Exclusive | LA hotspot crowned ‘new king of Hollywood’ brings buzz back to troubled strip

A chic new restaurant is bringing glamour back to old Hollywood.

Tucked inside LA’s legendary Roosevelt Hotel, buzzy Gable is quickly gaining followers for gorgeous cocktails and an eclectic fine dining menu — with critics even going so far as to crown the sumptuous spot “the new king” of the neighborhood.

The opening and eager reception for the elegant eatery represents a surprising 180-degree turn for Hollywood Boulevard — currently fighting for its life amid a dual scourge of sky-high vacancy rates and homelessness.

The Roosevelt, which turns 100 next year, is almost as old as LA’s famed but flagging entertainment industry — even hosting the first-ever Academy Awards, back in 1929.

The site was frequented in its heyday by silver screen legends like Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable — for whom the new restaurant is named.

First opened in August, Gable restaurant aims to bridge Hollywood’s past with LA’s eclectic present, operators told the California Post.

‘There’s a lot of great restaurants in LA, so we wanted to make something that stands out, but also honors, you know, the history of the Roosevelt,” Gable general manager Parker Sprow explained. “We wanted it to feel like a fun dinner party atmosphere every time people come in.”

Described as Contemporary Californian, the menu features a mixture of American, Asian, Italian, and Mexican influences.

“Our dishes are inspired by the cultures that make LA what it is,” Sprow said. “it’s a really cool fusion that is specific to Los Angeles.”

The centerpiece of the menu is the grilled branzino. Served ssam style, a traditional Korean way of preparation, the dish is paired with Mexican-inspired salsa macha and salsa verde. It even comes with a pair of scissors to split the dish and served it for two.

Named for the two borders of Koreatown, the Sixth and Wilshire pizza is given a Korean twist and served with bulgogi, red sauce, kimchi, and mozzarella.

“It feels like Hollywood history, but at the same time, it’s allowing us to stay connected to the modern Hollywood neighborhood,” said Sprow of the restaurant.

Gable’s drink menu is divided into three categories — bright, whimsical, and spirited, and spiritless. The offerings include unconventional options like the Yellow King — made with tequila, yellow tomato, miso honey, stonefruit, and basil.

Critics have already taken notice of the restaurant and its offerings, with TimeOut heaping praise on what it called “the new king of Hollywood” — and Eater lauding menu items like a pork chop with anticucho glaze and grilled peaches.

“Clark Gable was once the king of Hollywood; the title might go to another Gable soon if they maintain this level of technique and experimentation,” a TimeOut editor wrote.

In just two months, the restaurant has already had a few fully booked nights, and has accumulated its fair share of regulars, according to Sprow.

“We’re very fortunate that the reception has been so positive,” says Sprow. “I just really want to focus on making sure now that we are getting all of these people in. I want to focus on making sure that we’re giving them all the same experience that we set out to do originally.”

Sprow says wants the restaurant to serve the public just as much as the hotel’s guests.

“I want this to feel like a Hollywood hang,” says Sprow.

“The people that live in the neighborhood can walk down the street and come here and know that if they’re looking for a reliable night out with good food and good music and good lighting and friendly service, they can go to the Gable.”

Hollywood Boulevard has struggled since the pandemic with a steep decline in tourism and soaring vacancy rates — as high as 30 percent as recently as July, according to an official from the Hollywood Partnership.

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