Issa Rae is determined to uplift her hometown of South Central LA as she takes on a new venture by opening a restaurant.
The multifaceted Hollywood star has launched a production company, opened a coffee shop, started a record label and launched a Prosecco collection over the last few years. Now, she can add restaurateur to her list of jobs. On Nov. 26, she announced via Instagram the opening of her new restaurant Somerville. The social media post highlighting this new endeavor included a slideshow of photos from a private soft launch event hosted at the eatery accompanied by a caption stating how this was always a vision of hers.
“Always wanted a neighborhood lounge to complement the special community that is View Park-Windsor Hills. The genius GVO Gentlemen said, how about a restaurant? @somerville.slauson — an ode to the classic, artistic past of Black South Central L.A? And sure, the ambience will be fantastic, but the food and cocktails will keep you coming back… I said: 🏃🏾♀️🍽️🍸🤤,” she wrote. “Thanks to all who came to support this first weekend! Seat yourself at Somerville, Wed-Sunday from 6p-11p (ps – it capped me at 20 tags. don’t be mad if I didn’t tag you!).”
According to the restaurant’s website, the brick-and-mortar is intentionally located in the Historic View Park-Windsor Hills off W. Slauson Avenue. It was built to pay homage to LA’s Black community as it’s “an ode to the past, a toast to the present, and celebration of the progress in between.”
Visitors are promised a “progressive American dining experience that highlights contemporary cuisine while honoring the rich roots of South Central Los Angeles.” The menu has a nice range of options from shareable plates of shrimp cocktails, caviar, and fried chicken sliders to charcuterie boards to salads to steak plates and entrees featuring pan-seared ora king salmon, halibut, collard green lasagna, braised Australian lamb shank and more. Sides that guests can choose from are romanesco broccoli, truffle fries and baked macaroni and cheese among other things.
Somerville is open from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and is ready to serve patrons.
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