Meet Georgie: Geoffrey Zakarian's Beverly Hills Eatery

Geoffrey and Margaret Zakarian show us around their Beverly Hills restaurant.

From: Food Network Magazine

Related To:

Photo By: Jessica Sample

Photo By: Wonho Frank Lee

Photo By: DYLAN + JENI

Photo By: Wonho Frank Lee

Photo By: Jessica Sample

Photo By: Wonho Frank Lee

Photo By: RICK LEW

Photo By: Wonho Frank Lee

Photo By: DYLAN + JENI

Inside Georgie

When Margaret and Geoffrey Zakarian were approached by the Montage Beverly Hills hotel about opening a restaurant, they jumped at the chance to take Geoffrey’s cuisine cross-country. The Cooks vs. Cons host has five other eateries on the East Coast, including The Lambs Club in New York City and Point Royal in Hollywood, FL, and he and Margaret (president of Zakarian Hospitality) knew exactly how they wanted their place in Beverly Hills to feel: dapper, sophisticated and comfortable. "It's a home away from home," Margaret says, "but a little unexpected and a little more whimsical." They even named the spot after their son, George, and hung his artwork on the walls along with pieces by his big sisters, Madeline and Anna. Read on to take a look.

Comfortable Design

Working with husband-and-wife interior designers John and Christine Gachot of Gachot Studios, Geoffrey and Margaret made the 150-seat place feel stylish yet totally approachable.

Green Space

Margaret and Geoffrey wanted the dining room to echo the look of Beverly Cañon Gardens next door. They placed tall fiddle-leaf fig trees throughout the dining room and hung planters along the wine wall.

Handmade Details

Interior designer John Gachot is also an illustrator, and he designed the hand-painted flowers on mirrors and lampshades in the restaurant. He also drew the clementine pattern that's printed on the wallpaper in the private dining room.

Brass Lighting

Margaret doesn’t believe in scrimping on lighting: "You should always go overboard spending on it," she says. "It really sets the tone for the whole room." Throughout the restaurant, she and Geoffrey went with a variety of brass fixtures — including battery-operated table lamps — along with industrial pendants in the café and glass globe chandeliers in the main dining room.

Family Art

The Zakarians' three kids — Madeline, Anna and George — made the art for this gallery wall in a nook of the dining room. Margaret set up a crafts day for them, then the Gachots grouped the works by color.

Cozy Banquettes

Geoffrey wanted the dining room to feel formal but not stuffy. He and Margaret accomplished this by adding homey accents like pillows so guests can sit back between courses. "When you see a lot of throw pillows, you immediately think, 'Oh, this is relaxing,'" Margaret says.

Casual Seating

The cafe area is Margaret’s favorite spot — it's where she hides away for a quiet breakfast whenever she's in town. The custom floral-patterned cement floor tiles and woven bistro chairs set this section of the restaurant apart from the main dining room. The hotel's vaulted ceilings make the space feel bright and airy.

Outdoor Dining

In the evening, the space is lush and glowing, especially the dining terrace adjacent to the park. Thanks to L.A.'s weather — and heat lamps — the area is open year-round.

Stocked Bar

The bar serves some of Geoffrey's favorite cocktails, including the Hollywood Park.

Get the Recipe: Hollywood Park

Patterned Plates

Margaret says she's constantly hunting for tabletop pieces. She ordered some graphic plates and bowls from the Portuguese porcelain company Vista Alegre along with custom-made serving pieces.