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West LA can add another restaurant to its long list of Japanese restaurants that line Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica Blvd, Olympic Blvd and Sawtelle Blvd. Originally in Valencia, Maru opened in the former home of Sasabune in 2013, only to close its doors for two years. Now the doors of Maru are officially open again. Located in the base of an office building with large windows that look out on Wilshire Blvd, there are two bars - a cocktail bar and a sushi bar, as well as a communal table and individual tables. The restaurant is spacious but the juniper wood tables add a sense of warmth to the space. Maru Sushi Bar Maru is owned by Chef Jason Park, a classically French trained chef. This is what sets Maru apart from the other Japanese restaurants in the area. The menu, which is seasonally inspired and market-driven, is French-Japanese. From sushi to steak, the menu has a range that will satisfy many.
Although Harlowe Bar in West Hollywood opened in May 2014, now at the end of 2015 it is like a new bar. While the bar looks like a turn-of-the-century brasserie, the team running it is relatively new and in time for the winter season they have created a menu that represents the season, showcasing classic and original cocktails, fountain cocktails from an 1890s Iowa soda fountain and adult floats made with house-crafted sodas and ice creams. Harlowe Bar is a neighborhood joint. With a lunch counter, turn of the century soda fountain and medicine cabinet, it is "old school California fused with European cafe", as described by General Manager Billy Bob Thompson. Bar Manager Wes Gerald joined Harlowe only one month ago. But, after working at Little Fork under Brian Butler, he has a respect for the classics and understands how ingredients work together. His goal for the new cocktail list is to "create a list for people who just want a drink." Wes continued that "it's not about heavy drinks. A drink should be drinkable. Drinks should be fun." Bar Manager Wes Gerald and General Manager Billy Bob Thompson The cocktail list is rather robust with five sections and between two to five selections within each one.
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