Village cooks up new flavor
By Michael Jahina
May 15, 2003 9:00 p.m.
Westwood Village is upgrading its palate as a plethora of new
restaurants have come in or plan to move in within the next
month.
Six restaurants are entering the Village, each looking to add
its own distinct taste to the neighborhood’s flavor.
“It helps revitalize the Village,” said Jay Handal,
president of the West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
Bombay Bite opened last week, providing the Village with its
first authentic Indian restaurant in several years, said owner
Shekar Ganti.
Ganti has worked in Westwood as an architect for Richard Meier
and Partners for the past five years. He believes Westwood would
benefit from the addition of an Indian restaurant, which he
designed himself.
Bombay Bite is looking to target the business crowd from
Wilshire Boulevard offices and the employees from hospitals in the
area during lunch time, as well as couples strolling through
Westwood and the student dinner crowd.
Zen’s Grill and Sake Lounge is another upscale addition
which is looking to open in mid-June.
The restaurant will specialize in cuisine from several Asian
countries, with its hallmark being a menu of 55 types of sake, a
Japanese rice wine.
Westwood will be the third location for Zen’s Grill, and
this branch is looking to be fancier than the other two.
Some students are looking forward to the expansion of
Westwood’s restaurant selection.
“I think it’s great that some good Asian places are
coming in,” said second-year political science student
Stephen Pi.
There are also more casual-style restaurants moving in, which
will be welcomed additions for those on a budget.
Skew’s Beyond Teriyaki will also be opening in Westwood
next week, bringing a funky and wild flavor to the community, said
manager Mario Del Pero.
They will offer “West Coast food with an eastern
flair,” featuring such unique items as avocado egg rolls and
citrus-spiced teriyaki chicken.
Skew’s is looking to target young healthy people and all
those who are upbeat at heart.
It prides itself in being able to offer fresh food at low prices
while also providing quick service.
Del Pero designed the menu and consulted with a nutritionist to
ensure the food’s quality.
Skew’s started three and a half years ago in Manhattan
Beach. The Westwood opening will be its third location.
If any type of Asian cuisine is still unrepresented in Westwood,
the opening of Sabiru Korean Fusion ““ the Village’s
first sit-down Korean eatery ““ may fill the gap.
Sabiru will feature Korean barbecue in a low-key atmosphere.
Dinner prices will range from $8 to $12, slightly higher than the
other casual restaurants.
Corner Bakery is a casual sandwich shop to open in Westwood this
summer, establishing its tenth location since the first opening in
1971.
It will feature affordable Italian pastas and sandwiches, and is
scheduled to open June 10.
Chili’s Bar and Grill is also coming in next month, and is
owned by Brinker International, the same company that owns Corner
Bakery.
Chili’s is expected to cater mainly to students, offering
inexpensive food in an easygoing environment with multiple
televisions available to patrons’ viewing.
Many community organizers believe the infusion of new
restaurants will revive the Village’s atmosphere and increase
foot traffic, which will help improve business in the area.
“The natural progression of the revitalization of an area
starts with an economic engine, and that engine is the movie
theatres,” Handal said. “But after that economic
engine, the second engine is restaurants.”
