QUICK BITES
Isla heats up
> At their Italian-inspired raw bar Crudo e Nudo, partners Brian Bornemann and Leena Culhane serve a rainbow of simply prepared, skillfully dressed fish, scallops, prawns, uni and beyond. But their new sibling concept, Isla, is all about getting hot. At the pop-up — and eventual restaurant, which is expected to open this spring — meaty slices of trumpet mushrooms, thick wedges of duck breast, whole spot prawns and stuffed fish all get the woodfired treatment. Bornemann, the chef and coowner, says, “Isla is all about the inspiration from the western Mediterranean, like Spanish islands.” Isla is popping up on the Westside, at Lunetta on Sundays and at Tallula’s on Mondays in select weeks, with more pop-ups elsewhere in the coming months. isla-la.com
A taste of Paris
> An all-day restaurant and bar from the team behind Margot and Norah recently opened in Culver City, offering a Parisian-inspired menu and patio dining in the futuristic Synapse building. Juliet focuses on seafood, with options such as trout-roe-topped oysters; tuna carpaccio with tonnato sauce; whipped cod dip; caviar-adorned sea bream “tartare”; and chilled mussels. It also offers other classic and French-leaning dishes, including roast chicken with truffle sauce, Parisian gnocchi, crêpes Suzette, endive salad, chicken liver tartlets, French omelets and ratatouille. Leading the kitchen are culinary director Michael Williams and chef Jason Gonzales, both also of Norah and Margot. The wine program features wine solely from French producers, while the cocktail program leans classic. In the bar area, a roving cart serves martinis and Champagne tableside. 8888 Washington Blvd., Culver City, (310) 643-5853, juliet.la
Ramen redux
> Koreatown ramen and sushi specialist Iki Ramen expects to debut its second location this month, bringing a variety of ramen, small plates, an artful omakase from chef Hiroyuki Masato, and sake and craft beer to Hollywood. “The concept in the beginning will be the same concept as the original Iki Ramen, but the menu will evolve in the future,” said co-owner and n/naka vet Jeffry Undiarto, “possibly [with] grilled dishes.” The new space, at 2,500 square feet, offers a larger kitchen and 50 to 60 seats — double the seating capacity of the original. Undiarto is aiming for a mid-February soft launch, with a grand opening slated for early March. 6565 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, ikiramen.com
The sweet life
> Fashion/lifestyle brand Kith, which launched an L.A. outpost of its customizable soft-serve counter in its Sunset Strip store in 2018, has added a Kith Treats in its new Rodeo Drive flagship. The treats shop takes its inspiration from cereal bars — offering milkshakes, swirled cups and bowls in collab creations from the likes of LeBron James, Futura and Action Bronson — featuring items such as Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies, Cap’n Crunch, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and other mix-ins. The new shop will offer an exclusive item, the Mama’s Boy, from influencer and DJ Zack Bia: Cocoa Puffs, marshmallows, Kinder white chocolate bar and waffle cone all topped with cookie dough, served either as a soft-serve swirl or a milkshake, with a side of gummy bears. 262 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, kith.com/pages/shop-treats — Stephanie Breijo