The Most Anticipated Los Angeles New Restaurant Openings, Fall 2015

Here are the biggest openings to look forward to in Los Angeles this fall.

Otium

Location: 222 S. Hope Street, Bunker Hill, Downtown

Key Players: Timothy Hollingsworth, Bill Chait

The Situation: Housed in a beautiful building right next to the upcoming Broad Museum, the talented former French Laundry chef is planning a shareable plates concept in what might be the most ambitious new restaurant to open in Los Angeles this fall. Without any of the strictures of fine dining, the rustic menu will boast a slew of eclectic flavors and seasonal ingredients, all in a location that incorporates high-designed indoor and outdoor spaces. This might just be the most epic museum restaurant Los Angeles has ever seen.

Projected Opening: Late September

Estrella

Location: West Hollywood

Key Players: Dakota Weiss, Alan Nathan

The Situation: Former W Los Angeles chef Dakota Weiss is striking out on her own after helming Westwood for years. Yes, she opened the ever-popular Sweetfin Poke a few months back, but this project is much more all-encompassing, with planned breakfast-to-dinner service in a vintage Laurel Canyon-styled space by Studio Collective. The menu will be approachable comfort fare that’ll include everything from lamb chops to ceviche.

Projected Opening: Early October

Moruno

Location: The Original Farmer’s Market, West Third

Key Players: David Rosoff, Chris Feldmeier, Bill Chait

The Situation: Though the take-out sandwich and skewer window has opened (and plans to expand its hours because of increasing popularity), the greater restaurant will debut some time later this fall with a vermouth bar and fuller Spanish-style menu in the old Short Order building at the Original Farmer’s Market. Rosoff and Feldmeier cut their teeth at Mozza before partnering with Bill Chait. The duo also has a Bar Moruno concept at Grand Central Market in the works.

Projected Opening: November

Rose Cafe

Location: 220 Rose Avenue, Venice

Key Players: Jason Neroni, Bill Chait, Kamal Kapur, Manhar Patel

The Situation: The longtime Venice institution is now under a full revamp from Bill Chait’s Sprout Group, with Catch & Release chef Jason Neroni devising the menu and concept. The idea is to keep the massive 250 seat restaurant as a community hub while upgrading the quality of the fare. Think all-day service in the vein of nearby Superba Snack Bar, but with flavors that draw from all over the world.

Projected Opening: Late September

Untitled Trois Mec Project

Jon Shook, Ludo Lefebvre, Vinny Dotolo

Location: 3510 Sunset Blvd, Silver Lake

Key Players: Jon Shook, Ludo Lefebvre, Vinny Dotolo

The Situation: Arguably the most powerful chef trio in town, the three guys are plotting another strip mall restaurant, though there’s no concept or name attached to the place yet. Housed in old Alegria in Silver Lake, it’ll be sure to create waves in the community, which continues to amp up their quality dining options in the area. The space is already outfitted for a restaurant, though might require a hefty interior upgrade. No one knows if the restaurant will be a tasting menu place or be a more approachable (just slightly) concept like Petit Trois. Whatever the case, everything these guys have touched has been golden.

Projected Opening: Late fall

Little Pine

Location: 2870 Rowena, Silver Lake

Key Players: Moby aka Richard Hall

The Situation: The well-known DJ is opening his very own vegan restaurant along a sleepy stretch of Rowena. Convincing the community that the place wasn’t going to be a party spot was a tough gig, but Moby promises a friendly organic vegan bistro with a retail component and outdoor patio. Though he will serve beer & wine, the parties will not go late into the night.

Projected Opening: Late fall

Locol

Location: 1954 E. 103rd Street, Watts

Key Players: Roy Choi, Daniel Patterson

The Situation: Choi and Patterson sent shockwaves around the world when they announced this affordable fast food place that’ll be destined for food deserts across urban areas. The first to land will likely be in Watts, with another slated for San Francisco’s Tenderloin district. The idea is to make healthy, delicious fare at fast food prices in parts of town that don’t have much in the way of choices. The idea seems revolutionary, if a bit quixotic, but if anyone’s going to pull it off, it’ll be this chef duo.

Projected Opening: Late fall

ERBar

Location: Arts District

Key Players: Matt Molina, Randy Clement

The Situation: Former Mozza chef Matt Molina is teaming up with Randy Clement for a beer, wine, and cocktail-infused bar in Arts District next door to the new Silver Lake Wine shop. Taking over the former Señor Fred’s, the front room will open first, with an extra long bar that’ll accommodate a few dozen, along with some booths for additional seating. The bar patio will open a short while later, and should accommodate dozens more for a great all-day drinking spot. The menu will be concise and drink-friendly.

Projected Opening: Late October/Early November

Salazar

Location: Frogtown/Elysian Valley

Key Players: Esdras Ochoa, Billy Silverman

The Situation: Mexicali Taco & Co. chef Ochoa is bringing a bit more flavor from his hometown Mexicali, with a Sonoran-infused barbecue joint in a former auto repair lot along Fletcher Blvd. The 5,000 square foot lot will eventually accommodate 175, with an indoor part and mostly outdoor seating. Instead of brisket and ribs, bask in Sonoran-style grilled meats placed in handmade corn and flour tortillas. Design comes via Project M+, which also put together L&E Oyster Bar and the now defunct Lucky Duck in Silver Lake.

Projected Opening: Late October

Untitled Chris Oh/Stephane Bombet Project

Location: Downtown Culver City

Key Players: Chris Oh, Stephane Bombet

The Situation: Seoul Sausage chef Chris Oh is ready to debut his Little Tokyo expansion, but he’s also been busy consulting around town and running the kitchen at Koreatown’s Escala. Here now, he’s partnering with Stephane Bombet, who opened Terrine late last year. The duo hasn’t commented on the concept they’re building in Culver City, in the former Lunch slot, but expect a heavy industry following once it opens in the next few months.

Projected Opening: Late November

Charcoal

Location: Venice

Key Players: Josiah Citrin

The Situation: Not much has percolated about this mysterious second restaurant from Melisse chef Josiah Citrin, but given the pedigree, it should be a fairly ambitious operation. Tentatively named Charcoal, the concept takes over the old Macchi’s Bistro along Washington Blvd on the corner of Clune. Interestingly enough, it opens just a few blocks from former Citrin disciple Nyesha Arrington, who opened Leona about seven weeks go.

Projected Opening: Late fall

Sidecar Donuts

[Photo: Sidecar Donuts, Costa Mesa]

Location: Santa Monica

Key Players: Sumter Pendergrast, Chi-Lin Pendergrast, Brooke Desprez

The Situation: Has there been a more anticipated donut shop opening in Los Angeles? The excellent Costa Mesa-based shop has been building out in Santa Monica for what seems like years, but pieces are nearly in place for a debut this fall. Touting creative flavors and an ultra fresh approach to donut frying, Sidecar should raise the profile of LA’s donut scene by a few multiples when it opens.

Projected Opening: Late September

Blue Star Donuts

Location: Abbot Kinney, Venice

Key Players: Micah Camden, Katie Poppe

The Situation: Turns out Sidecar isn’t the only donut transplant hitting L.A. with a bang. Portland’s popular Blue Star Donuts is careening onto Abbot Kinney some time later this month with a slew of innovative flavors and high-quality ingredients. They’ll also be serving Stumptown Coffee and Steve Smith teas to go along with the fritters.

Projected Opening: Late September

Sausal

Location: El Segundo

Key Players: Anne Conness, Sorin Costache, Joseph Suceveanu

The Situation: With a lean toward early California cuisine, this might be one of the trendier restaurants to open in El Segundo this year (other than the ones that opened at The Point). The flavors will center around Mexican and Spanish-style grilled meats on a wood-fire along with other shareable plates while the ABC license displays that the place will have full booze. Sausal takes over the former Indian Summer, with planned dinner service to start plus lunch and brunch options later in the year.

Projected Opening: Early October

Officine BRERA

Location: Arts District

Key Players: Angelo Auriana, Mirko Paderno

The Situation: The Factory Kitchen team is opening yet another place in the Arts District, this time with a slant toward grilled meats and other wood-fired specialties from the oven. Mirko Paderno joins the team as chef de cuisine under Auriana, which leaves a bit of a gaping hole at Paderno’s former gig at the Avalon Hotel’s Oliverio (rumor has it a big name chef and restaurateur are taking over that slot).

Projected Opening: Late October

Knead & Company Pasta Bar

Location: Grand Central Market, Downtown

Key Players: Bruce Kalman, Marie Petulla

The Situation: Kalman is creating a pasta bar that’ll supply Downtowners with a fresh perspective on house-made noodles. The bar will also have a market component with sundry items like pickles, dry rubs, and other artisanal products. The pastas, which use Grist & Tolls grains, will be made in full view, for people who like to watch their noodles getting extruded. Think pappardelle with rabbit sugo and local wheat spaghetti with parmesan and butter.

Projected Opening: Late October

Salt’s Cure

Location: Hollywood

Key Players: Chris Phelps, Zak Walters

The Situation: After five years in West Hollywood, Phelps and Walters are moving their small meat-centric restaurant to larger digs in the old Ammo space along Highland. With one of the strongest brunch games in town, the new Salt’s Cure will feature a full bar, three meals a day, plus a full design by Spacecraft. Will Salt’s Cure’s followers make the venture over towards Hollywood? Probably.

Projected Opening: Mid-October

Fin and Fire

Location: Arts District

Key Player: Steven Fretz

The Situation: The Church Key chef is opening a new seafood focused restaurant with just 60 seats (inside) in a location right across from Bestia. The searing-hot corner already boasts newcomer Petty Cash, Stumptown Coffee, and Breadlounge, so what’s another eatery to fill in the ranks? As for concept, think tartares, crudites, and larger grill cooked on a wood-fired stove, with a full open kitchen. Oh, there’s also a rooftop patio that’ll accommodate 40 people, which should make for some fine outdoor eating.

Projected Opening: Late fall

Little Sister

Location: Financial District, Downtown

Key Players: Tin Vuong, Jed Sanford

The Situation: Tin Vuong is bringing his ever-popular Asian concept from Manhattan Beach to the heart of Downtown, in the former Gaji space along 7th Street. While the frontage isn’t large, the space should accommodate fifty or so diners inside, with a beer & wine license already in play. Will Vuong and Sanford hit gold again? Their track record has been solid of late, with Hermosa’s Steak & Whisky, Abigaile, and Wildcraft hitting their strides. The only question is, will Little Sister cater to the lunch or dinner crowd more?

Projected Opening: Early October

+52

[Photo: Club Tengo Hambre]

Location: West Third Street

Key Player: Diego Hernandez

The Situation: Noted Mexican chef Diego Hernandez, who already has a World’s 50 Best (Latin America edition) restaurant in Corazon de Tierra, which roving Eater critic Bill Addison had high regard for in his visit to Baja, is opening a concept dubbed +52 (not very Google-able) along white-hot West Third Street. With the aim of bringing modern Mexican cuisine to Los Angeles, Hernandez is the first major Baja chef to make an imprint on the city of Angels. Will Angelenos respond with the kind of fervor that’s due a chef of this caliber?

Projected Opening: Late fall

Scratch Bar

Scratch Bar, Beverly Hills, Photo by Matthew Kang

Location: The Valley, possibly Encino

Key Players: Phillip Frankland Lee

The Situation: The drama over Scratch Bar’s former location in Beverly Hills seems to continue, but it’s not fazing Lee, who quickly announced that he’s building Scratch Bar 2.0 somewhere in a “hipper” locale than Beverly Hills. The rumors pinpoint the new tasting menu-focused restaurant, with a heavy slant toward creativity, somewhere in Encino or another Valley neighborhood. The Facebook and Instagram updates keep coming, with Lee doing much of the build out himself, with the help of his father-in-law. No word on the actual opening but it should be within the next few months.

Projected Opening: Late October

Curtis Stone/Chad Colby Steakhouse

Location: The former Mercantile in Hollywood

Key Players: Curtis Stone and Chad Colby

The Situation: After debuting his ultra-successful tasting menu restaurant at Maude in Beverly Hills, Curtis Stone nabbed former chi SPACCA chef Chad Colby to open a (purported) meat-centricestablishment in the old Mercantile along Sunset Blvd in Hollywood. Details are still thin at this point, but the powerhouse chef team could bring a new level of steak excellence to L.A. Colby has already been seen on the line at Maude to keep his knives sharp, so stay tuned for more details.

Projected Opening: Late fall

Source: LA Eater