Fast-Acting Fivesome Buys Brentwood Inn

The Brentwood Five: The Brentwood Inn, a neighborhood watering hole at 148 S. Barrington in Brentwood, has been bought by Bruce Marder (Capo, Rebecca’s, Broadway Deli), Steve Wallace (Capo, Wally’s Wine Shop), Marvin Zeidler (Capo, Broadway Deli), Michael Gans (Rebecca’s), and restaurant consultant Richard Drapkin.

Drapkin noticed it was for sale one day and talked it over with Marder. Unable to resist the liquor and entertainment licenses up for grabs, the two made an offer. “This happened awful fast,” Marder says. The target opening date is Oct. 18. When asked what the place looked like, Marder offered just this: “It’s dark.” Black booths, a black carpet and soft lighting contribute to that effect. The food will be manly: steaks, lamb shoulder, veal stew, London broil, oysters and the old West Beach 10-ounce hamburger. A late-night bar menu served from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. features pizzas. Marder will bake his own breads and feature homey desserts like fruit cobblers, ginger creme bru^lee and chocolate French toast. The five partners have decided to call their place Brentwood. It will be open for dinner nightly.

Take Two: Jimmy’s II, the sequel to the successful (21 years in operation) Jimmy’s restaurant (which closed in September 1998) in Beverly Hills, is now open. Neal Fraser and his co-executive chef, Chris Goosse, are in the kitchen sending out New American fare, while Darcy Tizio handles the desserts. Jimmy’s II serves dinner every night except Sunday, and it will begin serving lunch on weekdays as of Oct. 15. As for how the remodeling job went, Sean Murphy who manages the place with his brother Jamie and sister Geraldine, told us, “We’re very happy about the look.”

* Jimmy’s II, 201 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills; (310) 552-2394.

From Glaxa to Cirxa: Richard Kaye, the force behind Glaxa Studios theater and the adjoining Cafe Glaxa in Silver Lake, has leased a real honest-to-goodness restaurant space just up the street from Glaxa. His only previous restaurant experience is Cafe Glaxa, which began life as a coffee and muffin joint. In May, it expanded its menu to include light lunch and supper items.

But now, since Kaye took over the Sunset Boulevard space that once housed a catering company, he’s scaling back the cafe in order to open Cirxa. As chefs for the new restaurant, he’s brought in Leslie Bradley and Steven Maxey (he’s formerly of Cha Cha Cha Encino) to cook Creole cuisine. Bradley, a graduate of L.A. Trade Tech, won a scholarship back in 1997 through Miller Brewing Co.’s “Tools for Success” program. She’ll put her skills to work Friday when Cirxa officially opens. She and Maxey will be dishing up dinner fare such as succotash etouffee (okra, tomatoes, sausage and shrimp in a thick tomato sauce), chicken and seafood gumbo, fried catfish, blackened fish of the day, pepper steak and pan-fried pecan chicken with mango sauce. Cirxa will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 6 p.m., and will stay open until 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday nights. Those patrons who attend a theater show at Glaxa Studios (8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday nights) and then stroll down the street to eat will get a discount on dinner.

* Cirxa, 3719 Sunset Blvd., L.A.; (323) 663-1053.

Chew On This: In the latest Gayot Guide “Los Angeles Restaurants” to hit the stores, editor Alain Gayot and his team of 24 additional editors and reviewers gave top honors to L’Orangerie in West Hollywood, which garnered 18 out of a possible 20 points. Next, with 17 out of 20 points, came Aubergine in Newport Beach, Patina in L.A., Spago Beverly Hills, and Valentino in Santa Monica. . . . Instead of leaping into a lunch commitment, Hugo Veltman, the chef and owner of Solstice at 7313 Beverly Blvd. in L.A. has decided to open for brunch on Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (He currently serves dinner Tuesday through Sunday nights.) On the menu: buckwheat pancakes, French toast, a crayfish omelet and eggs Benedict--all under $10. Call (323) 525-0405 for reservations. . . . Toto Caffe Spaghetteria has reopened its doors at 11047 Santa Monica Blvd. in West L.A. after its remodel. To give inside diners that faux outdoor feel, the ceiling was raised and painted sky-blue with clouds. The owners added murals and tile floors, and soon the new fountain should be working too. Also, diners will be able to watch the pizza cooks toss the dough in the open kitchen. And a new indoor cappuccino bar offers coffee and pastries to those with just a quick snack in mind. Call (310) 312-6664.

Beard Encore: Shigefumi Tachibe, the chef at Chaya Brasserie in West Hollywood, had the honor of cooking dinner at the James Beard House in New York last month. Because he’s a generous guy, he’s sharing that menu with his patrons here in L.A. for the month of October. The five-course dinner will only be served for tables of four or more, and must be ordered 24 hours in advance. A roasted venison with purple sweet potato puree follows a sauteed langoustine and sea bass stuffed with uni and spinach, $80 per person for food only.

* Chaya Brasserie, 8741 Alden Drive, L.A.; (310) 859-8833.

Calabria Stars at Alto Palato: Next Thursday a couple of Michelin-star-draped chefs will be cooking dinner at Alto Palato in West Hollywood. Gaetano Alia and his brother Pinuccio from La Locanda di Alia in Calabria will be showing L.A. their brand of new Italian regional cuisine, which combines historical recipes and flavors with updated techniques. Dishes on the six-course menu include a fried potato torte with cheese fondue, panzerotti pasta stuffed with ricotta and tossed in an anise sauce, and pork tenderloin in a honey and orange-blossom sauce. The price is $60 per person. Reservations are required.

* Alto Palato, 755 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood; (310) 657-9271.

*

Angela Pettera can be reached by voicemail at (213) 237-3153 or by e-mail at pettera@prodigy.net.