HOG WILD Pendry
TRENDS—L . A .
DASH AND DINE Just a skip and a jump outside of town, these new restaurants from West Hollywood to Malibu mean there’s never been a better time to take a daycation. BY C A R O L E D I XO N
Lucky’s Malibu
Hollywood and West Hollywood Mozza queen Nancy Silverton has opened THE BARISH, a grand Italian steakhouse in the historic Hollywood Roosevelt. Highlights include a Pork Chop with chrysanthemum leaves, Yellow Endive Salad, and Creamed Mustard Greens with pecorino, served on handpainted plates from Italy. And don’t miss the house martini with Tito’s vodka and bergamot, which fits right in with the rich dishes and decadent surroundings. In the heart of Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood (on the grounds of the former House of Blues), PENDRY is the perfect place to call it a day after you’ve nearly maxed out your credit card at Fred Segal (still a legend). For a start, this modern hotel with a nod to art deco by U.K. designer Martin Brudnizki is an art lover’s dream, with over 70 original works dotted around the grounds. It’s also a food paradise with two restaurants by Wolfgang Puck. MEROIS, by the rooftop pool, has magnificent views and the best Peking duck in the area, along with a showstopping Crispy Scale Whole Black Sea Bass served upright. Open all day, OSPERO, on ground level, is easy to slip into for freshly baked croissants (there’s a takeaway bakery
and coffee bar) or that famous smoked salmon pizza. Pro tip: If you only have time for a drink at the Pendry bar on the main level, order the popcorn cooked in bacon and duck fat for a snack, and don’t forget to hit the champagne vending machine on your way out. Beverly Hills and the Westside Beverly Hills has a new high-end steak concept by the Sushi Nozawa Group. MATŪ on Beverly Drive was designed by Marmol Radziner and features 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef from New Zealand. For restauranteur Philip Camino of Fellow in Westwood (which has flipped to fine dining with chef Chris Flint from Maude and Eleven Madison Park), a Japanese spot in Brentwood was the next move. IMARI on San Vicente offers bento boxes, a sushi bar, and traditional washoku cuisine. It’s helmed by Derek Wilcox, formerly of Shoji in New York, with Michelin-starred Shibumi downtown L.A. chef David Schlosser consulting. The indoor-outdoor MONICA’S restaurant
at the new Hilton Santa Monica on 4th Street features a seasonal menu by chef Edy Lucas, last seen in Manhattan Beach at The Strand House and Fishing with Dynamite. So far, the Outlaw Burger with a Wagyu patty, Firebird Cajun Chicken Breast or Bahn Mi Sandwich are all winners and perfect to take down to the beach. A good pit stop to or from the airport in Playa Vista is BULL & BUTTERFLY. This stylish steakhouse and bar (from the founders of Lemonade) offers a nextlevel weekend brunch with everything from Coal Oven Baked Shakshuka to Sticky Toffee Pancakes. Montecito steakhouse import LUCKY’S MALIBU has launched brunch with a Spanish Chorizo Breakfast Burrito, filet mignon with eggs, and strong signature cocktails made for the location, such as the Malibu Manhattan with Lucky’s Special Select Maker’s Mark Bourbon.
The Barish
J U LY/A U G U S T 2 0 2 1
PA S A D E N A
47
