This is the first restaurant called Rolling Stone, and it has now been open about 1 ½ years at the Hollywood/Highland Center right on Hollywood Blvd. Four others are in the planning stage, and executive chef Chris Ennis has the somewhat difficult job of crafting a menu that not only caters to the rock and roll Hollywood crowd, but to the hundreds of tourists who will pop in there maybe just one time. He also has to create dishes that define his identity to a degree, after years of working as number two or three in a kitchen hierarchy in a bunch of high profile restaurants including Asia de Cuba.

I think he has got the balance right judging on a visit this past Sunday, although unfortunately he was too busy to pop out and chat, decidedly letting his food do the talking. The things I liked about the restaurant included all the Rolling Stone covers on the wall, the huge mural of The Who in the lounge, and the sheer enthusiasm of management and the staff who seemed to be all up for the experience. The restaurant is very spacious, acoustics are very good and the music is not overbearing with songs we have all heard before, and at the Sunday Brunch they even have a live band playing “Brunch with the Beatles.”

Let’s go straight to some of the dishes you might want to try that stood out for this writer, Because the menu is quite complex and can pull you in several directions. For a snack try the Sticky banana bacon gooey buns ($8) that will get you started, and taste as good as they sound with smoked pecans. This, like most of the others mentioned are shareable. Good old Deviled eggs ($8) with house made pickles also hit the spot.

Another enjoyable treat was the Madonna Organic Egg Omelet ($14) with tofu, spinach, pinenuts, feta and marinated heirloom tomato. No substitutions are allowed, however it comes with the side extras of fruit salad and roasted rosemary red bliss potatoes. Butternut Squash Tortellini ($14) comes with balsamic apple brown butter and delicious toasted pumpkin seeds, and I also tried the best selling Reuben sandwich with layers of corned beef on pumpernickel bread ($11).

So there you have it, and although we did not mention the Flatbread Pizzas, House Burger or any of the main courses like salmon and shrimp if you are really hungry, Rolling Stone is doing a commendable job in the food department without being too pretentious or expensive.

Rolling Stone
6801 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood/Highland Complex
Validated Parking $2
www.rollingstonela.com
(323) 464-4000

Brunch: Sunday 10 am-3 pm
Open Daily for lunch, dinner and late-night happy hour 11 pm-midnight.