snack: snackwire.los angeles: bond street sushi opens west

Bond Street sushi opens westside out post! I mean way west, in Beverly Hills in the new Thompson hotel.

Full press release after the jump.

BOND STREET MAKES ITS WEST COAST DEBUT IN BEVERLY HILLS

Jonathan Morr’s Famed Japanese Eatery Offers Angelenos Unparalleled Innovation in Food, Style and Sophistication

On January 11^th 2008, in a highly-anticipated move, restaurateur and hotelier Jonathan Morr, founder of the Jonathan Morr Group, debuted his New York Japanese eatery in Beverly Hills. On January 21^st, Bond Street will be open for lunch. The restaurant has taken up residence at the new Thompson Beverly Hills hotel and is located on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Crescent Drive (9360 Wilshire Blvd, 310-601-2255). Bond Street’s new location will embody Morr’s signature trademarks, fusing Bond Street’s world famous sushi dishes, cutting-edge interiors, and an exclusive clientele to create an ambience of unparalleled food, style and sophistication. Managing Partner, Steven Durbahn, welcomes guests to Jonathan Morr’s Japanese eatery, featuring 130 seats, outdoor dining, a sushi bar and an exclusive second floor Bond Street lounge with private library alcove. Just steps from Rodeo Drive, the restaurant’s ground floor bar and lounge invites patrons with a subdued dining room and lively indoor-outdoor patio seating amidst ivy-covered walls.

The brainchild of Jonathan Morr, a restaurateur and hotelier deeply committed to exploring new directions in sophisticated dining, Bond Street first opened its doors a decade ago in New York to a crowd eager for its new Japanese cuisine within the context of casual comfort and style. Since its inception, Bond Street New York - a sleek, multi-level sushi emporium - quickly became a renowned classic on the downtown restaurant scene and, in 2001, a second outpost followed at Morr’s Townhouse hotel in Miami Beach. Beverly Hills was the next logical step in the national expansion of a brand celebrated for its unassuming qualities.

“We are thrilled to open our new Bond Street property in Los Angeles" said Jonathan Morr. "I have long had the goal of bringing Bond Street to the West Coast; Los Angeles is an extremely dynamic and invigorating city and we look forward to being a part of the energy and creativity here."

Bond Street, located just off the hotel lobby, shares a similar sensibility to its New York City flagship, while embracing a unique West Coast feel. Jonathan Morr Group appointed famed interior designer Dodd Mitchell to create the chic, classical and comfortable setting. The overall design direction was influenced by the "Directional Movement" of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, and is defined by clean lines, translucent and reflective materials and toned down colors. Furnishings by India Mahdavi, custom-hand-made pieces by BDDW, and several lighting fixtures by John Wigmore round out the earth-toned leather and suede-laden space, providing a richness and lived-in comfort that will only improve with age. The mezzanine level bar and lounge is Bond Street’s nightlife venue and is a throwback to the Hollywood pleasure dens of the 1970’s and boasts an eclectic mix of modern and vintage fixtures. The lounge will serve cold and hot appetizers including steamed shrimp shumai and toro tartare in addition to a mix of offerings from Bond Street’s sushi and sashimi bar.

Renowned sushi chef Hiroshi Nakahara has relocated to Los Angeles from his long standing post at Bond Street New York, to serve as the Executive Chef leading a notable team including "Hot Chefs" Cesar Guevarra and Eric Gordon. Hiroshi originally joined forces with Jonathan Morr in 1997 to debut, with the opening of Bond Street New York, an innovative style of sushi and is now bringing his signature dishes, including the arugula crispy potato roll and sundried tomato & avocado roll, to the West Coast.

Bond Street’s new Japanese cuisine is nuanced with European influences and has become renowned for its subtly flavorful inventiveness. The menu boasts innovative sushi dishes and stylish hot entrees including Seared Tuna and Foie Gras with Asian Pear Chutney and exotic sushi varieties such as Amberjack and Japanese Red Snapper. Signature favorites include the creatively sauced Spicy Tuna Roll, Sesame Crusted Shrimp Roll, Hot Eel Dice, and Broiled Chilean Sea Bass. Bond Street distinctive lunch menu will feature Japanese versions of the chopped, Nicoise and Steak Salads in addition to Kobe Beef Burger, Crispy Rice Sandwich and Japanese Omelette. Desserts are also a highlight with Valrhona Chocolate Fondue for two, Banana Milk Chocolate Dim Sum, and a Ricotta Cup with Yamamomo Granite.