Sunset Strip steakhouse Rare by Drai’s, which opened in December, has closed.
The outgoing voice mail message confirms the closure of the restaurant, which was located at 8720 Sunset Blvd. at Hancock.
“Rare by Drais has closed,” it says. “We sincerely appreciate your patronage, and we wish you the best.”
West Hollywood has seen a spate of closures in the dining scene recently, with TPJ (The Pizza Joint), Plops and Glazed Donut Bistro all going out of business.
Rare was touted as a new “modern, sexy steakhouse.” It was opened by nightlife impresario Victor Drai in partnership with ESquared Hospitality.
There was a bartender that worked there that was amazing. He would make drinks based on your taste. If anyone knows where he ended up would love to find out. He made the best drinks!
This is something NORTHERN CALIFORNIA would NEVER experience..esp the affluent, stylish, party life the east bay cities of Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Pleasanton, Dublin and Danville ever seen or ever will see-the WEALTHIEST PPL in AMERICA! Without the LA attitude!
Personally, I think that West Hollywood already has a number of highly regarded, well-established restaurants and it is highly likely that many of these new developments (that some of you love to bash) will bring even more amazing new restaurants to the table.
It is sad that these three didn’t make it, but that is the nature of the restaurant business.
I like how cynical everyone is. Anybody consider the fact that West Hollywood has The Palm, Dan Tana’s, Craigs, Boa, Capital Grille and STK, and is mere blocks from Cut, Fleming’s, Mastros, Ruth’s Chris and Wolfgang’s? Do you really think it’s due to the “WEHO five” that a steakhouse has closed? Get one or two clues.
The main reason is that the entertainment companies are cutting way back on higher end employees, which effects both their ability to go to expensive restaurants on their own as well as expense account meals. The blame WeHo first crowd needs to realize that this is a big part of the reason.
Established restaurants at Sunset Plaza seem to be doing fine, traffic or no traffic.
Hello. We are in a depression. Besides, who wants to even head up to Sunset Blvd. And WEHO is turning into a nightmare because of greedy all white male developers (ICM building and 8150 Sunset for example) along with the most corrupt collection of elected officials in the USA – the WEHO five!
Too many expensive restaurants in LA and not enough demand. There are a lot of rich people here but not enough to justify so many $100-150 a head places.
Weho/LA has become too expensive. We sink all our money into overpriced rental units and property that is well above our means and the avgerage income of the Los Angeleno. So yes…going out to eat will be the first thing dropped off the list…especially when you have to factor an extra $20 into that for parking or valet.
So sad. Dropping like flies, one by one . . .
With all of the construction traffic that the Sunset La Cienega project is going to create over the next few years, I would bet that this space stays empty for a while.
Unfortunately, closed restaurants are making more news than newly opened restaurants in WeHo. If you read the top new restaurants lists in Zagat and Eater, there are no WeHo listings. The last opening to generate buzz in the foodie world was six months ago when Gracias Madre opened. Prior to that, it was Connie &Ted’s back in June 2013. LA is finally exploding in the food world and too bad WeHo is not part of the excitement.
All the construction and traffic is making WeHo an undesirable place to dine out leisurely.