Stylish New L.A. Eatery Kassi Club Brings Cool Greek Vibes to West Third Street

Restaurateur and interior designer Nick Mathers has a knack for channeling island life into chic settings — like Italian isle-inspired Élephante, which opened just last year. Starting today, fashionable foodies can enjoy yet another vacay-like dining experience at Kassi Club, a new Greek getaway tucked away on West Third Street that's now open for weekday dinners and brunch to late-night dinner on weekends. (The stylish hangout was fêted last week with a grand opening bash that included guests like Nina Dobrev, Anne Winters, Christa Allen, Nicole Williams-English, Larry English, and Daphne Joy as well as a slew of social media stars.)

Kassi (pronounced kah-zee) isn't your average gyro sandwich joint. Australian-bred Mathers — whose Wish You Were Here group also brought the star-faved Eveleigh and Little Ruby's to L.A. as well as a slew of New York spots — was inspired by Melbourne's Greek community (the largest outside of the Mediterranean country) as well as his travels to the Aegean archipelago, where he's been visiting since he was 19: "Everyone goes to Mykonos [but] there are so many other amazing islands and they all have more of that Mediterranean feel where you'll have clams and spaghetti and prawns on the beach," says Mathers. "It's not like the traditional Greek that you would think of when you think of American Greek food."

The cool lounge has taken over Mathers' previous farm-to-table cafe Goldie's, which opened five years ago. Kassi's decor was inspired by the tavernas of Kastellorizo, a small Greek island near Turkey: Think rattan ceilings, custom-made wood and leather seating designed by Mathers, marble and stone accents, oak flooring, fiber lighting fixtures, and other global-cool touches.

Leading the menu — which declares itself "neither Greek nor Australian" — is executive chef Thomas Lim, who previously headed up Goldie's and is also behind Élephante. Expect Greek-inspired dishes with a California twist, including grilled mains ($22 to $40) like New York steak with herb butter, sea bream with salsa verde and potato leaf, and harissa honey chicken with charred lemon, to name a few.

Seafood lovers can order up oysters; grilled octopus served with radish and beet salad; tuna crudo with avocado, scallions, crispy pita, and spicy aioli; kanpachi tartare with Greek kochu, pickled cucumber, red onion, and tangerine; and more ($14 to $36). As far as small bites ($8 to $14), expect plates like grilled peas, spanakopita, and cheese saganaki with cherry honey alongside salads such as grilled watermelon, peach and buckwheat salad, and a classic Greek salad, among others.

The drink menu (developed by Élephante bar director Julien Calella) boasts inventive cocktails like the signature Kassi (tequila, tsikoudia, watermelon, pineapple, and lime), shaken options like the Trojan Horse (gin, Mastic Tears, lemon, honey, sumac, egg white, and black pepper) and stirred sips like the Evil Eye (mezcal, Cocchi Americano, Bruto Americano, Metaxa Grand Fine, and lemon oils).

Also on offer are draft cocktails like the Greek sangria, and even tequila-spiked slushies, to name just a few. Of course, there's plenty of classics like old-fashioneds, margaritas, and moscow mules alongside wine and beer.

Hungry? Kassi's open for reservations on online here, or you can book via phone. See the full address, hours, and number below, and scroll through the gallery above to take a peek inside the restaurant.

Kassi Club, 8422 West 3rd St., L.A., 90048; Monday through Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; (323) 545-6743