This West Hollywood Restaurant Will Transport You to the South of France
Taking inspiration from the south of France and taking full advantage of balmy Southern California weather, Chez Mia is the indoor-outdoor restaurant of our dreams.
Photo by Maxime Lemoine, courtesy of Purple PR.
Even though it rarely rains in Los Angeles, it’s a bold move to open a restaurant with 70 percent of its tables outside. But if restaurateur Marissa Hermer is anything, it’s bold. The former hospitality publicist, Bravo Ladies of London star, and successful restaurateur whisks us through her newest creation, Chez Mia, designed by Tom Parker of trans-Atlantic design firm Fettle. It’s a Provence-inspired indoor-outdoor fantasia that channels all that’s to love about refined coastal dining in the Mediterranean in summer: Clusters of tables dot a sprawling patio of vivid tile, plush banquettes, lush plantings, a bubbling fountain, an array of tufted umbrellas to break up the sun by day and help contain the glow of candles and murmur of diners by night, and in the center of it all, a grand marble-topped bar that invites guests to linger over glasses of rosé and cocktails. She points out the art that’s everywhere you look, taking inspiration from Matisse’s paintings and stained glass and the Calder sculpture at hotel La Colombe d’Or in Southeastern France. There’s an abstracted nude in the style of Matisse, and Marissa is happy to point out that she was the model. Marissa has frequently visited the south of France, as has investor Kurt Seidensticker. The Mediterranean summer playground’s influence is everywhere—even the bathroom is an homage to the yellow-and-white striped chaises longues of the Hotel Il Pellicano.
Thomas J. Story
Restaurant history buffs will know Chez Mia sits on a storied stretch of Los Angeles: It’s on the northern portion of West Hollywood’s restaurant row on La Cienega, which stretches up from Beverly Hills, anchored by Matsuhisa to the south up to this location that formerly housed Hollywood power-player hangout Ago. In scale and vibe, it ranks up there with L.A.’s most impressive outdoor dining spots: the patios at the Polo Lounge and Spago. The menu is a something-for-everyone range of L.A.-Mediterranean classics: Branzino is simply grilled, delicious without a sauce, thanks to perfect sourcing and technique. A green salad is just that: piled high with delicate lettuces and dressed just so. You can have steak frites, and it will be Wagyu. Carpaccio is ennobled with discs of truffle. And the cocktails range from textbook classics to creative originals.
Thomas J. Story
But Chez Mia is more than a gorgeous place to linger over rosé—it’s also, in a way, a relief center in disguise, which even in the best of times is what hospitality is all about. Restaurants are by definition places where strangers are welcome for respite and sustenance. When the devastating L.A. fires swept through neighborhoods, forcing families to evacuate and displacing entire communities, Marissa reignited a program she’d first started during the pandemic called “You Give. We Cook. They Eat,” transforming her restaurants into lifelines. Within days, she mobilized staff, volunteers, and a network of donors to deliver thousands of nourishing meals—not just to first responders but also to families who had lost everything, and even to a goat named Coco who became a kind of four-legged symbol of survival. “We’re here to make people happy,” Marissa says. “But in times like these, that mission goes deeper—it’s about comfort, dignity, hope.” That’s what Chez Mia offers now: not just elegance and escapism, but a gathering place to feel human again.
Try Chez Mia Recipes Chez Vous
Classic Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette
Elevate your greens with this bright and tangy Champagne vinaigrette. Perfect for a light lunch or as a refreshing starter, this simple salad is a celebration of fresh flavors.
Grilled Branzino with Preserved Lemon Sauce
This Mediterranean-inspired dish brings branzino to life with a vibrant preserved lemon sauce and a fresh herb garnish. It’s a restaurant-quality meal that’s surprisingly simple to re-create at home.
Carpaccio de Seriole (Hamachi Carpaccio)
This elegant carpaccio recipe highlights the delicate flavors of Japanese hamachi with truffle ponzu and fragrant black truffles.
Wagyu Beef Tartare with Feuille de Brick
Luxurious Wagyu beef meets delicate Meyer lemon gel and crispy feuille de brick in this show-stopping appetizer. Perfect for dinner parties or special occasions, this recipe delivers elegance and flavor in every bite.
Perfect Grilled NY Strip Steak
This Snake River Farms Gold Label striploin is everything a steak should be: tender, flavorful, and finished with just the right touches of luxury. Perfect for date nights, special occasions, or simply indulging in the finer things.
Nicolette’s Waterfire Cocktail
This bold cocktail combines fresh watermelon and fiery Fresno chiles for a sweet and spicy delight. Perfect for summer evenings, it’s as refreshing as it is unforgettable.
Corpse Reviver #2
This classic cocktail is a citrus-forward delight with a hint of absinthe to awaken your senses. It’s the perfect pick-me-up for brunch or a sophisticated start to an evening.
Monet’s Lavender Cocktail
Inspired by a lavender field in bloom, this cocktail is a visual and aromatic delight. Butterfly pea flower gives it a dreamy hue, while clover honey and gin provide a perfect balance of sweetness and botanical notes.
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