A Casual Spelling for a Casual Setting

Is Misspelling Cool?: A small pan-Asian bistro called azia (that’s right: small A, and Z instead of S) just opened in Beverly Hills. The owners are Vicky Mense, who owns Xi’an, the Chinese restaurant on Can~on Drive, and Ron Magnin, son of Jerry Magnin, who used to be a part-owner of Spectrum Foods. They intend azia to be a casual, modern-Asian place, so they’ve hired Sang Yoon, formerly the chef at Michael’s, to design the menu. He won’t be cooking there, however--he’s still busy at his Santa Monica bar, Father’s Office, and Magnin tells us this little place doesn’t need an executive chef. Entrees run to wok-seared Pacific sea bass ($14.95), tamarind-glazed Atlantic salmon ($14.95) and five-spice grilled chicken breast ($10.95). The “small dishes” side of the menu lists Peking duck soft spring rolls ($5.95), rare-seared beef tataki ($6.95) and Hawaiian ahi tartar ($8.95). The restaurant is open for lunch Monday through Saturday and dinner nightly.

* azia, 9601 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; (310) 274-2599.

And Baby Makes Three: Neal Rogers is opening another Cafe Bizou in a few weeks in the Santa Monica building complex known as the Water Garden. The new restaurant is on the ground floor of the newest building there. “We started negotiating that project two years ago,” Rogers tells us. It took 18 months to build the place out with high ceilings, a full lounge and bar area and two dining rooms. It should be open for business by mid-August. What about the food? Rogers says, “There will be a few subtle changes over there, but not too many.” Cafe Bizou will open for dinner nightly and for lunch Monday through Friday.

* Cafe Bizou, 2450 Colorado Blvd., Santa Monica; (310) 582-8203.

Vodka With That Burger?: Voda, a Westside vodka bar, has decided to get serious about its food. The owners have hired Bonnie Rochelle as their new executive chef. She trained at the Regent Beverly Wilshire and also runs a catering company called Cherry Pie. She’s already been ducking into Voda’s kitchen for a while now, but since the appetizer-only menu has become a full one, her title and duties have increased accordingly. It’s still a small, one-page menu--nine entrees and eight starters. That’s because Voda only has room for 10 tables. With more than 90 vodkas on the drink menu, Rochelle’s menu has to go well with hard liquor. Her dishes include cheese fondue for two ($12.50), lettuce cups with Thai chicken ($11), citrus halibut with sesame coleslaw ($14) and a grilled New York steak ($27). Voda is open for dinner from 6 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Saturday.

* Voda, 1449 2nd St., Santa Monica; (310) 394-9774.

Recovering Nicely: Patina reopens after a face lift on Monday. The ceilings have been extended upward, limestone has been placed on the floor, and the kitchen has been expanded to include a stainless-steel chef’s table. Even a new patio has been created.

* Patina, 5955 Melrose Ave., L.A.; (323) 467-1108.

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