Rolling Stone Restaurant & Lounge comes to Hollywood

For months now, I've seen the large "Coming Soon" signs on Highland Avenue for a Rolling Stone restaurant. Last night, I got to see the final result during a special media preview with cocktails, dinner and dessert at the new Rolling Stone Restaurant & Lounge (RS/LA) in Hollywood & Highland.

I assumed it would be the magazine's own version of Hard Rock Cafe, however, thankfully it's not as cheesy and this is its only location (so far). Yes, I'm sure it will still become a popular place for those visiting Hollywood, but the space is more like the restaurant and clubs that you would find in Vegas and not a cookie cutter franchise with gift shop place. There is of course photography and framed covers of their magazines featuring the iconic personalities over the last few decades on the walls though, but it's very minimal as I was definitely expecting more. The food is much better too, no typical laminated menus with burgers and fries with kitch names that you'd think to find at theme restaurants.

RS/LA has an an upstairs restaurant and outside patio, where the upscale menu by Executive Chef Chris Ennis (One Sunset) reflects the publication's Americana roots with local seasonal produce purchased at the different nearby farmers markets. The strawberries on top of their heavenly panna cotta dessert was super fresh as were the beets in the goat cheese and hearts of romaine salad, where the ingredients came from the Santa Monica farmers market apparently. As for the entrees, we sampled the pan roasted salmon with wilted baby spinach, fingerlings, capers and golden raisins and a tender rack of lamb. I preferred the latter as it was more flavorful. The menu is also accompanied by a nice wine list and specialty cocktails like a Whiskey Delicious (the opposite of a Whiskey Sour) and a Strawberry Fields martini (full recipes below).

Its downstairs lounge, where small-bites are served, is a beautifully designed space with purple lighting, private booths, white overstuffed chairs, an area for bottle service (of course it's Hollywood after all), and a dedicated lounge bar serving signature drinks. Since it's Rolling Stone after all, you can also expect a variety of music coming from an elevated DJ booth. Some nights there will be performances and music appearances too. Every Sunday the 80s tribute band The Spazmatics play too.

There is also a "hidden" speakeasy downstairs too, called B-Side. It's accessible from the street and through Hollywood & Highland itself and features more of a chill, brick clad space. When I walked in at around 10 p.m. on a Wednesday, a couple of guys were drinking and watching the NBA playoffs. It's also helmed by one of L.A.'s leading mixologists, Tricia Alley, who came to the bar from Eva restaurant. On Wednesday nights they feature guest mixologists. For more on B-Side check out the LA Times Daily Dish post.

Whiskey Delicious
Recipe:
3 Thin Cucumber Slices
Large pinch of mint
2 oz Jameson Irish Whiskey
3/4 oz Lime Juice
3/4 oz Simple Syrup

Method:
Build all ingredients in tin. Press mint and cucumber into ingredients approximately three twists. Fill tin with ice, Shake, double strain into old fashioned glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with thin cucumber slice threaded with a mint sprig.

Strawberry Fields
Recipe:
1.5 oz Absolut Vodka
.5 oz St. Germain
.5 oz Lemon Juice
.75 oz Strawberry Juice
1 Dash Angostura
1 oz Chandon Brut

Method:
Build ingredients minus the champagne in tin. Fill tin with ice, Shake, add Champagne. Strain
into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with rim of glass with half strawberry slice.

Rolling Stone RS/LA
6801 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323.464.4000