THE BASICS:

WHAT:Doheny Room  – a two story restaurant/lounge with an art deco decor.
WHERE:  The cusp of Weho and BH – In between Dan Tana’s and The Troubadour on Santa Monica Blvd in the old Mercato Di Vetro Space (RIP)
WHO: SBE and Chef Danny Elmaleh (Cleo, Katsuya) — so you know, THOSE people.
WHEN:  Dinner (if you must) but most importantly drinks – with bottle service available in the upstairs lounge coming real soon.

THE DISH:
WHAT TO ORDER: With a menu that is ALL over the board to say the least, we encourage sticking to a liquid diet. But if you’re wrapping up that juice cleanse and feeling faint, stick to the lighter Asian influenced items — and dessert, duh. The Avocado Tuna ceviche ($16), while messy/tricky to eat, was light yet bold in flavor. And the Avocado and Beet Sushi roll ($10) was so hearty and tasty that it didn’t have us missing the protein one bit. And then dessert time creeps up on ya and we didn’t let our full tummies stop us from getting The Chocolate Dome ($14) and neither should you. While super rich with meringue, chocolate cream and crumble sorbet, the experience of lighting it on fire and watching it explode in front of you is worth the 2 extra miles you’ll have to run at the gym the next day.

WHAT TO SKIP:  With a Cocktail Academy orchestrated libations menu and drinks paying tribute to the LA Mogul Edward Doheny made rich off oil, we are disappointed to report that there is nothing sparkling about the famous Black Gold ($15). With Effen Black Cherry Vodka, lemon, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Laphroaig 10 yr scotch, fresh cherries, bitters and egg white, this somehow managed to be too sweet and too smoky all at once. PASS. The Greek Chicken meatballs ($14) while big in portion, tasted all too similar to the frozen turkey meatballs from Trader Joe’s. And the sliders – which we were supes excited to try – were just O.K. We preferred the Beef & Fois Gras w/ sunny side up egg ($20) over the Asian Fried Chicken ($13), but we’d pass all together. And with fried chicken being THE THING these days (for good reason helllllo), we won’t be running back for this take anytime soon…or ever.

THAT VIBE THOUGH: With a Miami meets Beverly Hills hotel meets 20th century motif, we were digging the decor. Hanging potted plants, tiled floors, old school photos lining the walls, blue and purple light up bars, there is something for everyone.

WHERE TO SIT: Dinner date- one of the cozy tables downstairs.  First bumble or meeting a friend- grab some high tops at the bar.  Drinks on drinks in the forecast? Head upstairs and get cozy on a couch. No sitting, all dancing kinda night – upstairs with the DJ spinning. We have a feeling this place will become less sitting and dining and more lounging and drinking so plan accordingly.

DO PEOPLE EVEN DRIVE AT NIGHT ANYMORE: Valet ($9)… I mean, an ubes is prob cheaper after tip and all.

WHO YOU’LL SEE: With SBE’s marketing behind it and its central location location location, you’ll be seeing all types of LA folk. Celebs (Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale and Nick Jonas have already popped in), people who think they’re celebs trying to be seen, sleezy dudes taking out their 20 years younger than them arm candy (who let’s be real, are only there for the bottomless booze) and you know, other people of that caliber.  For better or worse we see this becoming a very “LA” crowd so don’t bring mom unless mom wants to show off that new lift and tuck and get martini-wasted with you.

WHAT TO WEAR: This is bout to get allll LA scene-y up in ‘hur so you know the drill.