Eataly L.A officially opened its rooftop restaurant – Terra – at Westfield Century City on March 29.
Century City-Westwood News had a media preview tour at the al fresco terrace lounge, the indoor-outdoor dining space, two private dining rooms, communal tables, the active botanical garden, and the fire pit for a week before the grand opening.
Terra, which means “earth” in Italian, highlights the strong connection with the land through materia prima, or “raw material.”
Executive Chef Eli Anderson, and Chef de Cuisine Matthew Smith’s raw material is the centerpiece of Terra – a full-service service wood-burning Italian grill using simple and seasonal ingredients presented in shareable meals, Italian skewers known as arrosticini, whole-grilled vegetables, rotisserie dishes, and more. The open grill, located at the entrance of the restaurant, will be the first thing customers see.
During the tour, CEO of Eataly USA Nicola Farinetti told CCWN, “We put up a ginormous grill and built an entire restaurant [around it]. We buy the best [produce] we can get here in California. [Terra] is one big spot to eat, to learn, to gather, to have fun and spend time together.”
It is indeed big. The 11,000 sq. ft. restaurant can hold up to 150 people in the dining room, with room for an additional 100 people seated in the outdoor terrace. The authentically Italian open concept restaurant contains a fire pit, an outdoor garden, a grill and a live 20-year-old olive tree. The olive tree carries a multi-level symbolism; its connection to the earth, to which Terra is dedicated, the essence of the restaurants botanical theme, and Eataly’s attention to the environment – the tree sources water from Eataly L.A’s in-house greywater recycling system.
Earth elements continue to shine through with Terra’s outdoor botanical garden which grows fresh herbs and vegetables to be freshly picked and used in dishes and cocktails.
The restaurant’s bar centers around the gin and tonic, with a focus on gins from around the world. Gin selections will be available from the U.S. and Italy, as well as the best offerings from England, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, the Philippines, and more.
“Los Angelenos understand quality – they’re looking every day to know more about the food they’re having,” Farinetti said, “and I think everyone is wondering how can [they] be in a cool, fun place but also have very high quality food? This is what we’re trying to do.”
Terra is more than just a restaurant, Farinetti said. “We have some seats inside and some seats outside but eventually I want to make this a gathering place. You want to come here and work on your laptop and not order? I don’t care. Just come spend some time with us.”
Eataly LA’s Terra is open for reservations. Visit eataly.com for more information or call 213.310.8008.
