David Myers Debuts Hinoki & the Bird Thursday + the Menu

Hinoki is ready/Photo: Alen Lin

It's been only a few days since we announced the restaurants we're most excited for in 2013, and several have already opened. Add Hinoki & the Bird to the list, the David Myers-backed minimalist spot that opens on the ground floor of the fancy The Century condo in Century City on Thursday. The space is bright and airy, filled with natural wood elements and subtle colors. Chef Kuniko Yagi is behind the stoves; she was Myers last chef at Sona before it closed, and she was also on Top Chef Seattle earlier this season. The mostly small plates menu is broken down into raw bar, fun bites, simply grilled and "inspiration," featuring things like chili crab toast with spicy cucumber, sambal skate wing and even a clam chowder. The cocktail menu created by Sam Ross is an impressive list of swizzles, negronis and other quaffs. Take a look at the goods below (10 West Century Dr.; 310-552-1200).

Raw Bar
1/2 dozen oysters, pear mignonette 18
marinated tuna, lemongrass salad 16
scallops, grapefruit, lime leaf 16 beef tartare, pickled jalapeno, parmigiano 15

Fun Bites
salt & pepper marinated calamari, ajwain-tomato jam 13
crispy marinated chicken, lemon aoli 14
chili crab toast, spicy cucumber, coriander 15
fried oysters, black garlic aoli 12 cured and smoked ham, garlic toast 11
spice scented nuts 6
assorted housemade pickles 6
pumpkin toast, miso jam, goat cheese 11

Simply Grilled
scottish salmon 24
maine lobster 38
sambal skate wing 21
drunken duck breast 24
bbq pork 21
apple marinated shortrib 24
wagyu strip loin 38
ginger chicken 24
miso marinated skirt steak 24

Inspiration
clam chowder, celery leaf 11
lobster roll, green curry, thai basil 24
kale, crispy and raw, curried almonds, pecorino, red wine vinaigrette 12
escarole and watercress, roasted carrots, yoghurt 12
spinach, miso cured goat cheese, sunflower seed vinaigrette 12
cured duck leg carbonara 16/24
hinoki scented black cod, sweet potato, pistachio 24
braised lamb, tiny potatoes, cumin seed 25
caramel braised kurobuta pork belly, radish, mustard greens 28
coconut-curried mussels, sausage, cauliflower 19

Vegetables & Grains
pee wee potatoes 9
organic grilled rice, white or brown 5
roasted yam, chili, pepper 9
steamed mustard greens, soy 9
grilled winter mushrooms, sea salt, lime 12
haricot vert, sesame 9
braised shitake mushroom 11

Photo: Alen Lin/UrbanDaddy