Nancy Spielberg, Steven Spielberg, Leah Adler, Sue Spielberg, and Anne Spielberg during the annual Mother’s Day luncheon by Cedars Sinai’s The Helping Hand, on May 5, 1995. Photo courtesy of the Milky Way L.A. favorite restaurant, The Milky Way, once run by Leah Spielberg Adler, is set to reopen Feb. 18.
The re-opening comes almost two years after Adler, who had initially opened the restaurant with her husband Bernie in 1977, passed away at age 97.
The Kosher certified spot was a staple in Pico Robertson and will now serve modernized versions of its Kosher cuisine including “the Impossible Cheeseburger,” “Famous Fish Chowder,” Potato Latkes, Eggplant Parmesan, Leah’s Classic Cheesecake and Cheese Blintzes — to name a few.
The Spielberg family commissioned Executive Chef and Restaurant Consultant Phil Kastel of PK&J Hospitality Group to revamp this fresh menu.
“The Milky Way may be a kosher dairy restaurant, but it is also a new American Kosher restaurant,” Kastel said in a statement. “We wanted to create an inclusive and welcoming place for everyone, regardless of their faith or adherence to a specific dietary restriction. What will resonate with diners most is just how comforting the food here is – all the dishes on the new menu honor “LeeLee” (Leah Spielberg Adler’s nickname) and her unique tastes and are updated but true to her legacy at the same time.”
The food won’t be the only revamp to the eatery. The 2,600-square foot restaurant, will seat 50 in the main dining room, feature wood, gray and blue tones, with hardwood floors throughout. In addition to the dining room, the bar that used to be non-functional will now seat 13.
With the many refurbishments, the Milky Way will still incorporate Adler’s touch. Adler was a concert pianist, an artist, and also a proud mom to her four talented children Steven, Nancy, Anne and Sue Spielberg. They were showcased throughout the restaurant in the form of a memorabilia-filled room that became as much a tokens as the perfect place to drop by for a nosh.
The Milky Way will also still feature many tokens of Spielberg nostalgia including its hallways which will be covered in “Big,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Above and Beyond” film posters, as well as family photos.
“Though her passing left a deep void in our hearts, we hope the new Milky Way will not only honor her memory, but also give back to the community she loved so deeply,” The Spielberg family said in a joint statement.
The Milky Way is located at 9108 Pico Blvd. The restaurant is open Sunday for dinner service from 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.; Monday through Thursday for lunch from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and for dinner from 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.; and on Friday for lunch from 11:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. The restaurant will be closed Friday evening through Saturday in observance of Shabbat. For more information visit the website.
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.