La Dolce Vita’s face-lift, new chef de cuisine at Comme Ca, Philippe to reopen

La Dolce Vita Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills has reopened after a short period with a new look and a new chef. Matthew Underwood has taken over the kitchen and he’s serving up a menu of updated classics, including his take on the Milanese di Vitello, Spaghetti with veal meatballs and the Steak Sinatra. Underwood has also put his spin on a Tagliatelle, Aragosta Garganelli and Shrimp Fra Diavlo. All pastas are now made fresh in house. The interior and the bar program also experienced a makeover. There is a new bar space, a refurbished dining room and new seasonal cocktails including the Perino, made with Patron Reposado, Amaretto Disaronno, lime juice, lemon juice and orange curacao and the LDV Old Fashioned with Makers Mark, muddled blackberries, blood orange bitters and Angostura bitters. 9785 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 278-1845, www.ladolcevitabeverlyhills.com.

Comme Ca chef David Myers has welcomed Attila Bollok, a new chef de cuisine into his kitchen. The two chefs have collaborated on a new menu that is meant to bring together seasonal California ingredients with the French bistronomy/gastro-bistro movement. Menu items include a blue crab toast with harissa aioli and grapefruit, a farm salad with roasted carrots, avocado, sunflower seeds, crème fraiche, red wine vinaigrette, tomato pesto salad with warm brie and toasted bread, roasted lobster with sweet corn, bacon and spinach and a rack of lamb with eggplant gratin, Provençal roasted tomato and pistou. The restaurant’s cocktail program is launching some new cocktails with a Gypsy Queen, made with basil, lime and gin; the Disappearing Act, with lavender gin, lemon and cherry vermouth; and more. 8479 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, (323) 782-1104, www.commecarestaurant.com.

Philippe, the upscale Chinese restaurant on Melrose by Philippe Chow, will reopen this month at the previous Maison Maurice location in Beverly Hills. The restaurant will be under new management but still feature some of the original, signature menu items such as the Peking duck and pan crispy salmon. 8620 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, philippechow.com.

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