Nearly four years after the first warning bells of the pandemic sounded, the restaurant industry in WeHo returned with a vengeance, laying claim to its pre-COVID glory while evolving a new sense of purpose in our ever-changing world.
Take La Boheme, for example — our pick for Restaurant of the Year.
In 2023, La Boheme became so much more than WeHo’s favorite place to take a Valentine’s date.
Weeks after being named one of America’s most romantic restaurants, La Boheme witnessed a harrowing armed robbery that would forever change the trajectory of public safety in West Hollywood. The incident so angered owner Lucien Tudor that he made it his mission to shake some sense into City Council — be it through biting diatribes or highly effective public protests — to get them to abort their ill-advised defunding of the Sheriff’s Department.
A Romanian emigre with little love for communism, Tudor banged the drum of American exceptionalism relentlessly, singing the praises of capitalist values while excoriating the Council for letting trendy socialist fads influence public policy. Tudor’s swashbuckling style and media savvy kept La Boheme and its struggles constantly in the news — and the uncomfortable heat of the spotlight eventually forced Council to reconsider their folly. Tudor won hearts and minds, galvanizing many people who said they loved WeHo to get up off their asses and actually fight for it. Cheers to that.
West Hollywood said a heartbreaking goodbye to many of its favorite haunts in 2023. Marco’s, Kitchen 24, Big Mama’s and Papa’s, Justin Queso’s, Yogurt Stop, Conservatory, D’Pizza and Lemonade all left us stunned by their departures, but it was PUMP’s farewell that most shocked the city. Others like Wrapstar, Uncool Burger and Kings & Queen Cantina were gone before many WeHoans even noticed they existed.
Several of the city’s most iconic establishments — The Abbey/The Chapel, Revolver, Micky’s — will have new owners next year.
A new generation of restaurants blossomed in West Hollywood over the past year, including some from the upper echelon of fine dining like Ladyhawk and Charcoal Sunset, while others came into prominence kinda from left field, like Doughbrik’s Pizza and Barney’s Beanery, which rode a wave of new interest from Gen Z to becoming one of the hippest establishments in all of L.A. Also making waves were Arden, Casa Madera, Bar Next Door, Holy Water, Everytable, PleasureMed’s Irie, Lalou, the Wild, Netflix Bites and Amour.
Asian continued to be arguably WeHo’s most popular cuisine. The long-awaited sushi star of Texas — Uchi — finally made its debut in 2023, alongside hotspots like Bora Sushi and Didi.
And though they haven’t started cooking yet, we very much can’t wait to see if places like Roosterfish, Somni 2, Stella, Mamie, the Tesla drive-in and of course Something About Her live up to their already substantial notoriety when (or if) they open next year.
We certainly forgot some places that deserved mention. Tell us which ones in a comment below.
NEW RESTAURANTS ♨ Long-awaited Something About Her aims to open Jan. 15
Flower Powerhouse: Arden plans full restaurant alongside new cafe
King and Queen Cantina brings Latin edge to bougie WeHo corner
I’m still holding out hope for a Marix and Basix return.
Restaurant of the year is a just a little over the top but Lucien stands out as being an effective capitalist who is stridently against workers earning a fairer wage.
This war on workers is ridiculous.
The LAT did a lengthy article on 65 restaurants “lost” this year.
Nothing new with another restaurant closure – not the City Council’s fault.
Otherwise, great coverage.
is about sustainability, and keep peoples jobs. Tip employees make way above minimum wage… restaurants are paying CC fees on tips and servers make more money then businesses. The war is about corruption… Local Here 11, controller of our council and we pay the price.
La Boheme decided to stay open even if they did have a great offer to sell!
Fighting the corrupted politicians, drafting policies in favor of them electoral debs and ambitions.
The expensive price is paid by the voters of this city. West Hollywood have the most expensive prices and people are loosing jobs due a 23% increase in payroll for tip employees ($200-$300/day).
This leadership is probably the worst we ever had, voting for keeping the bankrupt BIRD on our streets and breaking businesses with high minimum wages dictated by Local Here 11.
Happy new election Everyone!
Nobody in the food service business should be worried about being jobless in Weho. If the restaurant a person works at closes, which I think more than 50% do in their first year, there are plenty of openings at all the new spots that just opened or are opening very soon. The restaurant scene in Weho has never been more vibrant than it is now.
That being said, Sepi and John need to be voted out for reasons other than supporting fair pay.
Cafe La Boheme restaurant of the year?? Really? We welcomed a Michelin star chef with Charcoal Sunset, a great Rat Pack style restaurant in Drakes, a killer new seafood place in Saltie Girl, along with stalwarts like Connie and a Ted’s and Merois by Wolfgang Puck just to name a few but tired parking lot dining La Boheme gets restaurant of the year. Makes no sense if you know the business.
La Boheme is actually very tacky with mediocre food. They got picked by this blog because their political views align. That’s all!
a business which is here from 32 years a go and cares about what’s happening in our city…
Isn’t La Boheme up for sale as well? This article seems to miss the point that the heavy amount of closures would represent, and declare a win in a business/cost environment that is pretty hostile it would seem. There is new money looking to take the old leases, but for how long? As the author stated, does anyone find out before they too close?
Given the National Restaurant Association states 60% of restaurants fail in their first year and 80% in their first 5 years, the closures in weho are no different this year or any year really. Bottom-line is, the restaurant business is especially hard anywhere anytime.
Striking comment from Lucien. Following his strong but responsible concerns expressed at the CC, no response, not even a single email.
It takes so little effort to acknowledge someone’s concerns and the desire to alleviate them. That goes for the City both Councilmembers, Senior and Regular staff. Other than patently rude and unprofessional, this is one of the small things when exponentially considered fractures organizations, governments, businesses and relationships. It simply says I don’t care. If we take those opportunities begin a dialogue to repair the structure we all benefit.
How about a New Year’s Resolution!😊
Let’s not forget to mention that the prices to eat in these restaurants has increased by about 50% in the past few years–a major factor is the extremely unfair minimum wage passed by our Marxist city council members.
NO the high prices at restaurants, high food prices and, inflation in general are NOT due to the higher minimum wage but, record corporate profits and business price gouging during the COVID-19 Pandemic that business crooks were able to get away with. Many of these businesses also got PPP loans that were entirely forgiven at a far greater expense to the tax payer than forgiving any & all College Loans❗
Cy, if an employee can serve say…4-5 tables in an hour.. and they get $20 per hour..cost to employer w benefits and taxes and workmans compensation is $30. That means it cost a restaurant about $7 or $8 to serve the table. Thats just the server, not the rent, not the cook, not the food. It has to reflect in the price. Take a place that cant pack 4-5 tables on the hour, every single hour and the actual cost to serve the table can be $10 or more. These costs are reflected in the price. And unless the government… Read more »
YES I understand you do have some very legitimate survival concerns but, worker needs are NOT the enemy here. The workers need to make enough to afford the products businesses sell and, higher wages on workers is one of the best economic stimuluses known. I fully support government controls 👏🏽 like antitrust laws against corporate price gouging (including real estate moguls) that are hurting many WeHo small businesses, costumers and, workers.
Unfair minimum wage? What city or state do you live in. At the new minimum of 19.08 an hour that equates to a whopping $763 dollars a week before any withholding. You think that is unfair? Think about the life your server or busser lives making that amount next time you enjoy your martini. Jeez.
That is more than I made a month when I first got out of college. I was working for an insurance company in a clerical position full time. I believe it was $625 a month at first. The year was 1976. And I was living with my folks in West Hollywood West at the time. I got my own place in ’78 in East WeHo.
LTR- When inflation is factored, $625 a month in 1976 equals just $148.00 in 2023. You were doing very well in 1976, and I am surprised you had to live with your parents.