OPEN: 1977–2007
LOCATION: 8720 Sunset Boulevard West Hollywood, CA 90069
ORIGINAL PHONE: (310) 659-6919
CUISINE: French
BUILDING STYLE: French Renaissance
CURRENTLY: Vacant
THE BUILDING AT 8720 SUNSET BOULEVARD WAS FIRST BUILT IN 1934 TO SERVE AS THE INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO OF WILLIAM HAINES, THE FORMER MGM STAR WHO, FOR SIX YEARS, DECORATED FOR THE HOLLYWOOD ELITE. The next occupant was Don Loper, the famous costume and necktie designer. After Loper moved on, the building stood empty for about four years.
In 1977, a new restaurant called Le Dome moved into the first floor of the building. The eatery was the brainchild of Michel Yhuelo and Eddie Kerkhofs, with Elton John as one of its founding backers. The large space featured a bar in its center hub, with smaller rooms radiating out from it. Because of the restaurant’s elevation, perched above the Strip, it provided a nice view of the city lights at night.
Originally, Yhuelo and Kerkhofs had different plans for the design of Le Dome. “It would be elegant informality with service of anything, anytime,” Kerkhofs said. “No dress code. No minimum orders. Reasonably priced: la cuisine bourgeoisie.”
But the restaurant soon became an industry hangout, where film stars sat down to large portions of good, basic French country fare. In the beginning, maître d’ Henri Labadie was as kind to the restaurant’s unknown guests as he was to the celebrities who visited. However, as the prices climbed and jackets became required, those who weren’t “somebody” were seated in an undesirable part of the restaurant that some called “The Hallway.” Around Le Dome’s tenth anniversary, restaurant critic Ruth Reichl drove this point home with a Los Angeles Times article titled “The Best Course at Le Dome? Celebrities!”
The entrance to Le Dome, 1988.
Le Dome on the Sunset Strip, 1988.
The restaurant’s bar, 1988.
The chic French restaurant had a huge star following. Driving past the eatery, you couldn’t help but notice the line of limos and Rolls-Royces parked outside. Inside, power brokers preferred the tables to the right of the bar, while celebrities opted for the patio to the left of the bar, where they could be seen.
The most interesting items on Le Dome’s menu were listed as “casserole country dishes.” The sautéed boudin noir (blood sausage) and boudin blanc (veal and chicken sausage) were both served with homemade applesauce and mashed potatoes. Roasted wild goose with apricot stuffing became the restaurant’s signature dish. The food was pricey, but diners were also paying for the opportunity to sit next to big-name directors, movie stars, and musicians.
In 2003, after twenty-six years of operation, Le Dome reinvented itself with a renovation into what the L.A. Times called “Gothic meets Log Cabin.” Unfortunately, this was the beginning of the end; in 2007, Le Dome closed for good. A year afterward, Laurent Tourondel, chef and owner of BLT Steak, moved his operation into the space and updated it with a warmer, chain-like ambiance. However, BLT Steak closed after a failed five-year attempt to bring its East Coast flair to Los Angeles. The space has remained empty ever since. 