Seafood lovers may soon discover they have a favorite new restaurant in Shuck House, located at the Westfield Century City Mall. Angelenos can feast on fresh, chef-driven seafood dishes and enticing sides that will satisfy the discerning and diverse palates that diners in Southern California are known for.
It started with oysters, but Shuck House is so much more. Shuck House owners George and Cindy Loren (Cindy is also executive chef professionally trained at the Culinary Institute of America) were motivated by their search for the best oysters in the city. Eventually, this led them to creating Shuck House, where Cindy uses her knowledge of seasoning and technique to highlight the flavors of pristine seafood, often inspired by international cultures.
Chef Loren starts with the best ingredients, thanks in part to her solid relationships with sustainable scallop and oyster purveyors on the East and West Coast. That way, she can ensure that you’ll get only the highest-quality and freshest product in the dishes at Shuck House.
Dig into the menu, and it becomes clear that Chef Loren is not only an expert in preparing raw shellfish, but also understands how to achieve the right balance of hearty bisques and comfort food. Chef Loren infuses both the classics and the newcomers with her own spin, and all are guaranteed to satisfy.
Of course, Shuck House has a raw bar, and you can mix and match individual, half-ounce, and full-ounce portions to share or for your own satisfaction. You can select from East Coast, West Coast, and specialty varieties of the aforementioned oysters, depending on what’s in season, served alongside the Shuck House’s own cocktail sauce, horseradish, and lemon. You can also choose from an adventurous remarkable array of mignonettes: champagne, prickly pear, rosé granita, or blood orange.
Rounding out the raw bar are Shuck House’s Peruvian Scallops, served with grapefruit, ponzu, cilantro, fresno, and jicama, along with the shrimp cocktail appetizer, served with the in-house cocktail sauce, horse radish, and lemon.
Shuck House also offers three preparations of grilled oysters: chipotle, Rockefeller, and garlic parmesan. The Oysters Rockefeller includes the traditional mix of parsley, greens, and breadcrumbs, whereas the chipotle delivers a smoky sweet taste with a little crunch, and you’ll enjoy the flavors of Italy with the garlic parmesan oyster, notably garlic and fresh parmesan melted atop the half shell.
Lobster is also on the menu at Shuck House, with Lobster Rolls, Lobster Bisque, and Lobster Mac and Cheese on the menu. In addition, Shuck House does a mouth-watering clam chowder. Less traditionally, the Coconut Curry Mussels are prepared with thai curry, heirloom tomatoes, Fresno chili, and cilantro, served with a crispy crostini for dipping. Or you can order the Ceviche Tostada, featuring baby scallops, octopus, shrimp, cherry tomato, radish, red onion, cilantro, avocado, cucumber, bell pepper, and habanero for an extra kick.
On the lighter side, Shuck House does salads too. The Grilled Gem Salad comes with pickled shallots, apple, pomegranate, manchego, and harissa ranch. The Arugula Salad features pears, pepitas, red onion, fennel, heirloom tomatoes, manchego, and champagne vinaigrette. The Hail Caesar offers a twist on the classic Caesar with romaine, parmesan, torn croutons, and pepitas. Finally, the Grilled Shrimp Chop is decorated with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, bell pepper, cotija, avocado, and harissa ranch. You also have the option of adding salmon or grilled fish to each salad.
“Unlike other seafood restaurants, you won’t find chicken options or other types of cuisine on our menu,” said Chef Cindy. “Our menu is an extension of what we know and love and choose to eat in our own free time. I am inspired by our travels and the way chefs approach fish and oysters around the world.” Seafood is the focus for Shuck House, and it shows in the menu.
However, you will find an extensive beer and wine menu, with an emphasis on California-based producers. Shuck House even serves specialty cocktails, including the Shuck House Punch or the tangy and herbaceous Oyster Shooter.
This is the third California concept for George Loren, who owns both R/10 Social House and Captain Kidds Seafood Market, providing Redondo Beach’s freshest seafood for decades.
In its food court location at the Westfield Century City Mall, Shuck House boasts an order-at-the-counter style space, with ample seating directly around the restaurant area and at the bar. The inviting teal design and tiling harkens to the owners’ love of the beach and the ocean, and the visible kitchen lets customers see the food preparation and guaranteed quality in action.
Shuck House is open seven days a week, Monday– Thursday from 11 am – 9pm, Friday – Saturday from 11am – 10pm, and Sunday from 11am – 8pm.
For more information about the restaurant visit ShuckhouseLA.com
or follow along on Instagram @shuckhouse and Facebook @shuckhouselosangeles.
