Los Angeles — According to Westfield Corporation, Jonathan Waxman’s NYCA Restaurant Group will be bringing the world renowned chef’s signature cuisine back to Southern California with a restaurant to open in spring 2018.
Waxman first gained fame by pioneering and then popularizing California cuisine together with Alice Waters at Chez Panisse in Berkeley — and then subsequently made his mark at such prestigious kitchens as Michael’s in Santa Monica and Jams in New York City. Today, he is the chef and owner of Manhattan’s illustrious Barbuto restaurant, where his ability to make “sophistication seem simple” earned him the 2016 James Beard Award as Best Chef – New York City.
Waxman and NYCA Restaurant Group have now made the decision to open their very first restaurant in Los Angeles at Westfield Century City. The self-described “neighborhood restaurant” will be located alongside the property’s front façade on Santa Monica Boulevard.
“I have been looking for the right venue for my return to LA,” says Waxman. “The location at Westfield Century City is the perfect spot and has everything — great street access, instantaneous valet parking and some of the best shopping in the world coupled with AMC Theatres and exciting new offerings like Nordstrom, Eataly, Shake Shack and Equinox. I’m greatly looking forward to feeding folks in L.A. again.”
“This is going to change the very nature of the food landscape on the westside of Los Angeles,” says William Hecht, Westfield’s chief operating officer. “Jonathan Waxman is widely credited with bringing California cuisine to the world and — in the process — reinventing the way America eats, cooks and seeks out farm-fresh ingredients. He is a native of California — he first made his mark here — and we’re excited to welcome him back home.”
Westfield Century Center is preparing for its grand opening in fall 2017. The redeveloped center will include more than 200 stores and restaurants including a new Nordstrom, new Macy’s, completely remodeled Bloomingdale’s, and an Equinox fitness club.
In addition to the new restaurant (which has yet to be named), other new dining options at Century City will include the West Coast’s first Eataly, Din Tai Fung, Javier’s Finest Foods of Mexico, Petros Benekos (Petros fine Hellenic cuisine, The Kafe and Kafe Bugatsa), as well as Tender Greens, MidiCi Neapolitan pizza, Wexler’s Deli, Asian Box, Big Fish Little Fish, La Colombe Coffee Roaster, Minamoto Kitchoan, Randy’s Donuts, and Compartes Chocolatier.
NYCA Restaurant Group is a division of Jason Giagrande and Jonathan Waxman’s new hospitality company. Waxman and Giagrande have deep roots in New York and California.
The $1 billion modernization and beautification of Westfield Century City will create an open-air Southern California escape like no other. Opening in stages throughout 2017, this will be a more than 1.3 million-square-foot destination encompassing over 200 shops and restaurants, including a new three-level Nordstrom featuring its latest design concepts, completely remodeled three-level Bloomingdale’s, modern new two-level Macy’s, Equinox fitness club and spa, as well as the West Coast’s first Eataly. For more information, visit www.westfield.com/centurycity.
SOURCE: Westfield Century City