Thomas Keller opens third Bouchon bistroThomas Keller opens third Bouchon bistro

Lisa Jennings

BEVERLY HILLS Calif. Renowned chef Thomas Keller officially opened the third outpost of his Bouchon bistro concept in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Wednesday, marking the Southern California native’s return to the Los Angeles area.

The chef’s Thomas Keller Restaurant Group operates The French Laundry in Yountville, Calif., Per Se in New York as well as Bouchon locations in Yountville and Las Vegas, and the more casual Ad Hoc in Yountville and Bouchon Bakery in Yountville, Las Vegas and New York.

Keller, who is originally from nearby Oceanside, Calif., said he is thrilled to bring the French bistro concept “home” to the Los Angeles area, where early in his career he worked as executive chef of the Checkers Hotel downtown.

Unlike the other locations, however, Bouchon Beverly Hills will be the first to feature Bar Bouchon, a 46-seat French wine bar that is scheduled to debut in mid-December. The first-floor bar will serve wines by the glass and a small-plates menu.

Keller has tapped Rory Herrmann as chef de cuisine at the new Bouchon. Herrmann previously split his time between Bouchons in Yountville and Las Vegas, and before that was the private-dining chef at Per Se.

In the main dining room upstairs, which seats 195 customers, the menu at will be similar to the first two Bouchon locations, offering French country fare, such as the signature Grand Plateau, a two-tier platter of fresh seafood; roast leg of lamb with Swiss chard, pommes boulangere and lamb jus; and “croque madam,” or grilled ham and cheese on brioche with fried egg, mornay sauce and fries. Entrée prices range from $17.95 to $34.50 each.

The restaurant was designed by Adam Tihany, who also worked on Keller’s other concepts, and is located in the heart of Beverly Hills’ “Golden Triangle,” a few steps from the iconic Spago.

Bouchon resides in a building constructed by the luxurious Montage Hotel, which is located next door, and the two are separated by a small park. Both the building and the park were donated to the city of Beverly Hills by the Montage, which opened in November 2008.

Currently, Bouchon is the only tenant, but the rest of the building is slated for retail businesses. Though the Montage includes the high-end Parq restaurant, hotel officials said they were thrilled to have Bouchon next door as an amenity.

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].