New Universal Citywalk LA Restaurant Goes Full Steampunk Willy Wonka | Eater LA

"Opening Friday, January 27, this new Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen at Universal CityWalk takes over the former Hard Rock Cafe and feels like a mash-up of steampunk industrialism, the Cheesecake Factory, and Willy Wonka. The full-service, multi-level space includes a bar, a retail shop selling house-made chocolate, a massive clock marquee, nearly 100-foot-high smokestacks, a sky mural with airships, and reimagined Victorian-era gadgets made by LA artists, while two live, dolled-up characters named Penelope and Jacques roam to interact with guests. The menu from chef Carlos Garcia leans less on the chocolate theme and more on broad appeal, with starters like pork belly sliders, nachos, and truffle fries; salads, pastas, brisket, steaks, flatbread pizzas, fried chicken sandwiches, a Reuben, and a lengthy burger list; plus a kid’s menu. Brunch is served all day with sweet and savory crepes, waffles, bananas foster, and French toast, and desserts include 13 types of milkshakes and sundaes as well as chocolate mousse, pot de creme, and bread pudding. Cocktails skew old-school and sweet (examples include a root beer old fashioned, an espresso martini with white chocolate, Kahlua and Baileys, a sugar cookie soda with spiced rum, and a cacao nut margarita), and the location took three years to complete; Toothsome already exists in Orlando and Beijing but is new to Los Angeles and is Universal’s only large-scale dining space not attached to a franchise. It operates daily at Universal CityWalk in suite 99 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; reservations are available on the Universal CityWalk site." - Mona Holmes