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Steve Levine, Owner
A successful cardiologist by day, Steve Levine
began moonlighting as a restaurateur eight years ago, when he acquired La
Vecchia Cucina, an Italian restaurant located on Main Street in Santa Monica.
Levine was attracted to the restaurant business and establishments in his
own neighborhood that combined great food and a sense of camaraderie. He
had an affinity for restaurants he wanted to see continue to succeed as
well as always be a place locals would continue to enjoy. “Having a full-time
medical practice and owning a restaurant creates a very nice balance, both
intellectually and creatively,” he says.
A Philadelphia native who grew up in Los Angeles, Levine attended the University
of California, San Diego, as an undergrad and received his medical degree
from Duke University in North Carolina. Eventually, he made his way back
to California, joining the staff at Saint John’s Hospital in Santa Monica.
But his full schedule hasn’t prevented him from being an active presence
at La Vecchia Cucina, where he’s had a hand in expanding the menu, assisting
in remodeling projects, and attending to personnel matters. “It was a labor
of love, but much more challenging and time-consuming than I ever imagined,”
he notes. When Knoll’s Black Forest Inn on Wilshire Boulevard closed, Levine
knew the space would be the perfect locale for his second restaurant.
Bringing Thomas Schoos on board to design Wilshire, Levine wanted to showcase
his love of the California lifestyle throughout the space by integrating
the rear outdoor patio and giving the restaurant a look that was sleek and
modern yet one that retained a casual appeal. Levine wanted to match the
inviting design of the space with the menu while capturing the way Southern
California and Angelenos like to eat. Levine also wanted to foster the sense
of community that first attracted him to the business. “It was about creating
a place where everybody would feel welcome and comfortable, whether they
had simple palates or were committed foodies,” he explains.
Now more conscious of cuisine and in tune with what matters to diners, Levine
selected Andrew Kirschner as his current executive chef to reflect a combination
of sophisticated cuisine in a space that is still an approachable neighborhood
eatery. Currently exploring sites for a third project, Levine clearly loves
what he does. “The only reason to be in the restaurant business is if you
really love it,” he says, adding, “There are constantly new challenges,
but it’s a magic show every night!”
When he’s not attending to his two demanding careers, Levine, 51, enjoys
surfing, walking his two dogs, and adding new design elements to his home.
He can also often be found at the restaurant—one of the diverse crowds of
guests from the neighborhood and points beyond.
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