La Vida in Hollywood

A fire pit spouts flames in an open patio at La Vida, which was given a well-considered makeover by Sunset Entertainment Group, the folks behind Green Door and Pig ‘n Whistle.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

A salad of chilled shrimp, watermelon, cucumber and avocado at La Vida. “Here, the menu proposes dishes you’d actually want to taste,” S. Irene Virbila writes in a review in The Times’ Food section.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

The light is warm inside La Vida, where Touster Wright Design has had an impact.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Tandoori spiced lamb chops are double-thick chops served with caramelized onions. “They’re good,” The Times’ Virbila pronounces, also noting the chops’ “Moroccan” glaze.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Champagne-braised branzino -- Mediterranean sea bass -- with arroz negro and spinach. Virbila’s verdict: “Wherever the chef is getting his fish, it’s very fresh and beautifully cooked.”  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

One of La Vida’s paella offerings is laced with clam, chorizo and cilantro. The TImes’ Virbila, who recommends it, found that texture of La Vida’s paella seems closer to that of risotto than of the paella you’d get in Spain.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Cocktail waitress Maritza Franco holds a signature La Vida Passion, made up of 42 Below passion fruit vodka, white grapes, Aperol, lime juice and sweet water.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Coffee creme brulee is among the La Vida desserts that, Times restaurant critic Virbila finds, “are way above what you’d ever expect to find at the latest Hollywood hotspot.”  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

La Vida executive chef Joseph Panarello was hired away from John Sedlar’s Rivera.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)