Wexler’s Deli adds third shop
From Peruvian quinoa bowls in Hollywood to excellent pastrami in Century City, here’s what’s happening in the Los Angeles food and drink world:
Pastrami king: Chef Micah Wexler and partner Michael Kassar, the duo behind the Wexler’s Deli inside Grand Central Market and another location in Santa Monica, have announced a third Wexler’s Deli in the Westfield Century City mall. The restaurant is scheduled to open in the mall’s renovated dining terrace in August. You can expect the pastrami, smoked fish, breads and bagels the deli is known for, and Wexler is promising some new items exclusive to the location. The 400-square-foot restaurant, designed in partnership with Otto Design Group, will have counter seating for 10 plus communal seating and will feature hand-painted illustrations by Gregory Siff. Wexler’s Deli will be open 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., FC22, Los Angeles, www.wexlers deli.com.
Things in a bowl: Ricardo Zarate, the former chef at Picca as well as the now-closed restaurants MoChica and Paiche, is back with a new restaurant called Mamacita. Named after “mother Earth,” the Hollywood restaurant is serving what it’s calling Peruvian-style BBQ bowls, featuring skirt steak on top of quinoa with a fried egg; and Peruvian poke ceviche on top of choclo and rice. Zarate is also making Peruvian-style wraps filled with chicken, steak or portobello mushrooms, as well as sashimi and kale salads. To drink, there’s purple corn tea and strawberry horchata. Zarate is also scheduled to open a restaurant in the space formerly occupied by Comme Ça on Melrose Avenue called Rosaliné. 6801 Hollywood Blvd., No. 418, Hollywood, (323) 698-1100, www.mamacitacantina.com.
Going rogue: Wolfgang Puck has opened a new restaurant called the Rogue Experience inside his West Hollywood test kitchen and corporate headquarters. The restaurant will serve a tasting menu for eight guests each night, and it will change from week to week. Test kitchen chef Dave Beran and his team will design the menus, but Puck will make appearances in the kitchen as well. Seatings are available at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Saturday seatings are available for full buy-outs only. Reservations start April 19. Tickets start at $155 per person and can be purchased at rogue -exp.tocktix.com. Email wptest kitchen@wolfgangpuck.com to learn more. 8687 Melrose Ave., Blue Building, West Hollywood.
Thai street food: Chefs David Tewasart (Sticky Rice and Side Chick) and Bryan SharafkhahSharp (White Guy Pad Thai food truck), have opened So Long, Hi, a Thai street food restaurant in the former Soi7 space in downtown L.A. Menu highlights include Thai jerky with a spicy tamarind dipping sauce; green curry with deep-fried roti; traditional pad Thai and Crying Tiger. The restaurant has also already