Esther’s Kitchen to Bring Pasta to the Arts District

Chef James Trees believes he has the found the right concept for the former Winfield Manor retail building at the corner of Casino Center Boulevard and California Avenue.

Esther’s Kitchen will take over 2,700 square feet in the mixed-use complex and add 600 feet of patio. Harvest & Larder was once imagined to fill up 4,530 square feet.

Chef Trees, whose resume includes time at Superba Food & Bread in Venice, California and Hutchinson Cocktails & Grill in West Hollywood, is creating an Italian restaurant anchored by his freshly made pasta creations. Guests will be given the option to sit at the 48 seats on the California Avenue patio, or at the seven stools at the bar, or pick one of the 60 seats in the main dining room.

Projected opening hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m on weekdays and until 2 a.m. on weekends. Construction work on the current, wide open, empty space has been ongoing for weeks. An estimated timetable for completion has not been revealed.