Actress and entrepreneur Issa Rae has opened Somerville, a new restaurant in Los Angeles’ View Park-Windsor Hills area. Partnering with Black entrepreneurs Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan, the venture combines community spirit, history, and culinary excellence.
Rae described the project as “an ode to the classic, artistic past of Black South Central L.A.” The restaurant honors local culture, drawing inspiration from the 1921-1956 era when venues like the Dunbar Hotel hosted Black musicians. Its name pays homage to the hotel’s original title, Hotel Somerville.
Located near Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen—another joint venture between Rae, Hagos, and Relan—the restaurant offers dishes like scallop crudo, lamb shank, and collard green lasagna, created by chef Geter Atienza. Guests can enjoy live music, cocktails, and a warm, lounge-like ambiance.
For more, visit SomervilleSlauson.com or follow @Somerville.Slauson on Instagram.
