Cuisine:

• American
• Contemporary
• Others
• Bistro

Nook Description:
Nook is the creative and entrepreneurial venture of James Richardson, Jeffrey Stuppler and Brian Frith-Smith.
The idea was hatched while Jeff and Brian, friends of 20 years, were site hunting for their Why Soup business concept (a fast casual lunch cafe with emphasis on soup). They found a great location at 11628 Santa Monica Boulevard. Although the new location was better suited for a full service restaurant concept, they decided it was too good to pass up.
They were fortunate enough to be joined by James, a talented chef with an impressive roster of former restaurant experience. The three stayed up all night one stormy evening in December 2003, and agreed that they were all most passionate about simple, American comfort food presented artistically.
Knowing the neighborhood quite well, all three saw an unfulfilled need for moderately priced bistro fare served in a friendly, inviting atmosphere. Jeff thought the name, Nook, conveyed both comfort and warranted the location, nimbly tucked away in a corner of the Plaza West complex. While thunder, lightning, and a full gothic choir raged outside, Nook was born.
Short of carrying a GPS device and code coordinates for this sheltered neighborhood eatery, you'd be hard pressed to find it, tucked away in the far corner of a West LA mini-mall. We did and liked the fresh and creative California bistro fare from chef James Richardson who also takes care of parties and the wine list. They are keen on homemade soups: spicy sausage gumbo or lentil vegetable with feta. You may start the meal with a lightly cooked platter of New Zealand mussels in white wine and saffron or a selection of sausages with amber-ale-braised fennel and assorted mustards. In the big category, as spelled on the menu, your picks can include a Pacific snapper in a soy-orange emulsion with roasted beets and haricots verts; in the specials, a seared albacore atop lentils and pea purée in a pomegranate reduction. Finish off with banana bread with chai ice cream. All this in a tiny nook for about thirty diners. Claim stake to one of the two booths or break bread at the communal table. In any case, a great value.


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