Sirena is likely to be a hot new spot in Hollywood on Beverly Blvd following last months opening after a long wait of at least 13 months for the owners. Architectural and investor issues delayed the debut, but the Coastal Italian restaurant with a strong California connection deserves to be around for a while judging from my visit this week.

However the wait for all concerned will be worth it, because it is a beautiful spot with brick walls, wonderful lighting, and a restaurant more or less in two parts with a patio area in the back.

Unfortunately describing interior design has never been one of my strongest suites, but in the case of Sirena not only is the ambiance a winner, but the acoustics are also terrific. The bar is also a very lively area and is certain to become one of the hot spots in town judging by the kind of cougars and vixens prowling the scene on my visit. Celebrities have already been spotted with Cuba Gooding Jr one of the first to make an appearance, and it helps that one of the owners Michael Sutton is very well connected with the Hollywood scene.

Sirena is top heavy with experienced owners and staff starting with the executive chef Sandy Gendel, a Los Angeles native who happens to be a Master Chef of Italian Cuisine, an honor bestowed by Academia Barilla in Italy. Gendel’s resume is impressive reading, and most recently he had Pace Restaurant in Laurel Canyon.

Sirena also have a part time sommelier in Jeff Morgenthal, an avid Eurofile who is passionate about Italian wine, especially from the North. He has had stints at Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel and Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas, and it appears that Sirena are lucky to have him aboard. He certainly picked out a top notch Prosecco for my visit, a perfect match for the Yellowtail Crudo served with crispy fingerlings.

Here are just a few menu items that are likely to be staples of the restaurant that should be tried. Oysters on the half shell ($18) are served on a bed of chilled salt, and with six different oysters an excellent starter. There are seven different pizza’s, and the Potato version ($16) with roasted pork belly and caramelized onions was certainly a different experience and a completely different texture for this writer.

Dungeness Crab ($20) is served with a Jerusalem Artichoke, preserved black bean, ginger and green garlic, and the Mesquite Grilled Octopus ($16) is served with a Baby Kale salad in a citrus vinaigrette and shaved salad.

I really liked the Branzino Whole Bass Fish ($35) that is cooked in the wood oven and served without the skin. I wonder how many days before being eaten in Hollywood this delectable fish had been swimming happily in the Mediterranean.

Highlight of the meal however had to be the Seared Nantucket Bay Scallops ($22) in a roasted butternut squash agnolotti with white wine and thyme. As you can see, Sirena is a serious attempt at a high quality establishment that should be a staple of the scene for quite some time if they keep up these standards.

Sirena
8265 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 852-7000
Valet Parking in rear $6
Dress-Smart and dress to impress
Dinner for two w/wine   $150 average