ESTRELLA DEBUTS ON THE SUNSET STRIP TODAY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20
ESTRELLA DEBUTS ON THE SUNSET STRIP TODAY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20From executive chef Dakota Weiss along with partners Alan Nathan and Brett Nestadt, Estrella will offer all-day service seven days a week, set within a bohemian-chic inspired space designed by Studio Collective
WHAT:
Drawing design inspiration from the famed Hollywood Hills bungalow culture of the 60s and 70s, epitomized by the likes of Joni Mitchell and “Mama” Cass Elliot, Estrella, opens Tuesday, October 20 in the heart of the Sunset Strip, offering all-day service featuring breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, in addition to grab-n-go options for a mobile morning bite or mid-day meal. Following their success with Sweetfin Poké, Estrella is the latest concept from Choice Hospitality Group, including founder Alan Nathan, creative director/partner Brett Nestadt, and executive chef/partner Dakota Weiss.
Dakota Weiss (“Top Chef” Season 9), drawing inspiration from her own upbringing – characterized by organic, garden-grown foods – presents a Californian menu encouraging sharing and highlighting Weiss’s dedication to local, seasonal, and nutritious ingredients. Open all-day, seven days a week, Estrella will offer an array of dining options, including breakfast, lunch (each with grab-n-go options), dinner, and weekend brunch. Examples include:
Dinner:
- Hamachi Crudo, Confit Squash, Citrus, Chile de Arbol, Truffled Pumpkin Seeds
- Sous Vide Hanger Steak, Orange-Habanero Chimichurri, Arugula, Radish
- Roasted Bone Marrow, Confit Quail, Kabocha Squash Spatzel and Red Wine-Truffle Jus
- Honey Fried Chicken, Corn Bread
- Duck Liver Butter, Huckleberry-Tomato Jam
Breakfast/Brunch
- Orange Ricotta Pancakes, Almonds and Toasted Coconut
- Chai Spiced French Toast, Whipped Mascarpone and Chia Seed
- Eggs any style with choice of breakfast meat – Porchetta, Turkey Sage Sausage, or Thick Cut Bacon – and breakfast potatoes
- Scrambled Egg White Wrap, with Spinach, Quinoa, Salsa Verde
- In-House Bakery Pastries made fresh daily, served with house made marmalade and sweet jams (including Ginger Molasses Bran Muffin, Figgy Pudding Scone, and Potato and Blue Cheese Quiche, among others)
- House Made Yogurt, Rose-Strawberry Jam and Pistachio Ginger Granola
Lunch (Only Grab-n-Go to start, with full service scheduled to begin in January)
- Asparagus and Crab Cheesecake, Almond Crust, Lemon Arugula Salad
- Truffle Honey Grilled Cheese
- House Cured Pastrami Salmon Bagel Sandwich, Watercress Butter, Pickled Cabbage
- Angus Burger, Smoked Tomato, Pickled Red Onion, Sharp Cheddar, Sunny up Egg on a Toasted Brioche Bun
- Little Gems, Radish, Tarragon, Citrus and White Truffle-Mustard Vinaigrette
Brunch
- “The Rolling Stone” – Bacon-wrapped Avocado stuffed with a poached egg and served with heirloom tomatoes
- Ham and Cheddar Biscuits, Red Eye Gravy, Crispy Mushrooms
- Cornmeal Griddle Cakes, Cinnamon Pecan Praline, Tarragon and Smoked Salt
- Grilled Porchetta
- Pretzel Candied Spiced Bacon
Helmed by mixologist Gia St. George, the bar program at Estrella will feature Fresh house-made juices and small-batch spirits to match the concept’s hippie inspirations. Drink names and ingredients are inspired by the ethos of well-known classic rock songs. St. George and Weiss have collaborated to develop cuisine-complementing drinks embodying tastes and values similar to those of the locally minded kitchen. Cocktail examples include ($14 each):
- Sex, Drugs, and Rock N’ Roll – inspired by Ian Dury and a spin on the classic “Penicillin,” featuring Reposado Tequila, Mezcal, Lime, Ginger Syrup, Rosemary Honey, Nutmeg
- Gobsmacked – A tribute to the brief fling between Joni Mitchell and David Crosby, who after hearing one Joni Mitchell song was quoted as being “gobsmacked.” The rest, is history. It must have felt a little bit like Cachaca, Jalapeno, Sage, Pineapple Syrup, Lime Juice, and Green Chartreuse, hitting you in the face.
- Florence-Nightingale – It’s rumored Mitchell wooed Graham Nash when he came down sick and she nursed him back to health with a healthy dose of Florence Nightingale and some punch drunk love. Estrella’s concoction of Spiced Rum, Butter Syrup, Lime, and Nutmeg is designed to warm you right up, amour.
- Dream On – Some of rock n’ roll’s greatest hits got a little boost from booze and a good buzz. Estrella takes guests on a trip up in the clouds with a potion of Vodka, Grape Juice, Ginger Syrup, Lime Juice, Meringue Cloud, and Activated Charcoal. You’ll surely mimic a legend’s greatest ballad.
In addition to signature cocktails, imbibers visiting Estrella will be able to quench their thirst and tease their palates by the glass or bottle via their globally sourced wine list (with a focus on French and Californian producers), overseen by general manager Fellippe Esteves and wine director Dave Reid. In addition, the wine list will highlight limited supply and rare vintages for the discerning oenophile or adventurous wine enthusiast.
Estrella will host a dedicated fresh juice and coffee program for those dining-in or taking advantage of grab-n-go options. Juices are from Paleta, while Verve Coffee Roasters will be the featured supplier of their caffeinated options.
Partners and design firm Studio Collective, with principles Christian Schulz, Adam Goldstein, and Leslie Kale, created a warm, colorful, and inviting ode to the Laurel Canyon bungalows of times since passed, embellishing the layered restaurant, bar, patio, and lounge space with glistening pendants, vintage found pieces, and lush plants. Brightly colored tiles mingle with rough wood overhead, while vibrant cement tiles and wide-plank wood floors differentiate the interior spaces. Herringbone brick anchors the terrace, letting rose, turquoise, and pearl tones set the mood. Outdoor fireplaces and eclectic chandeliers illuminate Estrella, throwing a warm glow upon both intimate and communal dining arrangements composed of various custom furniture styles and seating heights. In the center, the bar and kitchen anchor the space, just as they would in one’s home. Furthering the look, industrial-style French doors lead between indoors and out, letting the lived-in boho-chic aesthetic flow freely.
WHEN:
Open all-day, seven days a week, starting Tuesday, October 20
Breakfast (Monday–Friday): 7 a.m.-11 a.m.
- Available for Grab-n-Go or Dine-In
Lunch (Monday-Friday): 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Currently only available for Grab-n-Go
Dinner (Monday-Sunday): 5:30 p.m. – 12 midnight
Brunch (Saturdays and Sundays): 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
WHERE:
8800 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
ABOUT CHOICE HOSPITALITY GROUP:
Choice Hospitality Group was founded by Alan Nathan, who in 2004 took over the F&B operations at W Los Angeles – Westwood, managing banquets, catering, and in-room dining as well as the food service for Whiskey Blue bar and two critically acclaimed restaurants, NINETHIRTY and The Backyard, for more than a decade. Recently Choice Hospitality Group ventured into fast casual dining, opening the health and flavor-focused Sweetfin Poké in Santa Monica in 2015, serving diverse Hawaiian soul food with a California flair. Venturing again into West Hollywood, Nathan, along with creative director/partner Brett Nestadt and executive chef/partner Dakota Weiss bring Laurel Canyon’s eclectic musical and theatrical history to the modern age at Estrella.
