Upcoming Top Chef contestant Jackson Kalb is opening a brand new restaurant in Brentwood called Gemma di Mare, located at 11677 San Vicente Blvd. Ste. 200.
The new East Coast Italian Seafood restaurant lands a perfect spot on the second floor of the Brentwood Gardens Plaza, surrounded by other well-known restaurants like Toscana, Baltaire, SUGARFISH, AOC Brentwood, and more. Gemma di Mare will move into the former home of Bottlefish Restaurant sometime in Summer 2022, according to Eater LA. Kalb tells the publications he and Melissa Kalb expect a limited opening in early summer, followed by a full opening later in the year, featuring longer hours and more extensive menus.
Limited information is available regarding the upcoming restaurant. What is known is customers can expect an upscale-casual restaurant with an Italian foundation. There will be plenty of grilled and fried local seafood, with more exciting details to come later. As with most of the other restaurants nearby, Gemma di Mare will likely feature some kind of cocktail menu to compliment the restaurant’s menu.
Kalb has spent quite some time getting to the point of becoming a contestant on season 19 of one of the most-watched cooking competitions. On top of the upcoming challenge and new restaurant, Kalb has spent time running the popular South Bay pasta restaurant Jame Enoteca and Venice’s Italian favorite Ospi. Before becoming the CEO of Momento Mori Hospitality, he worked as the Chef De Cuisine at Factory Kitchen.
