New Foodie Openings in LA?

[ElJeffe]

Alright, I'm bored with discussing the same old dishes from the same old hot spots. For those of you in the know, and I know you're out there, what are this spring & summers's new restaurant openings that we should be looking out for? Who's likely to be the next Mozza, or doomed to be the next Abode? Can anyone fill LA's mid-priced bistro gap?

Anisette?
Cafe R&D?

[chewbacca]

My friend Kacey told me about the new Lemonade Cafe's that just opened. Last night I drove by the location on Beverly in the Ron Teegaurden's old space and it is absolutely adorable, covered with giant citrus fruit and now I am very excited to go and check it out. The theme is lemonade and they have 5 flavors including peach ginger and blueberry mint! Yum! There is a tiny cafeteria style place inside where you can line up and make your own plate of hot or cold sandwiches, freshly made soups, and veggie-centric sides from the eighteen daily specials like purple potato with sherry vinaigrette, roast cauliflower with curry, and carrot with yogurt dressing. Everything is house-made including the breads and sweets such as lemon macaroons and cream cheese bars. There is also a small outdoor dining area to drink your lemonade under a bright shade or out in the sun. The downtown location opened a couple weeks ago in the City National Bank Building foodcourt. Lemonade, 9001 Beverly Boulevard, at North Doheny Drive, West Hollywood (310-247-2500); 505 South Flower Street, at Fifth Street, Downtown (213-488-0299).

[mar52]

I've posted about it before but I'm really enjoying Brat Brothers in Sherman Oaks.

I broke down (only because there was a parking space) and tried The Infield in Sherman Oaks.

I took it to go....

I ordered a hot dog from New Zealand that was delicious. But... The it was only 3 - 4 inches long on a stale bun.

I also ordered the New York Dog which was a Sabrett's on a stale bun with red onions sauce and mustard. The onions in the sauce weren't cooked enough. Now I've had lots and lots of Sabrett's with red onion sauce at The Weiner Factory and never were they too salty for me to eat.

They also let me walk away without giving me the drink I paid for. That was my fault.

[bellyworth]

Cafe R & D is a brach of Hilstone Resturant group. Same group that owns Houston's, Bandera's and Gulfstream. So it should be consistent and good quality but nothing to go crazy over. They should have a lot of the same dishes, however Bellyworth heard R&D stands for research and development so maybe they'll try some new things.

[kiwijim]

I heard Table 8 is moving and changing their concept to something more casual.

[SauceSupreme]

What they really just need to do is punch a hole in a wall and put in windows. That place was like a cave!

[Pepsi Monster]

I can't wait for Anisette to open. The location is off the chart. Too unique to even comprehend.

[FoodKitCat]

Palate Food and Wine in Glendale will be rockin' it I think. They just opened. Octavio Becerra. and, I think that Gordon Ramsay's place somewhere in West Hollywood is due soon too.

[ElJeffe]

Is Palate a wine bar with food or more of a restaurant?

[revets2]

it will be both. went to a test dinner on wednesday. solid. the asparagus with the fried egg, the hen of the woods mushroom dish were standouts. potted meats were very unique. pickled cippolinis, cheese plate, 76% chocolate pudding all good. they make their own lardo and butter. both killer. the wine bar and store will be coming up by the end of may.

[SauceSupreme]

Sadly, only Anisette. Also I've not been to Father's Office 2. Less celebrated, I guess, are Delancey and Yakitori Bincho. I'd also be curious how Bastide turns out with the new chef, because for $100 the Manzke menu was brilliant.

Personally, I'm eager to make more excursions into the SGV, namely Dumpling 10053.

[slacker]

Dumpling 10053 is my fav for dumplings. Great dumplings and love all the variety they offer. Their beef stew noodle soup is eh.
Also really like FO2, been there twice.

Bastide: my dinner at Providence last year was by Paul Shoemaker. Cimurusti was on vacation. We did the 9 course tm, I wasn't blown away by that pricey meal. The scallop was overcooked, the duck was eh, the fish was eh.

Back to Lot 1: has anyone been there yet, or been able to speak with anyone on the phone? It just rings and rings and an answering machine comes on finally. Left a message, no return call. What is up.

[fooddude37]

I've been
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/518062

[WLA_gal]

I'm going to the opening of Gordon Ramsay's restaurant (woohoo! I've visited several of his places in London)... but I'm very curious to see how Palate Food & Wine in Glendale turns out. Octavio Becerra (Patina alum) is involved... and his food is v-e-r-y tasty!

I'm also on the "contact list" for Anisette... but I don't trust those lists... it seems that they never actually get around to "contacting" the people on them...

The Cafe R&D in Newport Beach is nice, but nothing to write home about.

My 10 cents (inflation, ya know...)

[slacker]

Well, these are the 2008 openings I'm looking forward to, brasserie or not:

Gordon Ramsay--got my reservation, speaking of which, I got on their email list really early on, but apparently that was some sort of joke since they never contacted me about their change in opening schedule and that they were taking reservations.
Anisette
Coles, the re-make
Casa--yeesh lot 1 now

[ElJeffe]

Thanks! Any word on the new Seven downtown?

[slacker]

There was an earlier posting asking about Seven. I haven't been yet, somehow not really high on my list.

[mollyomormon]

I'm most excited for Anisette and Josef Centano's new place in Echo Park, Lot 1 (has anyone been yet??). I'm only excited for Cafe R&D to the extent that there will finally be somewhere on Montana with a full liquor license again.

[wilafur]

i can't wait for Lot 1 to open. will have to drop in on a tues for the tasting menu! mmm!

[slacker]

wait, so no casa?