Today Anat Escher opens Bugatta in place of her shuttered Melrose nightlife spot, The Bungalow Club. Like most recent restaurant replacements, it carries the suffix “Restaurant and Bar” to keep you from accidentally getting your hair done there or dropping your dog off for the week..or something. Escher, who also runs Silver Lake’s Barbarella, designed the two-story Bugatta by herself in three distinct parts. Let’s take a look.
On the first floor, there’s a Miami-inspired, enclosed outdoor patio space of cloth cabanas under a bright white canopy, while you’ll find a double-edged bar set off by bespoke tables, bamboo and leather booth seating along with a muy macho-looking dining lounge, while VIPs have a moody red lounge up top. Also, a website tells us a “Marocan room [sic]” is due soon.
Barbarella chef Sean Poplar is in the kitchen as the executive toque, in charge of a very eclectic menu of small plates that include four options of bruschetta, sushi and ahi poke, “lamb hummus,” skewers, and crab cakes, along with market salads and entrees of steaks, king salmon with Chardonnay beurre blanc, and a Thai noodle filet mignon. And what’s to drink? We’ll give you one guess.
Since they’ve already resorted to the “X Kitchen & Bar & Townhouse & Distillery & Restaurant & Pub & Lounge” nomenclature we’re tiring of, are all about a switch to tapas, it probably shouldn’t surprise you that they also have a hand-crafted cocktail program and a focus on beers, too. Cocktails tend to be in the eight to ten dollar range, with offerings like an elderflower gimlet, a lavender cosmo, and a jalapeno twist, i.e. tequila muddled with jalapeno, and mixed with ginger syrup, lemon and orange juices, some form of orange liqueur, and a splash of soda. Wine and draft beer also figure prominently, and a happy hour stretches from 4:00-7:00 P.M. Monday to Saturday, with six-dollar wines and four-buck brews. Check out the full menu below.
Bugatta, open today at 7174 Melrose Ave. Hollywood. 323-964- 9494.
MENU
APPETIZER
Ahi Poke $15
Sushi Grade, Mango, Avocado, Jalapenos, Sesame Vinaigrette
Bangkok Hummus $10
Roasted Mushrooms, Teriyaki, Grilled Pita
Lamb Hummus $11
Cherry Tomatoes, Red Onions, Bell Peppers, Mint
Tuna Tar Tar $12
Jalapeños, Scallions, Avocado Mousse
Chicken Eggrolls $9
Fresh Corn, Red Bell Peppers, Onions, Mozzarella
Calamari $11
Spicy Marinara
Crab Cake $11
Avocado, Corn Mango Salsa
Bison Sliders (3) $12
Creamy Blue Cheese, Caramelized Onions
Mac and Cheese $9
add Chicken $5 add Shrimp $7
BRUCHETTAS (3)
Fig Pistachio $9
Red Wine Pomegranate Figs, Pistachio Butter
Fresh Burrata $9
Sundried Tomato Pesto, Balsamic
Granny Apple $9
Honey Goat Cheese, Black Currants, Walnuts
Jumbo Lump Crab $11
Ginger Dressing, Shallots, Walnuts, Avocado
SKEWERS (3)
Lamb $10
Mint Marinade, Roasted Scallions, Red Fresno Pepper Sauce
Fillet Mignon $11
Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Pearl Onions, Red Wine Demi
Vietnamese Shrimp $11
Spicy Marinade, Micro Salad, Cilantro
Chicken $9
Spicy Peanut Sauce
GREENS
Autumn $11
Butter Lettuce, Grilled Corn, Candied Walnuts, Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, Dried Cranberries, Tomatoes, Homemade Small Croutons
Arugula Caprese $11
Tomatoes, Burrata, Basil, Lemon Oil, Balsamic Reduction
Market $10
Balsamic Strawberries, Goat Cheese, Walnuts
SUSHI ROLLS
Tropical $16
Lump Crab, Salmon and Tuna, Fresno Peppers, Mango, Cucumbers
Spicy Salmon $13
Spicy Mayonnaise, Avocado, Carrots
Crunchy Tuna $13
Sashimi Grade, Cucumber, Sake Tempura Crunch and Eel Sauce
Caterpillar $13
Jumbo Shrimp Tempura, Avocado, Spicy Mayonnaise, Cucumber
Spicy Tuna $13
Sashimi Grade, Jalapenos, Cucumber, Daikon Sprouts
MAINS
Thai Noodle $16
Marinated Fillet Mignon or Chicken, Avocado, Mango, Peanuts
King Salmon $16
Roasted Mushroom Risotto, Chardonnay Beurre Blanc
Pan Roasted Chicken Breast $16
Sweet Potato Puree, Sauté Spinach, Caramelized Onions, Arugula Chips
NY Steak $20
Center Cut, Herb Fries, Brussel Chips, Brandy Demi Glaze
Grilled Rib Eye $18
Mashed Potatoes, Onion Crisps, Red Peppercorn Demi
