By Laura Eckstein Jones By Laura Eckstein Jones | November 29, 2022 | Food & Drink, Migration,
Sam Trude (left) and Sam Cooper, co-owners of Great White PHOTO BY BY BRECHT VAN’T HOF; RENDERINGS COURTESY OF GREAT WHITE
AUSSIE CAFE GREAT WHITE MAKES A SPLASH WITH ITS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED THIRD LOCATION IN WEST HOLLYWOOD OPENING THIS FALL.
The restaurant’s eye-catching pink facade is color-matched to one of the co-founder’s childhood homes in Australia. PHOTO BY BY BRECHT VAN’T HOF; RENDERINGS COURTESY OF GREAT WHITE
With their laid-back attitudes and breezy beach culture, the similarities between Los Angeles and Sydney are strong. So much so that L.A.-based Aussies Sam Trude and Sam Cooper could not figure out why Los Angeles lacked the cafe culture so prevalent in their home city. “We are both from Australia, which is full of amazing all-day cafes, drawing largely from its European history and heritage, but executed in a casual, outdoor, typically beachside setting,” says Cooper. “We were both curious as to why this cultural staple was not present in the U.S., particularly in California where the weather, lifestyle and landscape are so similar to that of Sydney and other coastal Australian cities. We saw a gap in the market in L.A. for a casual, all-day concept that serves fresh produce prepared with thoughtful simplicity and delivered in an easygoing, casual and friendly way.”
The entry at the new WeHo outpost is topped with flowering plants PHOTO BY BY BRECHT VAN’T HOF; RENDERINGS COURTESY OF GREAT WHITE
With that in mind, Cooper and Trude opened Great White (greatwhite.cafe) in Venice Beach in 2017, and after its immediate and continuous success, unveiled a second location in 2021, this time in Larchmont. Gran Blaco, the brand’s bar-focused restaurant in Venice Beach, opened in 2019.
Great White relies on fresh, local produce for its mouthwatering dishes, like the roasted peaches and burrata seen here PHOTO BY BY BRECHT VAN’T HOF; RENDERINGS COURTESY OF GREAT WHITE
Now, WeHo residents can rejoice: This November, a third Great White outpost is set to open on Melrose, not far from Verve and Maxfield. “I always liked that part of West Hollywood, which seems to connect all the different layers of the area, from entertainment to nightlife to tourism,” says Cooper. “But what underpins it all is the community. We look for a strong sense of community in all the locations we go to. There’s a real energy about the area and we are excited to tap into that.”
Spritz cocktails are a celebrated part of the menu PHOTO BY BY BRECHT VAN’T HOF; RENDERINGS COURTESY OF GREAT WHITE
Designwise, with its plastered walls, soft woods and clay lights, all Great White restaurants are aesthetically inspired by Europe, specifically Greece, Spain and Italy. “The new location continues to reflect that sensibility but with a West Hollywood twist,” says Trude of the space, which has a pink exterior. Menuwise, expect the casual, produce-driven dishes that have made Great White so popular, like breakfast burritos, wood-fired pizzas, healthy salads, natural wines and more. “We will be adding some seasonal, exclusive, farmers market-driven dishes to the West Hollywood location later this fall,” Trude adds.
A gorgeous spread of favorites, including the Bambino pizza, polenta fries, brick chicken and Swim Club sandwich PHOTO BY BY BRECHT VAN’T HOF; RENDERINGS COURTESY OF GREAT WHITE
Apparently, four restaurants aren’t enough to keep Trude and Cooper busy. “We have also recently signed a few other new exciting locations,” Cooper shares. “There are so many cultural influences that permeate our current menus, and we are really looking forward to exploring this even further with our new ventures.”
Custom doors open onto the expansive outdoor patio with twin fireplaces and reclaimed cobblestone flooring from Germany. PHOTO BY BY BRECHT VAN’T HOF; RENDERINGS COURTESY OF GREAT WHITE
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