Stealth resto change-o
The restaurant scene in L.A. is fast and furious. Blink, and before you know it, one Japanese-fusion joint turns into...another Japanese-fusion joint.
Tengu Santa Monica is no longer under the auspices of the Choice Hospitality Group which still runs, amongst other locations, the first Tengu in Westwood Village. About a year after it opened in the spot formerly occupied by Ivy at the Shore, the trendier-than-thou restaurant is now being "run by its investors" and is soon to shed its birthname for the more generic "1541 Ocean"—that's also the address which helps, I guess, if any of the waitstaff ever gets lost.
The transition already happened back in "mid-December" with a clear but not so distant departure from Tengu's original menu: It's Japanese/Asian-fusion with gussied-up sushi rolls. And I mean, really gussied up. The new "Canary Diamond" roll packs in lobster, seared toro, uni, caviar, black truffles and gold flakes—for a C-note. *Gulp* There. You just blew $100.
Expect to see new uniforms and a more conscious attention to drawing in a late crowd—the space in back is now dedicated to (say it with me, folks) a "lounge."
—Jiyeon Yoo