This year, new dining destinations have arrived in Beverly Hills from around the world. At the same time, other familiar brands have reinvented and revitalized themselves. Whether you are looking for new casual options that won’t break the bank or a special-occasion splurge, the choices are more plentiful than ever.
Newer and Affordable
Those who have dined at Niku X in downtown Los Angeles near the InterContinental know that the tab for a premium Wagyu tasting meal can be several hundred dollars. The Chubby Group owners have opened the more casual and affordable Chubby Curry on South Beverly Drive. The Japanese-style homemade curry dishes are inspired by century-old recipes of chef Shin Thomson’s family. Along with partner chef Liga Sigal, their signature curry blend features 25 different spices for premium Wagyu beef or a Japanese Wagyu burger. Other popular dishes include fried chicken katsu and udon noodles, which can be savored in a fun, dimly lit ambiance.
For more Wagyu, try Pink Moon in the old Bouchon ground-floor spot overlooking Beverly Canon Gardens. The small indoor bar and outdoor patio space are perfect for an Asian set lunch menu or afternoon high tea with dumplings. Standouts include Peking roast duck, Wagyu and black truffle xiao long bao, along with cocktails or wine in the evening.
San Diego and Newport Beach community import Parakeet Café has added an all-day, healthy and family-friendly option to South Beverly Drive. Here you can find vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and paleo options conceived by the owner who trained at Le Cordon Bleu. The signature bowls have a brown rice base with roasted mushrooms, sesame collard greens, pickled cucumbers and almond butter miso mayo. The beverages include superfood lattes, magic mushroom matcha and protein-packed smoothies.
Espelette is still commanding the ground-floor dining scene at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, but the upstairs has rebranded to The Rooftop Beverly Hills. New menu highlights are hamachi sashimi and red Thai curry. Executive Chef Peleg Miron told the Courier, “Both items were inspired by the ocean, and both are complex in flavor. The hamachi dish has a clean, crunchy and refreshing taste while the red Thai curry is bigger in flavor, comforting and satisfying.”
Mediterranean Flair
The London import Novikov has taken up residence as a sprawling, open-air, Mediterranean restaurant and bar on Canon Drive. The menu is Italian-forward with highlights that include 30-month-aged prosciutto di Parma, warm octopus salad, black truffle pizza and tagliolini with crab meat. To take it up a notch, order a whole salt-crusted seabass, veal cutlet Milanese or the house Novikov Royal Caviar. Alternatively, the $36 three-course lunch special is a fantastic deal. Both the wine list and cocktail offerings are extensive.
On the suddenly hot Camden Drive, celebrated New York chef Preston Madson is helming the dining options at the new members-only club, Gravitas. Items from the Mediterranean menu will be available throughout the multilevel venue, including the ground-floor open-air garden, horseshoe-shaped bar and dining areas. Sommelier Raphael Guirguis and mixologist Yael Vengroff will oversee the creative beverage options. Josh Hering, formerly of Mother Wolf, is in charge of daily management.
Pizzeria Sei on Pico and Robertson boulevards created a buzz for its inventive pizza that merged Italian and Japanese flavors when it opened earlier this year and has even received a Michelin Bib Gourmand nod. This small, casual counter spot has recently added a genius weekly omakase pizza tasting ($150) to its offerings that allows you to try about eight different slices rather than one whole pie.
Happy Hours on the Rise
While we look forward to another flagship restaurant debut at the Beverly Hilton this fall, the CIRCA 55 rooftop restaurant and lounge has launched a rotating Rooftop Rhythms series. It features the hotel’s resident live jazz band or a DJ for sunset happy hour on Friday evenings. Expect discounted drinks and bar bites starting at 5 p.m. to accompany the entertainment and views as the sun goes down.
For the late lunch or the early bird crowd, one of the best happy hour deals in the city can be found at Ocean Prime. From 3-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, you can indulge in sushi rolls, baby lamb chops, pastrami dip sliders and the popular crab-artichoke dip, plus elevated cocktails for only $10. Do not forget to order a round of oysters.
Special Occasion Destinations
Tuscan staple e. baldi Ristorante has recently opened the Apertivo Lounge where the old edo café was on Brighton Way. Chef-owner Edoardo Baldi has created an intimate Italian-style space for a pre-dinner cocktail and small bite, or an after-dinner digestive, with live music and a large side room for private dinner parties.
Fans of Cipriani’s famous Bellinis will soon have a new spot to enjoy them. The Jazz Café upstairs is open for private events and will expand service this fall. The space was designed by Carlos Almada with zebra fabrics on the banquettes, palm trees and a grand piano. An evening here feels like a throwback to an old Hollywood era so be sure to dress the part.
New Sushi Stars
Sushi Yamamoto at Two Rodeo has replaced Urasawa, which sadly closed during the pandemic. It offers an omakase menu as well as a barley shochu, which is a lighter alternative to sake. The spirit, Nikaido Oita Mugi Shochu, debuted this summer at Dodger Stadium.
JADE is Jordane Andrieu’s lively new concept in the old Hermitage wine bar space on Canon Drive. Blending traditional Japanese cuisine with contemporary twists, chef Matteen Khalifian’s menu includes selections such as Wagyu carpaccio with uni and white truffle oil and hamachi crudo with ponzu and chili crisp. Try the diamond roll with lobster, seared salmon, caviar and gold flake, or the interactive D.I.Y. hand roll platter, which is fun for a group. For a real splurge, order the 467 Carat Premium Dragon featuring caviar, uni, rolls and nigiri on a dramatic smoking dragon platter.
The Canon Drive outpost of the Miami/Latin America Negroni brand location opened earlier this year. Begin your visit with crispy rice topped with crab, tuna or salmon and an assortment of sashimi or sushi rolls. Dinner entrees range from risotto Milanese with saffron, bone marrow and parmigiano to roasted halibut with tomatoes, capers, olives and anchovies. Of course, Negroni lovers will enjoy variations on the popular cocktail, but the inventive martini menu is a must-try. “Negroni is meant to be a cosmopolitan hub, where guests can come and go and enjoy the spirit of our hometown of Buenos Aires as it mingles with flavors from around the world,” Negroni Founder Pablo Sartori told the Courier.
Sushi Nakazawa, the much-anticipated omakase-only spot by Alessandro Borgognone and chef Daisuke Nakazawa, will open in October on Robertson Boulevard. Currently, the restaurant has a location in New York (which is Michelin-starred) and Washington, D.C., but the L.A. location will be the first time that the restaurant will serve hot dishes.
Beverly Hills Adjacent Rooftops:
Nicholas Eatery (formerly Malibu) is reason enough to visit the Beverly Center, even when there is no sale at Bloomingdales. The French and Vietnamese-inspired family-run restaurant on the sixth floor is led by Nicolas Fanucci, formerly the General Manager at the French Laundry. Menu highlights include onion soup, egg rolls, lobster rolls, Bánh mì, lobster stir fry and steak frites.
LADiDa is a new rooftop poolside restaurant and lounge at the SLS Hotel on La Cienega Boulevard. You’ll find city views paired with creative cocktails and bites, such as duck confit egg
