Chez Nous Closes; Seafood Spot Moving In

Come the second week of March, Baret Lepejian will unveil Luca's, a seafood eatery replacing Chez Nous Restaurant and Bakery in Toluca Lake.

The restaurateur bought the French bistro last summer and halted everything except for the bakery.

While trying to figure out how to make his new venture "outside the box," Lepejian said he thought why not serve hot rolls and pastries under the same roof as catches from the deep?

"There's nothing in Toluca Lake quite like this," said Lepejian, who resides in the neighborhood. "It's an uncommon relationship between a bakery, traditional sushi and a bar/restaurant with cooked seafood."

A sushi bar is being installed right next to the bakery, while another chef was hired to prepare hot dishes like steamed halibut, he said.

Lepejian also owns Lucy's 51 a few blocks east of Luca's on Riverside Drive as well as burger joint Tinhorn Flats in Burbank.

Chez Nous was in business for 30 years, but Lepejian said fans of the French bistro can still buy their favorite baked goods.

"Most of the people that love Chez Nous went in for the bakery, for the breakfast. That's all going to stay," he said.

Remodeling for Luca's is currently wrapping up. Lepejian said he plans to add several TVs to the bar area and offer discounted sushi during a late night happy hour.

He added Luca's bakery will open at 6 a.m., while the sushi kitchen should start serving customers around noon.