Chasen’s in Beverly Hills Closes Its Doors

R.I.P.: Chasen’s at 246 N. Canon Drive in Beverly Hills closed Monday, putting an end to the new era of the long-standing restaurant. The original Chasen’s restaurant, at 9309 Beverly Blvd. in West Hollywood, served hobo steaks and creamed spinach to Hollywood royalty from 1936 to 1995. After it closed, Grady Sanders bought the restaurant’s name from the Chasen family and opened a new Chasen’s in Beverly Hills in 1997 with the private Jockey Club situated above the dining room. In August, Sanders sold Chasen’s to an Internet company called iLive Inc. Apparently the Internet company wasn’t thrilled with the restaurant’s profits. Sanders said of the closing, “It was kind of a sad day for me.” The space on Canon Drive will remain available for private parties and film shoots, following in the footsteps that the original Chasen’s took until its closure in October 1999 to make way for a supermarket.

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And Tarzana Makes Two: Paul Lloyd, owner of Paul’s Cafe in Sherman Oaks, has decided to open another one. The new Paul’s Cafe is in Tarzana and seats 180. Of his original location, Lloyd told us, “It’s too small.” In Tarzana, Lloyd has other amenities he couldn’t get in Sherman Oaks--a patio, a private dining room and a full bar. He’ll keep the same low-priced French-food concept in the new Paul’s, with the $1 soup and salad options and $2 corkage fee. “What I’m trying to do is stop people driving down the boulevard.” He means farther east on Ventura Boulevard to Cafe Bizou and Joe’s in Sherman Oaks; many of his current customers live in Encino and Tarzana. His chef will be Olivier Bouillet, a Frenchman who most recently wore the toque at Atlantic on Beverly Boulevard. He’s also been the chef of Le Petit Four in West Hollywood and the sous chef at Pinot Hollywood and L’Orangerie. Paul’s Cafe should be open in Tarzana for dinner nightly by the first week in May.

* Paul’s Cafe, 18588 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana; (818) 343-8588.

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To Chew On: One (that’s the restaurant named One) is open for lunch again. It had been lunchable from early May through mid-October, then stopped for the winter; now it’s started again. Lunch is available 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you love a deal, ask for the “lunch of the day” deal. It’s a choice of soup or salad, a pasta and a dessert, $12 plus tax and tip. One is at 672 S. La Brea Ave., L.A.; (323) 692-0540. . . . It’s Zagat time again. To lend your contributions (and get a free copy of the restaurant survey book), send a stamped, self-addressed, business-sized envelope to Zagat Survey, 12618 Homewood Way, L.A., CA 90049. Fill it out (don’t forget those zesty comments) and return by May 15 to receive the 2001 edition when it’s published.

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Easter Eats: Here are a few Easter dinner options:

You may know that Hotel Nikko in Beverly Hills was sold to a European hotel chain earlier this year, resulting in a name change to Le Meridien. Soon the hotel and restaurants (including Pangaea) will be remodeled to reflect a European rather than Japanese sensibility. In the meantime, you can have Easter dinner in Pangaea Sunday from 6 to 10 p.m. The three-course menu consists of pan-seared foie gras over lentils, rack of lamb and a dessert involving hazelnuts and berries. The price is $36 plus tax and tip.

* Pangaea, in Le Meridien at Beverly Hills, 465 S. La Cienega Blvd., L.A.; (310) 246-2100.

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Granita is serving Easter brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Some of the a la carte entrees include a Maine Peeky-toe crab omelet with mascarpone and a lobster club sandwich with applewood-smoked bacon on grilled walnut bread. Prices range from $12 to $19.

* Granita, in the Malibu Colony Plaza, 23725 W. Malibu Road, Malibu; (310) 456-0488.

Kids can dine with Alice in Wonderland and her friends in the Grand Ballroom of the Disneyland Hotel 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Easter Sunday. A buffet will include prime rib, leg of lamb, smoked ham, salmon, salads, fruits, breads and desserts. Children 11 and under $13.50; adults $46.

* Disneyland Hotel, 1150 W. Cerritos Ave., Anaheim; (714) 956-6413.

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Angela Pettera can be reached at (213) 237-3153 or at pettera@prodigy.net.