Jessica RitzTalk of a Hollywood Whole Foods that had people buzzing a few years back eventually fizzled, but ground floor square footage at the brand new W Hollywood at Vine has other food businesses ready for action starting today next to the cleaned up Red Line station entrance.
The Hollywood Boulevard-facing spaces in the hotel/residential tower envelopes three eating spaces operated by Innovative Dining Group and designed by NYC-based Zeff Design: Delphine, a French-ish bistro concept; Station, a two-level outdoor bar and lounge; and The Living Room for lobby grazing, room service, and other hotel catering services. (Many other firms put together the W's aesthetic and spatial programs.) Executive Chef Sascha Lyon, an alum of well regarded NYC kitchens including Restaurant Daniel, Balthazar, Pastis, and his own eponymous Meat Packing District restaurant, crafted the pan-Mediterranean menus. Delphine serves all three daily meals along with weekend brunch.
During a visit for breakfast this morning, crews were still busy finishing last minute details around the complex, such as workers on scissor lifts manually completing the swag lighting above the courtyard entrance and installing various fixtures. The hotel is officially open for business today, too, with the grand ribbon cutting and politico-handshaking ceremony planned for tomorrow.
Delphine's interior feels a little more beachy inspired than Hollywood urban intensity, with a light-flooded look of washed out pale blue banquettes, white subway tile wall panels, blue and white pattern tile floors, white wicker chairs, café au lait stained wood, and photomurals showing vintage images of oceanfront frolicking. Wood barrel vault ceilings are a nice warm touch and loose transportation reference. Other elements will make Restoration Hardware aficionados feel at home. We've seen the eclectic stuff-on-a-shelf routine elsewhere, but that's cool.
The contrasting colors, patterns, and shiny components of the W lobby offer plenty of extra visual drama if Delphine doesn't deliver that for you. It may not be the Derby, but these spaces now give industry insiders a venue in Hollywood 90028 proper in which to conduct meetings with varying levels of visibility. We imagine there will be plenty of pre-theater rushes, too. In grand Los Angeles architectural tradition, however, dialogue with the street and the public sphere is kept to a minimum, of course.
And given IDG's way with creating flashy scenes at its other restaurants and lounges like Sushi Roku, BOA, and Katana, they're doing the Katsuya-focused paparazzi a favor by adding another conveniently located nearby stake-out spot.
Almost ready to go: view from W lobby towards Station outdoor lounge.; Credit: Jessica Ritz
Delphine/Station/Living Room at the W: 6250 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; (323) 798-1355.
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