Restaurateur George Abou-Daoud (Bowery, Delancey, Mercantile, Mission Cantina, Tamarind Deli) has already covered a lot of restaurant genres with his string of Hollywood bars and eateries, and this week he's ready to debut his next project. District opens Wednesday next to Mercantile on Sunset Blvd. and Seward, and is according to Abou-Daoud, “probably the most foodie of my places.” With Kris Morningstar (Casa, Blue Velvet) running the kitchen and menu, this is Abou-Daoud's chance to put market fresh and seasonal ingredients front and center.

The menu features duck fat Yorkshire pudding; housemade rolls with truffle or garlic chive butter; pork belly with apricot mostarda, farro verde and green garlic; a sea urchin gratin; and guinea hen with baby carrots, pearl onions, chanterelles and honey. Wine director Matthew Williamson recently departed the Langham Hotel to oversee District's list of “accessibly priced” bottles (mostly $40-60 range) “that people normally don't see within typical wine programs.” Plus selections “will continue to change as the menu changes,” explains Abou-Daoud. The cocktail list will contain 10-12 drinks, combining classic and fresh market-oriented creations. As for the interior space, which he designed and built as with all his venues, “it looks like an old east coast restaurant in old New York, DC or Boston. People have said it reminds them of Berlin, Paris, and that there's nothing that looks like it in L.A. It's industrial but so warm. You won't feel like you're in Los Angeles, or even in Hollywood.”

District, 6600 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, (323) 962-8200.

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