The Nook

Nook Bistro

11628 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025 (way in the back)

nook (nʊk) - n  

  1. a corner or narrow recess, as in a room

  2. a secluded or sheltered place; retreat

So, I was hanging out with my friend, Kelly Weaver - a producer/photographer/videographer/all-around LA girl, with stylish punk rocker platinum hair, an affection for rhinestones and a Gwen Stefani vibe. We drove up Santa Monica Boulevard, past 3rd Street and Lincoln, past 20th, past Busby's...heading toward the 405 and West LA. As the hustle and bustle of Santa Monica faded into the background and the scenester West Side restaurants and bars were increasingly replaced by run-down strip malls, residential neighborhoods and road-side taco trucks, she finally asked, "Where is this place again?" "We're almost there," I said.

Finally, a few blocks from the 405, we pulled into the parking lot of a small corner strip mall, consisting of a few humble establishments (a dentist office, a nail salon, a small market and drug store), all of which were closed. As we got out of the car, she asked, "Are we going here?," pointing to a lonely Chinese restaurant toward the back of the tiny shopping center. "No," I said, "It's behind that."

We walked through the parking lot, along the row of stores lining the back of the mall, toward the inside corner of the L-shaped plaza, passing underneath the second story level through a small walkway leading into the recesses of the building, and just past the last store visible from the road (and the parking lot) we came to an ambiguous pair of large frosted glass windows...

...and THERE...we found The Nook.

Nook is the creative and entrepreneurial venture of James Richardson, Jeffrey Stuppler and Brian Frith-Smith, who all saw an unfulfilled need for moderately-priced bistro fare served in a friendly, inviting atmosphere.  And Nook fills that need perfectly.

The place itself is quite small, yet ironically offers a full range of dining experiences - from the dimly-lit and intimate couples' tables spanning the left side, to a more boisterous communal table running through the middle, to the quaint 4-person bar, and finally to the somewhat secluded booths embedded into a few nook-like cubbies scattered along the back edges of the restaurant.  The architecture could be described as somewhat minimalistic-retro, as the décor is simple and understated, with subtle yet distinctive aesthetic touches - such as conservatively placed neon-colored lighting, and the slightly angled rectangular roofs sitting atop the open-faced nook-booths (complimenting the retro look of Nook's slanted logo).

And thanks to chef Richardson, the food is great, featuring options like Maple Mustard Glazed Ribeye and Spicy Gulf Shrimp & Grits, all excellently prepared yet moderately priced.  Nook also has a fairly extensive beer and wine selection, providing a full range of options for all tastes and budgets.

So how could one of LA's coziest dens of chic ambiance and great food be located behind an opaque glass window, tucked away inside the back corridor of an older strip mall along a busy street a few blocks from the freeway?  Co-owner Jeff Stuppler explained the location was deliberately chosen, and that "it's actually been sort of a joke that you first have to find the mall, then find us within it.  It's almost like a game."  [Something like hide-and-seek, I suppose.]

So the take-away is simple: the next time you're playing a game of hide-and-seek, make sure to add the Nook as one of your go-to hiding places.

And for an extra round of fun, head back down Santa Monica Blvd. and check out The Room.  Where is that located, exactly?  I'll never tell. (Okay, maybe I will.)   Now close your eyes and count to 60...  Bet'cha can't find me!