Grant Smillie and David Combes racked up a bunch of successful restaurants in Australia before introducing themselves to L.A. a few months ago—bringing along with them Australia’s stylish and laid-back sensibility as well as clear ideas on good Asian food. The guys’ new venture is located in two-story space in West Hollywood with amazing views of the Hollywood Hills.
For those who have forgotten (or never knew) your vinyl vocabulary, “E.P.” and “L.P.” are record terms that stand for “extended play” and “long play.” A former DJ, Smillie curates the restaurants’ playlists.
The main space, E.P., is a multilevel “Asian eating house” where executive chef Louis Tikaram (formerly of Longrain in Sydney) serves up contemporary Southeast Asian dishes with a strict execution-before-anything-else focus. The 30-year-old Tikaram captured the 2014 Josephine Piglet Young Chef of the Year in Australia, and his move to L.A. was a widely bemoaned by Sydney foodies. Tikaram says he calls on his Fijian-Chinese heritage, native Australian roots and his travels across Southeast Asia for E.P. & L.P.’s menu. The space features custom-designed and handcrafted furniture, a freestanding copper-finished bar and open chef’s kitchen with a green onyx dining counter. Details of the eclectic space include antique mirrors alongside neon signage, copper fixtures and rolling LED art.
Up top, L.P. is the epitome of L.A. glam. Surprisingly, given the enviable view, it’s one of the few rooftop decks in the neighborhood, and open late into the night with its own cocktail and food menu. The space has lush topiary landscaping, a 21-foot-long bar and a fire pit with communal seating overlooking the hills. Here’s a look.
