United Culinary Artists and Executive Chef Alex Reznik are proud to announce the impending opening of FigOly, (1020 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, 90015; 213.743.7600) their contemporary Californian restaurant offering handcrafted, market-fresh cuisine in the newly redesigned Luxe City Center Hotel. The name is from the boutique hotel’s location at Figueroa (Fig) Street and Olympic (Oly) Boulevard in the heart of Los Angeles. Acclaimed chef Alex Reznik of Bravo’s “Top Chef” fame executes a contemporary Californian menu of classic recipes with modern techniques.
FigOly’s menu, ranges from shareable plates to main courses with dishes like Warm Buffalo Mozzarella topped with macerated strawberries and black pepper nestled into a bed mâche; Piedmontese pasta Tagarin, created with the kitchen’s vintage Rosito Bisani pasta machine and tossed with porcini and hen of the woods mushrooms, ricotta salata, cherry tomatoes, and Marsala; Grilled Quail with octopus, currants, salsa verde, fennel, and hazelnuts; Mussels al Forno roasted with tomato and served with a pine nut gremolata and bone marrow and Brasato al Barolo, a blend of beef cheeks and oxtail paired with gorgonzola polenta, shallots, and sotto aceti. For a light lunch, there is Housemade Charcuterie or raw bar items like Oysters with basil granita and mignonette sabayon.
FigOly has an expansive outdoor terrace with a menu exclusive to the space that focuses on items primarily created in the restaurant’s wood-burning oven. Bites from a selection of Conserva, include smoked trout with caviar, duck confit with kumquat gelée, and pork rillettes with bacon marmalade; Pizzas topped with ingredients like pork shoulder sausage, Peewee potato, leeks, rapini, and Tallegio; and a blend of veal and pork Meatball Sliders are easy to share with friends on the 2,000-square-foot veranda that features a fire pit, two-tiered water feature, private cabanas and views of the city’s skyline. A late-night dessert selection include Cannoli Cheesecake with pistachio crust, salted caramel, figs brûlée, kumquat confit, and cinnamon gelato and brioche Bomboloni served with peach-verbena tapioca, pomegranate essence, coconut cream, and smoked blossom.
Farmers’ market-inspired libations include the Mamma Mia (tequila, muddled red bell pepper, scallion, cilantro, lime, agave syrup and applewood-smoked salt) and the Easter Island (cucumber, Peruvian mint sprigs, lime and ginger-spiked champagne). FigOly’s wine program is anchored by an international wine list, which features more than two dozen options by-the-glass and an extensive selection of bubbly. Additionally, the cellar features “50 Under 50,” a signature UCA concept comprising more than 50 intriguing wines from around the world, priced at less than $50 per bottle.
FigOly is located on the second floor of Luxe City Center Hotel, at the top of a glass staircase, with a chrome chandelier, tan/amber hues, stone-topped tables and tufted mahogany banquettes. A glass floor-to-ceiling wine display and mozzarella bar take over the back wall. The bar and lounge area is anchored by a communal table and a first-of-its-kind video installation composed of 28 video rails that display a combination of contemporary art, iconic imagery of Los Angeles and sport-based visuals that flash among 168 individual screens.
Reservations for the first week of opening will be reserved exclusively for guests who tweet their requests directly to the restaurant’s Twitter handle, @FigOly. Looking to be among the first to taste the newest addition to LA’s burgeoning food scene? Follow FigOly on Twitter and publicly tweet @FigOly the number in your party, time and date.
