“You can only put your name on a restaurant one time,” said Mother Wolf and Felix chef Evan Funke of his newest ode to Italy, opening at 9388 S. Santa Monica in Beverly Hills next Friday, May 5. Years in the making, his eponymous Funke is a collaboration with real estate magnate Kurt Rappaport, who bought the 1930s Art Deco building and even contributed his own artwork—from Warhol, Basquiat and more. “It’s probably one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” said Funke, who thanked Rappaport for enabling him to “dream this.”
Funke co-owners Kurt Rappaport and chef Evan Funke
The three-story space designed by Dan Brunn with classic nods to Italy includes a main dining room (with 273 hand-blown Murano glass Fizi Ball glass lights simulating Champagne bubbles), a second-floor mezzanine with a livestream of the pasta-making, and a stunning rooftop with a verdant walkway and Cristallo Rosa quartz bar. The entire rooftop level, dubbed Bar Funke, will be open for walk-ins only and serve a separate menu featuring crudos, caviar service and desserts.
A 20-foot-tall open pasta lab connects diners with pasta makers—who’ll be making shapes that celebrate the generational histories of the women Funke studied pasta-making with in Italy. Don't miss the variety of pizzas (such as the margarita with soft fluffy crust), pastas (tagliatelle, agnolotti, cacio e pepe), squash blossoms and more—plus signature cocktails like the Bergamo and Sicilia (shown here, in pink). Marissa Zajack, who oversees graphic design for films and television shows including The Politician, White Lotus and Succession, brought Funke (the chef) to life via stylish branding on exterior signage, menus, logo, illustrations and more. Want to try it? HOT TIP: Reservations are now open each morning at 9AM PT for seven days in advance!
Funke will serve Funke's beloved pastas, pizzas and vegatable-forward dishes like artichoke
Housed in a 1930s Art Deco building, Funke features three levels.
Marissa Zajack's branding
Pizza; photo by Jasmin Rosemberg
Chef Funke on his new restaurant
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