SBE Partners With Michael Mina for European-Influenced XIV

In a partnership with SBE and Mina Group Inc., renowned chef Michael Mina opened his first L.A. restaurant, XIV, this week in the former Privilege space. Mina, who has Michelin-starred eponymous restaurants in San Francisco and Las Vegas as well a host of other eateries around the country, created a menu of modern American cuisine, with a focus on small plates.

Designed by Philippe Starck, the $12 million restoration is meant to evoke the drama and opulence of a European chateau. The restaurant has four seating areas, which can be booked individually to host events for groups of 25 to 350. An adjacent parking lot provides additional space for larger events. One wall of the main dining room is covered in stainless steel panels, while another area features fireplaces, bookshelves, hand-painted artwork, and mirrors. Chocolate-brown velvet drapes, sofas from Italy, and an ornately carved ceiling add European touches to the decor.

An entirely new modern exterior includes a luxe patio, complete with a large marble-topped bar, teak benches, and whimsical touches like wheelbarrow-shaped chairs.