Openings

Actor Duane Martin Brings Xen to Studio City

Xen
Xen Photo: Xen

Xen, a new lounge and restaurant geared towards the studio set, opened up on Sunday across from NBC-Universal, on the same turf as CBS, ABC, and Warner Bros. Xen is the seed of Duane Martin, the established actor, writer, producer, and husband of Tisha Campbell. The restaurant is broken up into four zones: a central lounge with royal airs that include silver thrones, crystal chandeliers, over-sized chairs, and velvet cushions where a main bar and communal tables sit. Elsewhere, there are two al fresco patios, one with giant red umbrellas, and the other with cabanas for bottle service. There’s also a VIP room whose life, according to a press release, is played out like Kwamé and those fuckin’ polka dots, which happen to adorn the walls here. And the menu?

While Xen is currently hard at work on a spiral staircase leading up to a rooftop patio, it’s clear chef Neil Shuman has done his homework on L.A.’s current dining crazes, leading to a forthcoming menu with…wait for it…charcuterie, a cheese course, and small plates. Dishes include a jerk chicken osso bucco, mac and cheese cupcakes, a twelve-ounce rib-eye with marrow butter, and strawberry shortcake for dessert.

Xen is currently open for dinner, Monday through Saturday, 6:00 P.M. until midnight, while the lounge stays open until 2:00 A.M. See Xen’s full food and cocktail menus, below, and look out for brunch to come, possibly as soon as this Sunday. You’ll also find Xen on Facebook.

XEN, 10628 Ventura Blvd. Studio City; 818-505-3513.

MENU

SMALL PLATES

CRISPY RAVIOLI | GOAT CHEESE RICOTTA, FENNEL, TOMATO
12
CRISPY POTATO SHRIMP | ROASTED CORN, PINEAPPLE, PANCETTA, PIMENTON
16
CHICKEN OSSO BUCCO | JERK, CARROT, CELERY, BLUE CHEESE
12
STONE FRUIT | PLUOT, APRICOT, LITTLE GEM, SAFFRON-PEACH
10
GRILLED BEET | FENNEL, HAZELNUT, PECORINO, TARRAGON
12
MAC & CHEESE CUPCAKES
10
HOUSE CUT FRIES | MALTED AIOLI, “RED DEVIL” KETCHUP
7

CHEESE
7.00 FOR 1 OZ 16.00 FOR 3
REDWOOD HILL | CAMELLIA | GOAT
BELLWETHER | PEPATO | SHEEP
MATOS | ST. GEORGE | COW
HAYSTACK MOUNTAIN | RED CLOUD | GOAT
WILLAPA HILLS | PLUVIOUS | COW

LARGE PLATES
LITTLE NECK CLAMS | MUSSELS, CHICKEN SAUSAGE, CORN POTATO, BEER BROTH
18
BURGER | GRASS-FED BEEF, AMISH SHARP CHEDDAR, TOMATO, PICKLE, ARUGULA
15
TURKEY BURGER | CHERRIES, GREEN BEAN, SHALLOT, GRUYERE
15
PAN ROASTED SEA BASS | CHERRY TOMATO, WAX BEAN
28
DRY AGED 12 OZ RIB EYE | BONE MARROW BUTTER, FINGERLING HASH
32
JIDORI CHICKEN | KALE, SPROUTS, HAZELNUTS, ORANGES, TOMATO, PEPPER, CRÈME FRAICHE
21

CHARCUTIERE
7.00 FOR 1 OZ 16.00 FOR 3
OLLI | MOLISANA
LA QUERCIA | COPPA PICCANTE
PROSCIUTTO ROSSA
REDONDO | SERRANO

SWEETS
RED VELVET BREAD PUDDING
9
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE
9

COCKTAILS

BABY BIRD, VODKA, LAVENDER TONIC, LIME, SODA, ROCKS
12
BRAVEHEART, SCOTCH, LEMON, GINGER, ORANGE BITTERS, HONEY
12
CRAZY HORSE, VODKA, SERRANO CHILLI, WATERMELON, LIME
12
STRAND, PEACH CIROC, COINTREAU, CRANBERRY
12
GOLDEN TICKET, GIN, ST. GERMAINE, LEMON
12
UNDERTAKER, WILLET BOURBON, AMARO, DOLIN ROUGHE, VERMOUTH, ORANGE BITTERS
12

BOTTLED BEER
ALLAGASH WHITE
8
ANDERSON VALLEY BOONT AMBER
7
NORTH COAST SCRIMSHAW
7
CHIMAY BLUE
14
GREEN FLASH IPA
8
ERDINGER N/A
7

SPARKLING GLASS
VEUVE CLIQUOT YELLOW LABEL |
18
COLLABRIGIO PROSECCO |
10

WHITE GLASS
CASNATI | TORRONTES | ARGENTINA | 2010 |
10
DOMAINE DU TREMBLAY | QUINCY | LOIRE VALLEY | 2010 |
12
BARREL 27 SHENANIGANS | ROSE | CENTRAL COAST | 2010 |
8
SCHOLIUM PROJECT MIDAN AL TAHIR | WHITE BLEND | NAPA VALLEY | 2009 |
12
MONTE VOLPE | PRIMO BLANCO | MENDOCINO | 2010 |
8
TRIONE | CHARDONNAY | RUSSIAN RIVER | 2008 |
10

RED GLASS
SMOKESCREEN RED | CABERNET SAUVIGNON, SYRAH, PETITE VERDOT | NAPA VALLEY | 2008 |
15
INCEPTION | PINOT NOIR | CENTRAL COAST | 2009 |
12
DOMAINE ANDRE AUBERT | COTE DU RHONE | 2010 |
9
JELLY ROLL | SYRAH | SANTA YNEZ VALLEY | 2009 |
14
GIMINEZ RILLI | MALBEC | MENDOZA | 2010 |
12

Actor Duane Martin Brings Xen to Studio City