RARE BY DRAI’S SET TO SERVE THE SEXIEST STEAKS IN L.A.
Victor Drai Brings Style, Vision and Sophistication to his new Steakhouse Creation
Located on Sunset Plaza, Rare by Drai’s will Open Dec. 2013
How do you take a classic staple of American dining, the steakhouse, and break down the traditional thinking to create something entirely new, sophisticated and sexy? That was the question that acclaimed restaurateur and nightlife impresario Victor Drai posed when he decided the time was right to reinvent what has long been the trademarks of the steakhouse genre –a typical setting with a masculine vibe, dark rooms and fancy waiters. The answer became Rare by Drai’s, a modern, stylish and welcoming steakhouse with just the right amount of excess to appeal to Drai’s Los Angeles-meets-Las Vegas sensibility (Drai has been a pioneer on the nightlife scene in Los Angeles and Las Vegas for the past 20 years). With the DJ setting the distinctive soundscape upon entry, a creative design aesthetic envisioned by Drai and an alluring bar and lounge, Rare by Drai’s marks the beginning of a new era for Victor Drai on the Los Angeles dining scene, and there is no better spot to launch than on L.A.’s famed Sunset Plaza. The restaurant is set to open in early December, 2013.
Walking into Victor Drai’s newest restaurant will be like walking into a great dinner party – and that is by design. For the past two decades, Victor Drai has been known for knocking convention to the side and setting the trends; from his iconic La Cienega restaurant which opened nearly 20 years ago to his latest nightclub creations in Las Vegas, Drai has always had an extraordinary vision and aptitude to raise the bar with a unique experience. With Rare by Drai’s, he will continue the quest by creating a new type of steakhouse with a French-inspired menu serving the classics with a fresh, modern twist. From the staff uniforms (expect something unconventional) to the design of the booths to the color on the walls to the plates on the tables, Drai himself has overseen every detail…right down to the menu.
Like all great steakhouses, meats and seafood will take center stage, but in collaboration with Executive Chef Patrick Florendo, Drai has designed a menu that goes beyond the ordinary and even features his personal favorite: a Whole Roasted Loup de Mer, scented with lemon and thyme and roasted on a bed of fresh aromatic fennel. In addition to Drai’s signature dish, the menu features all prime-grade aged steaks, (butchered in house and ranging from 7 oz. to 36 oz.), fresh seafood options, as well as appetizers and salads which pay homage to the classics. Add up the fresh ingredients and distinctive dishes and Drai’s vision for Rare begins to take shape. “We are going to have the most delicious traditional steaks for the true meat aficionados, but we’re also going to have a selection of amazing signature items such as the Pan Roasted Wagyu Hanger Steak, the New Zealand Rack of Lamb, Steam Bouchet Mussels and a Roasted Whole Range Free Chicken that will be deconstructed and then re-constructed for a shared table experience,” explains Victor Drai. “I know this is a steakhouse, but our chicken is going to have our guests coming in weekly asking for more.”
In addition to the favorites, the menu at Rare will deliver appetizer options such as the Spicy Tuna Tartare with chili, crispy shallot, crunchy taro, and avocado, a Grilled Skuna Bay Salmon, a selection of farm-to-table salads, seasonal soups and more than a dozen hand-crafted side dishes. Desserts will not be an after-thought at Rare, as all of the desserts are made in-house along with ice creams and sorbets. Sure to be a favorite will be the “The Godiva Candy Bar,” featuring three layers consisting of a chewy caramel, a Godiva mousse and crunchy peanut butter.
The bar and lounge at Rare, led by acclaimed spirit manufacturer Chris Hewes, will feature a selection of classics, as well as Hewe’s own creative drinks and cocktails. Unlike most steakhouses, the bar and lounge at Rare is not merely a waiting space before dinner. With 33 seats, a DJ and access to the patio, the bar and lounge is designed to become the social gathering spot on Sunset Blvd.
Rare by Drai’s is set to open in early December. The expansive restaurant features 220 seats split between the restaurant’s main dining room, private dining room, bar and lounge and patio over-looking Sunset Blvd. Rare by Drai’s is a partnership with ESquared Hospitality: an international restaurant and hospitality group owned by Jimmy Haber and Keith Treyball.
Rare by Drai’s is located at: 8720 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069. Rare by Drai’s Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Friday – Saturday: 6:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Follow Rare by Drai’s on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/rarebydrais and on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/rarebydrais
