Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Rough time to open an upscale restaurant? Villa Blanca debuts in Beverly Hills

This interesting Gourmet article by Colman Andrews, It's Up to You, New York, New York details the risky balancing act of opening pricey New York restaurants The John Dory and the Corton in these economic times.

But the same goes for L.A., where Cecconi's seems to be doing ok with the showbiz despite mixed reactions from Chowhounds.

Now Villa Blanca, from the owners of West Hollywood's Sur, will replaces Trilussa at Brighton Way and Camden in Beverly Hills. Trilussa closes this weekend; presto change-o and Villa Blanca will debut with a "visually exhilarating" interior and a "striking, sexy" new bar just two weeks later. Former Koi executive chef Francis Dimitrius will head up the kitchen, but although it's within the Golden Triangle, it actually sounds fairly casual, with dishes like Shrimp and Chorizo potato pizza, Guinness-battered Chilean Sea Bass and chips and a "memorable classic burger."

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