Plans for Provencia Show Ma Maison in Its Genes

Seven years ago Patrick Terrail closed his Hollywood Diner on Fairfax, the Franco-American bistro he opened after the demise of Ma Maison, his original establishment. Terrail, who still owned the Diner’s building, then leased the space to Silvio De Mori and turned his energy to re-creating Ma Maison at the new Sofitel Hotel on the corner of Beverly and La Cienega.

De Mori ran the former Hollywood Diner as Tutto Bene until filing for Chapter 7 (liquidation) bankruptcy last year. Then everything in the building was placed under the control of a court-appointed trustee. “I couldn’t do anything for seven months,” says Terrail, “not even show the place. I’m not going to tell you how much money it cost me.”

Now a new restaurant is ready to move in: Jon Safier, who worked with Terrail at the Hollywood Diner and the Ma Maisons, has leased the space and after minor redecorating, plans to open mid-September as Provencia. The moderately priced menu will feature lots of grill and rotisserie items (“But with a French twist,” Safier says). Steven Hermann, who cooked at Campanile on La Brea, is in charge of the kitchen.

Jonathan Weiss, who also worked for Terrail at the original Ma Maison, has been recruited to put together the wine list, which will feature 20 different wines from around the globe, all priced at $16. “There are lots of great bottles at great values out there,” says Safier. “They’ve just been overpriced for too long.”

One other Ma Maison alumni is also back on the scene: Terrail, who now works for Hiram Walker, will be consulting. “He won’t be there every day to shake everyone’s hand at the door,” says Safier, “but he’ll definitely be around . . . if not physically, at least spiritually.”

“I want to ensure that the property survives,” says gruff-voiced Terrail. “That property is my retirement pension.”

Closure: Joe Patti has closed La Famiglia and Piccola, its take-out offspring next door on Canon Drive in Beverly Hills. Patti, who could not be reached for comment, was one of the first restaurateurs to introduce Northern Italian cuisine back in the ‘70s when most Italian restaurants were still big on hanging dusty grapes and empty Chianti bottles. The 20-year-old hangout was always filled with tanned celebs, including crooner Dean Martin, sitting at the same booth, digging into his gnocchi.

Escrow Limbo: Is Yujean Kang ever going to open his West Hollywood restaurant? It depends on who you talk to. Despite announcing 10 months ago that he had purchased the now-shuttered La Toque site for his second restaurant, Kang has yet to close escrow. And “For Sale” signs are still posted on the Sunset Strip property. Yet the Pasadena restaurateur insists he is still in the process of buying La Toque.

Chef Ken Frank, who owns the property, says he hasn’t heard from Kang or his real estate broker for quite some time. “I really don’t have any reason to believe (the deal) will go through,” he told Calendar. “Let me know if you hear something so I can tell my broker.”

Deals on Meals: Eat at the Beverly Hills boutique Emporio Armani weekdays between 3 and 6 p.m. and you’ll receive a 30% discount on the entire menu. “‘It’s sort of like a happy hour,” says a manager. “We don’t tell you, we just take it off the bill.” Too bad they won’t do the same when you buy one of the Italian designer’s classic suits. “I’ll have the carpaccio and that cappuccino crepe suit, Size 10, per favore. “