Luminarias evolves into its next phase with luxurious design and a total overhaul of the culinary program, offering an excellent special occasion option in San Gabriel Valley.
Is there anything more worthful than space ? A big room in a good location think multitudinous opening , specially in LA , where despite the sprawl desirable square footage is as rarefied as pelting cloud . And few places in LA have as much infinite asLuminarias , the massive eating house , spread student residence , and event space that ’s reopen after a multimillion - dollar remodel and full bill of fare evolution on November 2 .
Luminariasis a piece de resistance , a local treasure since first opening in 1972 , sitting high on top of a hill on the Monterey Park side of the 10 - 710 reciprocation , with gorgeous views stretch out across the SGV . It has long been a go - to for graduation dinners for Cal State LA and ELAC educatee , your fun aunt ’s wedding reception , and the East LA kid seek to instill a appointment . And now it move into the modern era with this reimagining , a total revamp brought bySpecialty Restaurants , the group behindCastawayand thekiller solid food hallThe Proud Bird , among others .
The fresh Luminarias leans into a modernist innate esthetical , with ferns and fronds and all sorts of greenery brush over wicker , wood , and stone elements . The industrial chandeliers provide a gentle glow , complementing the scintillate urban center light seeable through the heroic floor - to - ceiling windows . Other playfulness feeling abound , like the original credenza which has been refurbished into the concierge desk , and a surgical incision of tables that have swing music instead of chairs .
Photo courtesy of Specialty Restaurants
The bar is a cardinal focus of the rebuild , designed to work as the first hitch before dinner party , or a neighborhood gathering dapple during the Wednesday through Friday happy hr . The bar itself is deck out in emerald tile with geometric shelving and dim leather chairs , and just outside the restaurant is a garden , which ply herbs , citrous fruit , and inspiration for the bartenders . That means speciality drinks like Paid Vacation , with vodka , Passion of Christ fruit , Basil the Great , tarragon , and szechuan flower , in addition to classical cocktails and a longsighted heart lean .
Chef Jim Pastor , the Corporate Executive Chef for Specialty Restaurants , has designed the Modern bill of fare , which reads mostly New American with aspiration from Mexican and Latin American flavour . There are Birria Empanadas alongside Crab Cakes and Crispy Brussels Sprouts in the appetizer surgical incision . There ’s Peruvian - trend Ceviche as part of the expansive raw bar , and the Squid Ink Bucatini comes topped with crumbled chicharrón . There are also a handful of grill skewers and a whole department of the menu dedicated to build up - your - own cheese and charcuterie card , to go with the look large - format main courses of steak and fish .
The patio is huge , with some 130 butt set under twinkling lights and directly above the herb garden . The smell of citrus and herbs floats up to drift over the patio , which feels miles out of town despite the broken rumble of the motorway at the base of the hill . This is a lovely quad , offer a modern take on particular occasion dining on the east side of the 710 .
This novel looping of Luminarias still exemplify a sensational option for big and small case in SGV , with eight event spaces that can host anywhere from 25 to 600 mass . There are indoor rooms suited for meeting and great dinner , as well as outdoor orbit designed for intimate marriage ceremony , banquet G. Stanley Hall for sitting dinner , and ballrooms for dancing , all invigorate with a modern , elegant eye . But do n’t let that fool you — this is still a pinhead position for your fun aunty to host her second wedding .
Photo courtesy of Specialty Restaurants
Photo courtesy of Specialty Restaurants
