Kimpton La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood’s Design District has debuted a new restaurant that brings the talents of a Top Chef into the spotlight.
His first-ever restaurant, executive chef Charbel Hayek welcomes Angelenos to Ladyhawk where he marries Eastern Mediterranean fare with distinctly Los Angeles influences.
Born in Beruit, Ladyhawk Charbel pays tribute to his roots through Ladyhawk. The Lebanese chef fell in love with cooking by following his mom around the kitchen as a kid, setting him on a path illuminated by a top-tier culinary education, Michelin-level training and Bravo television.
Charbel attended the French School of Excellence and later cemented his craft while working at Mélisee under chef Josiah Citrin. More recently, he won the fifth season of Top Chef Middle East & North Africa and competed on Top Chef: World All-Stars.
Continuing to treat Los Angeles to his culinary prowess, Charbel’s Eastern Mediterranean cuisine by way of California is enlivened by farm-fresh ingredients and his personal, modern take on traditional recipes.
Ladyhawk’s menu boasts bountiful family-style dishes, like the mezze table that features a selection of shareable plates and dips including hummus chili sambal, babaghanouj and muhammara. There is also the tabbouleh salad, which Charbel adapted from his mother’s recipe and the Spanish ahi tuna crudo, which was inspired by the dish that won him the Top Chef title.
Other menu highlights include the Dry-Aged Rohan Duck with Honey & Rose and the passionfruit muhalabieh made with milk pudding, rose blossoms, pistachio and mango, which is complemented by a beverage program of vibrant craft cocktails and a wine list with California labels and Mediterranean bottles.
Vino aficionados can look forward to deciding between the Chateau Musar and wines from Greece, Morocco and a Pet-Nat from Lebanon. Alternatively, one notable cocktail is the Souq of Byblos. The Lebanese Jun gin and rose-based cocktail is dusted with pistachio and made of grapefruit, lemon and crushed cardamom.
Living up to the expectations of its Design District setting, Ladyhawk is also transportive thanks to an aesthetic characterized by rich tones, sumptuous leathers, warm woods and a canopy of abstract leaves. Also of note are the light and energetic music, lush planting and curated art and artifacts.
Ladyhawk is open from Tuesday to Thursday, 6 to 10 p.m., and Friday to Sunday, 6 to 11 p.m. The bar opens daily at 5 p.m., and brunch and lunch services are set to launch in the coming months. Reservations are now open on Resy.
Ladyhawk is located at 627 N La Peer Dr 90069.
Photography by: Neetu Laddha Photography
