is billing the place as the West Coast version of Bloomfield’s The Spotted Pig.
2. Despite the gastropub name and obvious parallels to The Spotted Pig, The Hearth & Hound won’t serve a burger, which was one of the killer dishes at her West Village restaurant. Bloomfield does tell the Times she might put a burger on a late night menu one day.
3. The wine program is a big part of this restaurant, with Eater Young Gun Maxfield Schnee (Orsa & Winston) collaborating with the Beastie Boys’ Mike D, plus former Republique manager Taylor Parsons (who consults on the project).
4. Cat & Fiddle was one of LA’s classic British pubs with a fantastic outdoor patio — an ideal blend of British garden sprawl and classic Hollywood glamour. As Friedman has stated, they put a lot of effort into building a look and feel similar to Cat & Fiddle’s prime in the 1980s.
5. The space will have enough seating for 100, with design from Roman & Williams. The courtyard patio has hanging string lights, citrus trees, and ivy, plus a 100-year-old olive tree and fully restored fountain that was a centerpiece of The Cat & Fiddle.
6. The place opens for dinner at first, but breakfast and lunch will follow for a new all-day addition to the heart of Hollywood.

• All The Cat & Fiddle Coverage [ELA]
• All The Hearth & Hound Coverage [ELA]