Openings

Paul Bhalla’s Chef ‘Lawrence of India’ Returns to Culver City, Open Tomorrow

Lawrence of India returns to Culver City tomorrow
Lawrence of India returns to Culver City tomorrow Photo: Hadley Tomicki

Lourence Monteiro is the chef who opened Paul Bhalla’s eponymous restaurants in Westwood, Santa Barbara, and beyond before opening his own Lawrence of India restaurants, the last of which closed about seven years back so he could “take a break after 23 years of cooking,” he tells Grub Street today. From his Mexico restaurant, Bhalla recently urged Monteiro, “Either come here or do something!” leading to the rebirth of Lawrence tomorrow on Venice Blvd. in Culver City. A native of Goa, the chef adds regional specialties like fish and shrimp curries, a Goan spiced iced black tea, homemade mango lassi and sorbet, and tikka makhani among the selection of tandoori plates, lamb and chicken vindaloos, and curries served buffet-style at lunch and a la carte around the clock. Also, as the chef–who started as a pantry boy at Delhi’s Ashkoa Hotel–comes from southern India where Catholics and Christians abound, there are rarer preparations of kofta, keema, and masala using, holy cow, beef! Open tomorrow.

10032 Venice Blvd. Culver City. 310-841-6559

Paul Bhalla’s Chef ‘Lawrence of India’ Returns to Culver City, Open Tomorrow