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Freshly shucked oysters, lobster rolls, clam chowder and a myriad of seafood options are not what one might think of when thinking of a food court in a shopping mall. Eating in the food court at a shopping mall usually conjures up images of fast food chains offering Chinese food, Mexican food and pizza. But, at the glitzy renovated Westfield Century City Shopping Center, the food court is anything but average and that is where Shuck House is shucking fresh oysters and serving other seafood delights. Shuck House is one of the food options inside the food court. It is not a stand alone restaurant. It is a space where you order at the counter and then can find a seat anywhere in the food court, both inside or outside.
A new steak house in Beverly Hills sounds a bit cliché.  I can think of at least five  within walking distance of each other. But, now there is a new one - Ocean Prime, the first California outpost of a restaurant group, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, out of Columbus, Ohio. Located where the El Torito stood for many years, on the corner of Wilshire and Camden, it is a stunning venue and more importantly it is more than a steakhouse. They also emphasize top-quality fish with a raw bar and full seafood menu. Ocean Prime is a 350-seat restaurant broken into two parts separated by a building entrance. On the right side is the lounge with a full bar that leads out to a huge patio overlooking Wilshire Blvd. On the left side, past the hostess stand is another lounge/bar that feeds into a large dining room, as well as a couple more private rooms. If you sit in the dining room, as we did, you will pass the raw bar as you are taken to your seat. So, that is where we started on the menu.
It’s been more than a year since talk began surrounding Chef Michael Cimarusti (of Providence Restaurant) opening a New England clam shack in LA.  Named after his maternal grandparents, Connie and Ted, Chimarusti takes us to the East Coast where he grew up, offering a menu of simple, delicious, familiar seafood dishes. The restaurant is located where the old Silver Spoon used to be in West Hollywood. As you approach the 140-seat restaurant, the large patio, open floorplan and exposed kitchen are bright and inviting.
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