Osteria La Buca has quickly opened up a location on 14235 Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks, but only for take-out and delivery initially. Owner Stephen Sakulsky told What Now Los Angeles in an email this week that this new location will fully open in the near future, directly mirroring the restaurant’s longstanding neighborhood restaurant at 5210 Melrose Ave.
“We chose the location because we feel the Valley is underserved in restaurants of our nature. Quality and affordability with a ‘hip’ vibe,” Sakulsky said. “Also that the location fits with our original location. That it is on a popular street but a bit outside the super developed portion.”
Sakulsky revealed his plans for what Osteria La Buca’s future renovations will look like before the restaurant starts seating guests, which mostly includes the overall aesthetic of the space previously occupied by 7Fusion (which closed its doors in early-March). But COVID has put him in a place where he is more concerned about the food, causing him to shift the direction into a delivery-focused model. “We just can’t wait to start building our regular base and meeting our neighborhood. It’s what we do best.” Until the situation with the pandemic presents some kind of clarity, Osteria La Buca’s physical doors will stay shut.
“Then comes outdoor dining,” Sakulsky said, “and when we get through COVID, a full restaurant.” Sakulsky plans to always expand Osteria La Buca when the opportunities arise. “We believe in long term steady growth and fundamentals.”
