The Benjamin Hollywood, the restaurant debut from Ben Shenassafar of iconic streetwear brand The Hundreds, has opened in Hollywood at 7174 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.
A contemporary homage to classic restaurant hangouts, The Benjamin Hollywood is a timeless, intimate restaurant serving upscale takes on beloved American dishes from Executive Chef Johnny Cirelle (formerly of Spago, and most recently Bestia and Bavel), complemented by a beverage program from Nathan Oliver (formerly Church & State, No Vacancy and Ink) with dedicated martini and sparkling cocktail menus. Located in a 1920s Art Deco building reminiscent of Old Hollywood, The Benjamin Hollywood offers an elegant new drinking and dining destination to see and be seen.
The Team
Ben Shenassafar is an entrepreneur, tastemaker, and co-founder of the iconic Los Angeles-based streetwear brand The Hundreds, co-creator of the popular Family Style Food Festival in Los Angeles, and host of Tastemade’s Big Appetite. For his first restaurant, Ben partnered with industry veterans Jared Meisler (an LA bar proprietor from The Roger Room, The Friend, Gin Rummy, and most recently, The Moon Room), and Kate Burr (a creative marketer, culinary strategist, and the founder of A LA MODE consulting agency). Over the years, Ben has fostered a wide network of friends who support the project, such as world-renowned fashion designer Mike Amiri, The Hundreds co-founder Bobby Kim, CEO of Complex Aaron Levant, and contemporary artist Josh Vides, who has collaborated with notable brands including BAPE.
The Menu
The menu from Chef Johnny Cirelle takes an elevated approach to American classics. Starters include Parker House Rolls with Whipped Cultured Butter; Shrimp Cocktail with Cocktail Sauce, Paprika Aioli, and Crispy Shrimp Heads; Chips & Dip with Kennebec Triple Fried Chips and Caramelized Onion; and The Goddess Salad with Chopped Kale, Tarragon, Shaved Baby Fennel, Toasted Almonds, and Avocado. Mains include The Benjamin Burger, made from a House Blend, with New School American Cheese, Hickory Sauce, Grilled Onion, House Pickles, and Fries; Whole Roasted Branzino with Red Chimichurri and Charred Lemon; and Australian Wagyu New York Strip with Cognac Cream Sauce and Peppercorns, to name a few as well as showstopping sides like Twice Baked Potato, served with Creme Fraiche, Chives, Cheddar, and optional Bacon Lardon or Astra Caviar add-ons. Desserts like“Cookies & Cream”, Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies served with House Whip; and Kate’s Carrot Cake with Chantilly Mascarpone Cream Cheese and Candied Walnuts round out the menu. As a parting gift, each table will receive custom The Benjamin Hollywood-branded mint chocolate truffles from legendary confectionary Valerie Confections with their check.
The Drinks
The cocktail program was developed by Nathan Oliver and is an homage to the classics. Using modern techniques and seasonal ingredients, the menu includes elevated takes on favorites such as Ben’s Martini with Monkey 47 Gin, Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth, Fresh Lemon Oil, Served with Olives & Chips; Wolves Manhattan with Wolves Single Barrel Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth, Bitters and Orange; and Spicy Strawberry Margarita with El Tesoro Blanco Tequila, Strawberry Oleo, Shiso, Lime and Serrano Pepper. The menu also has a dedicated martini section with varieties including the Porn Star Martini with Amass Vodka, Champagne, Passion Fruit and Coconut; Be Bright Martini with Toki Japanese Whiskey, Be Bright Espresso, Black Hjerte; and Summer Martini with Ford’s Gin, Dry Vermouth, Juliette Peach, Bay Leaf and Lemon Essence. A selection of Sparkling Cocktails are also on the menu, such as Garden Cup with Sparkling Cava, Campari, Mineral Water, Cucumber, Strawberry, Lemon and Orange; and Apricot Spritz, with Prosecco, Apricot, Mineral Water, Cinnamon, and Pecan Bitters. The beverage menu also includes several N/A drinks, including Formosa Sling with Pineapple, Passionfruit, Maraschino Cherry, Lemon and Mineral Water and Lemongrass Collins with Lemongrass, Raspberry Oleo, Lemon and Mineral Water. A curated wine list by sommelier Sam Rethmeier (République, Chi Spacca, Frasca Food & Wine) and a selection of beer are also available.
The Vibe
The Benjamin Hollywood is located in a 1920s Art Deco building in Hollywood. Designed by Meisler, the handsome 58-seat dining room is enveloped in warm, caramel-stained wood paneling, with custom wall-to-wall carpeting with a black and gold art deco pattern. The room is anchored by a stunning 15-seat solid oak bar and lit by overhead wedding cake glass pendants with brass hardware. Surrounding the room are elevated banquettes upholstered in olive-colored mohair. The bathrooms at The Benjamin Hollywood have checkerboard marble covering the floor and halfway up the wall, with the rest of the walls adorned in Gucci wallpaper with a black, white and orange lily pattern. An outdoor patio will open later this summer.
Staff will be uniformed in custom black chore coats designed by The Hundreds, made in Downtown LA, complementing the dining room’s stylish aesthetic. The music at The Benjamin Hollywood is curated by friends of The Hundreds, such as notable producer Alexander Spit, who has worked with major artists like Mac Miller; and Brice Waller and Errol Chatham of Blondie Beach, one of the biggest DJs in LA.
The Benjamin Hollywood will be open for dinner Tuesday – Saturday from 5:30 pm – late. Reservations are available via Resy. For more information, visit thebenjaminhollywood.com and follow @thebenjaminhollywood on Instagram.