Maple Drive Gets Wake-Up Call

I wonder what the neighbors are thinking? Beverly Hills’ newest restaurant is not on bustling Bedford, it is not adding to the romance of Rodeo nor to the commercialism of Canon. It is, in fact, tucked away on sleepy Maple Drive, where people looking out of their bedroom windows can watch the Rollses rolling in.

Maple Drive the restaurant, 345 N. Maple Drive; (213) 274-9800, is anything but sleepy. This is partly because it is another production of Tony Bill, Dudley Moore, Julie Stone and Leonard Schwartz, the quartet who brought us the wildly popular 72 Market Street in Venice. Between them, they probably have enough friends to keep the place packed for weeks.

It is partly because it is such a big, beautiful restaurant that once you’ve seen it you instantly want to eat there. And it is partly because, while Schwartz has not included his signature meat loaf, his menu is such an appealing mix of dishes of the moment that you want to eat your way right through it. Best dishes I tried? Tuna and yellowtail tartare on grilled shiitake mushrooms, Caesar salad and chicken from the rotisserie.

At the moment, the restaurant is open only for dinner, but it will soon open for breakfast and lunch as well. Get ready Maple Drive--things will never be the same.