Marea, the acclaimed Italian seafood restaurant, has made its West Coast debut in Beverly Hills, bringing a taste of Italy to Los Angeles with classic dishes and local creations.
A Taste of Italy in Beverly Hills: Marea’s West Coast Debut
Bringing Classic Italian Seafood to Los Angeles
Marea, the beloved Italian seafood restaurant born in New York 15 years ago, is finally making its West Coast debut in Beverly Hills. The new location, led by founder and CEO Ahmass Fakahany and executive chef PJ Calapa, serves up a mix of classic dishes and new, Los Angeles-specific creations that showcase the city’s bounty.
A Community-Driven Approach
The restaurant industry has always been about creating community during both good times and bad. For Marea, this concept is especially important given the devastating wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles in recent years. To support first responders, the restaurant has offered free to-go meals every day since January 10.
A Team of Local Chefs
Marea’s Beverly Hills location boasts two chefs de cuisine with serious Los Angeles bona fides: former Tasting Kitchen head chef Amaury Tafolla and Rossoblu/Bestia alum Travis Passerott. For Calapa, the importance of local connections was paramount during the hiring process. “They needed to be local,” she explains. “They needed to come up through here. They needed to understand this city.”
New and Classic Dishes
The menu at Marea features a mix of old favorites and new creations. Standout dishes include rockfish crudo with calamansi and pistachio powder, which paired perfectly with Marisa Cuomo ravello bianco; halved avocado filled with spot prawn tartare; and pappardelle with Dungeness crab.
A Focus on Local Seafood
Calapa emphasizes the importance of using local seafood in her dishes. “Local crabs make it really beautiful,” she says. “Clear crab stock, so it keeps it nice and clean.” This focus on cleaner, more delicate flavors is evident throughout the menu.
Beyond Dinner: A 10 p.m. Destination
Fakahany envisions Marea as a destination that goes beyond dinner service. He hopes to create a vibrant bar area where guests can enjoy beautiful cocktails and small plates until late at night. “I think there could be demand for that,” he says. With its alluring atmosphere and excellent cuisine, it’s easy to see why Marea is already attracting repeat business.
A Restaurant That Cares
As I left the restaurant, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of community and connection among the guests. Marea’s commitment to supporting first responders and its focus on local ingredients make it more than just a great place to eat – it’s a reminder that restaurants are about so much more than just food. They’re about bringing people together, providing comfort and luxury during difficult times, and making us feel like we’re part of something bigger.
