Teppanyaki, a Japanese style of cooking where the food is prepared over large iron griddles, serves as muse for new West Hollywood eatery ROKU, where the culinary concept is presented in sleek fashion, complementing a main dining room serving a variety of dishes, and a sushi bar.
Though the concept is commonly confused with hibachi, ROKU “was not going to be a Benihana,” says architect Ralph Gentile, whose eponymous Los Angeles-based firm was tapped by Innovative Dining Group (IDG) to envision a more inventive presentation of the dining experience. In their fifth collaboration with the restaurant group, Gentile and his design team renovated the site of a former IDG Italian restaurant—an expansive 8,000-square-foot-space housing the three components. Black and white stone floors from the previous restaurant remained intact, while additional flooring tiles both complement the foundation and honor the theme. “From there we continued the black and white motif for continuity, but added a dose of whimsy at just the right spot,” Gentile says.
An array of furnishings ensures that each culinary experience is unique from the others. The eclectic nature of the design is reflected in quirky details such as the bar’s pineapple lamps, chosen as a universal symbol of friendship and graciousness. Elsewhere, Japanese symbolism is illustrated in tones of black, gray, and red on a backlit etched glass mural by local street artist Hans Haveron—a 20-foot-long, three-panel installation that injects color into the muted dining room space.
“We looked for Asian inspirations that did not feel overly Japanese,” Gentile explains. “Our goal was to have the experience inspire guests to choose a more relaxed, stylish approach to the varied cuisine.”
Presided over by large lightly blue-toned hoods, ROKU’s teppanyaki room seats up to 28 guests at four imported teppanyaki tables, while just beyond a subtle glass partition, a live-edge walnut sushi bar offers 16 seats. Ornate sake barrels rest above the bar on a custom platform, which juxtaposes the room’s geometric-patterned wall, selected to balance the space.
On the other side of the wall, ROKU’s ample covered patio draws inspiration from traditional Asian landscaping with manicured cypress trees, oversized planters, abacus screens, and other garden detailing. Made from fire-treated Douglas fir, the patio’s vaulted weatherproofed ceiling bears an organic, Asian-inspired pattern that masks fire sprinklers and speakers. The fixed trellis of the retractable ceiling filters in natural light during the day and the twinkling lights of Sunset Boulevard at night.
The focal point of the patio, upholstered center booths provide a burst of color with floral patterns enhanced by light from nine oversized silk pendant fixtures dangling above. Able to pivot outward toward the sidewalk, the patio’s grand mahogany-framed windows bring the lively neighborhood feel into the interior, while illuminated signage wraps the corner of the exterior, serving as a beacon and leading to the new courtyard entrance.
“One of the challenges of the previous patio is that guests reported that they felt removed and separated from the street,” says Gentile. “By opening up the façade and making it operable we provided a lively connection with the sidewalk [and] additional city views.”
