Looking East
A Stunner of a Hollywood Dinner Spot

A little to the left. Down a bit. There. Right there.

You've never been afraid to take direction. So allow us—you'll want to head East as soon as you can. The reservation lines are now open.

The first restaurant from David Judaken's Syndicate Group (Mood, MyHouse), East reveals itself slowly. A 10-foot-wide glass fireplace keeps the front lounge visible from the street, its paper walls and Balinese yoga chairs flickering mysteriously behind flame. Past that, a raw bar like a block of ice, where you might enjoy your sashimi with Miso-Mustard Cream or Southwestern Chipotle-Lime Sauce.

And then: a black lacquered chef's table, risen up from the floor by gnarled trunks, rooted at the gateway to the main dining room out back. Under a 65-foot skylight far, far above, you'll want to snag one of the carved-wood confessional-style booths across the rear wall. (Yes, designer Dodd Mitchell was here.) After some ceviche prepared tableside, and some Caviar With Truffle Crème Fraîche if you're really buying all this recession-over talk, the time will come for French-Asian-ish shared plates of Carpaccio and Tartar With Quail Egg and Drunken Sake-Infused Tofu.

Technically, they'll tell you they're not quite open yet—officially, they're mostly in private-party mode, and taking reservations for October 6, the official opening date, and beyond. Unofficially…

You're known to have your ways.