Downtown Los Angeles’ diverse dining scene continues to flourish with the opening of Le Grand, a modern Mediterranean inspired restaurant with a focus on fresh seafood with a California touch. The restaurant will open its doors for walk ins only on Thursday, April 25th and will begin taking reservations on Wednesday, May 1st. Helmed by chef/brother duo, Alex (Executive Chef) and Chris Manos (Chef De Cuisine), Le Grand embodies a luxe yet relaxed feel and a menu replete with imaginative, ingredient forward dishes, homemade pastas and fresh seafood.
“It has always been our dream to work together in the kitchen and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to cook side-by-side again. Le Grand represents a mix of our heritage, our fine-dining training, our European cooking experience and the fresh California cuisine and produce that we love so much. We hope to shine a light on elevated modern Mediterranean food and contribute to the city’s incredible culinary landscape,” says Chefs Alex and Chris.
Together, Alex and Chris Manos bring over 18 years of exceptional culinary experience to the kitchen at Le Grand. After completing culinary school in their native city of Athens, Greece, both brothers found themselves in Los Angeles, working at some of the top restaurants in the city. Chef Alex worked in the high-powered kitchens of the two-Michelin-starred Melisse and Providence, before collaborating with his brother as the opening Chef De Cuisine at Wally’s Beverly Hills and as Executive Chef at The Huntley Hotel. Chef Chris also shares high caliber cooking experience, having worked at several luxury hotels, the one-Michelin-starred Hytra and two-Michelin-starred restaurant Spondi Fine Dining in Athens, Greece, before moving to Los Angeles to cook at Hollywood’s acclaimed Gwen.
Le Grand’s menu features dishes that showcase the seasons’ best local produce, fresh seafood and high-quality meats. To start, guests can choose from appetizers like the Branzino Ceviche with basil blossom, Greek yogurt and plantain; the Dungeness Crab made with plums, crème fraiche and squid ink aioli, and the Yellowtail Hamachi with ras el hanout, Harry’s Berries and amaranth tabbouleh.
Guests are encouraged to order the signature Housemade Greek Oregano Pita Bread with whipped citrus, nori butter crème fraiche and fleur de sel that pairs perfectly with a variety of a la carte dips such as the Smoked Ricotta with meyer lemon, Buddha hand and fennel pollen, Black Garlic Tzatziki, and the Beetroot Dip made with walnuts, yogurt and wild arugula.
The Chefs’ Mediterranean background shines through in the larger shareable starters like the Feta & Honey made with black sesame, walnuts, lemon verbena and orange blossom, the Shrimp Saganaki with heirloom tomato, ouzo and fennel pollen, and a traditional family recipe for the Spanakopita made with fried spinach, feta and fine herbs.
Fresh seafood continues to steal the show through main courses such as the Maine Lobster Bucatini with saffron bisque, confit tomatoes and opal basil, the Ora King Salmon with parsnips and black trumpet soubise, and Fresh Scallops featuring peas, turnips, fava beans, lemon verbena and kalamansi.
For the meat-lover, large format entrees like the Aspen Ridge Ribeye Cap made with sunchoke, espresso, passionfruit, broccolini and shallots, and the Chef’s Cut with options like Porterhouse, NY Strip and 40-day dry aged Straus Farms Ribeye, are also available.
Finishing on a sweet note, guests can choose between desserts like the Passion Fruit Pavlova with coconut sorbet and blood orange, and the Baklava with pistachio cracker and Greek yogurt.
With admiration for Los Angeles’ rich melting pot of cuisines, Georgian owners Tamazi Gomiashvili and sons George and Tamaz of Porto Maltese Restaurant Group set their sights on Downtown Los Angeles as the location for their first restaurant project in the United States. The family-run restaurant group is behind several revered restaurants in France, Russia and Bulgaria, and brings a touch of classic European hospitality, savvy restaurant knowledge and cross-cultural expertise to Le Grand.
“Our family loves everything about the restaurant industry and our roots run deep in creating genuine hospitality experiences. We love cooking, entertaining and enjoying beautiful food, and Le Grand is a representation of our collective desire to bring people together to have a memorable experience of dining out. We wanted to create a universal atmosphere at Le Grand; for it to become a staple spot for a date night, a night out with friends, business meetings, family get-togethers and everything in between. We look forward to bringing that experience to the DTLA community,” says the Gomiashvili family.
Le Grand is a paradise for the discerning wine lover, with a wall of over 1,000 bottles of wine greeting guests as they enter through the front door. The beverage program, helmed by General Manager and Beverage Director and Certified Sommelier, Thibaud Duccini, will feature an expansive menu of wines with a broad selection from New and Old-World regions, including a balance of classic and unique varietals. Craft cocktails will also be available for guests looking to imbibe and to add to the overall experience at Le Grand. Cocktails include refreshing upgrades on classics such as the Little Devil made with mezcal, lime, cherry liquor, agave and smoked salt; the Fruity Mule made with mixed berries, ginger beer lime and vodka, the tart and refreshing Gin & Roses made with grapefruit, elderflower liquor, agave, tonic and gin, and the B.B.C, an upgraded take on the Aviation made with crisp basil, lemon juice, maraschino cherry and violet liquor.
Designed by Yuna Megre of the award-winning hospitality design company, Megre Interiors, the ambience at Le Grand features a relaxed feel through lush greenery, creating the indoor-outdoor combination that Angelenos have come to crave. The 3,906 square foot space incorporates a mix of bar, dining room and patio seating options, as well as a room for private events. Rich and textured wood paneling covers the walls alongside hexagonal tiled accents, plush booths and mid-century modern seating that allow for a comfortable dining experience. At Le Grand, experience is everything. From the food to the ambiance, Le Grand will embody a welcoming atmosphere for friends, business colleagues and families to congregate and share a meal.
