thrillist

Joni Mitchell sang about the displeasure that comes from paving paradise and putting up a parking lot -- but what if they paved a parking lot, and put up paradise, or at least a restaurant with some eclectic sashimi choices and a sweet firepit? That'd be a good thing, and it'd be called East.

Only now opening to the public today, East is a glossy Japanese/French fusionery from the guy behind MyHouse and Mood, duly tricked-out with a dark, low-boothed lounge/bar area (sleet-stone walls and a 10-foot firepit), plus a sashimi-bar abetted hallway that gives way to an atrium-style skyroof ceiling'd dining room with white stone walls, mid-room trees, and semi-private booths, all on the former spot of a Hollywood parking lot, which was duly tricked out with...lines. A sizeable raw fish menu's got options like hamachi splashed w/ soy lime sauce and served on a green papaya salad; albacore w/ charred corn, pea tendrils, cilantro, scallions, and chipotle lime sauce; and a Hawaiian walu w/ garlic chili sauce, eggplant caviar, and key lime segments, which you usually have trouble getting during Trivial Pursuit, since you're not good at science or nature. As far as cooked options, East has lamb chops marinated in organic agave honey and serrano chilis, drizzled w/ oyster glaze and served alongside Chinese sausage souffles; monkfish osso bucco on purple thai rice and a green curry sauce; and a garlic and chili-rubbed quail that's semi-boneless, so it'll be able to stand up in a second, if you'd just go away, so it can concentrate.

As far as boozin', East has got fresh-ingrediented cocktails like the rye whisky/bell pepper/opal basil/agave "Reckoner" and the 10 Cane Rum/ruby red grapefruit/serrano chili/orange bitters "Red Rum" -- drink enough of that, and you'll end up "paving" the parking lot...and the curb outside the restaurant...and the taxi's backseat.

Add this to My Thrillist

Mention Thrillist for the next month when you make a dinner reservation before 7:30 and you'll get a free drink w/ any entree; click here for the menu