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  • TEAM

    Clint Clausen, Director of Operations

    Clausen is thrilled to be working with visionary Chef Nyesha Arrington at Wilshire Restaurant. The patio, cuisine and attention to detail are what set Wilshire Restaurant above the rest of the West Side great restaurant options. Owner Steve Levine and Clausen immediately hit it off and began to drive the critical synergy that every great restaurant must have in its leadership team. Wilshire Restaurant has the whimsical feel that makes you feel like you could be in Tuscany or Rome with brilliant cuisine accompanied with a mixology program and wine list with over 600 labels that make it a highly qualified stand out on the epically competitive best restaurants scene in Santa Monica.

    Clint Clausen, Director of Operations

    Clausen is thrilled to be working with visionary Chef Nyesha Arrington at Wilshire Restaurant. The patio, cuisine and attention to detail are what set Wilshire Restaurant above the rest of the West Side great restaurant options. Owner Steve Levine and Clausen immediately hit it off and began to drive the critical synergy that every great restaurant must have in its leadership team. Wilshire Restaurant has the whimsical feel that makes you feel like you could be in Tuscany or Rome with brilliant cuisine accompanied with a mixology program and wine list with over 600 labels that make it a highly qualified stand out on the epically competitive best restaurants scene in Santa Monica.

    Sal Garcia, Chef de Cuisine

    Sal has proven himself an integral component of the culinary department at Wilshire Restaurant. Well respected in the kitchens of Los Angeles, his experience includes Sous Chef positions at Wolfgang Puck's Spago and most recently as Executive Chef of Fraiche. Sal's comprehensive knowledge of a working kitchen has helped make him a leader. He works alongside his cooks and trainees at the stoves, lending a hand and helping them develop their skills. Sal also develops the seasonally changing menus and the overall culinary direction of Wilshire. You'll find him at the weekly Farmers' Market where he draws much of his inspiration; his close relationship with the farmers allows Wilshire to procure some of the best produce available. During his days off, Sal explores the city's other restaurants and cultivates his relationships with the other top toques in Los Angeles.

    Rui Wang, Sous Chef

    Rui Wang, born in China and raised in France has always been a lover of food. Her international travels have shaped her passion for creating a true restaurant experience. Having lived in Los Angeles for the last 20 years her roots are now firmly planted in Southern California. A graduate of the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Program with an Associate Degree, she has worked in many restaurants all over Los Angeles including Bistro 45 as Sous Chef, Sous Chef at IDGs Delphine at the W in Hollywood, and most recently Chef de Cuisine at Palihouse in West Hollywood. This is her second restaurant collaboration with Nyesha Arrington and continues to uphold the high standards of quality and dedication to culinary excellence that truly shapes exceptional restaurant experiences.

    Kirk Sides, Sommelier

    Kirk joined Wilshire in 2005 as a floor manager and is now our talented sommelier. He develops and maintains Wilshire's ever-evolving wine program in close collaboration with our Executive Chef, making sure that it complements the seasonality of our menus. Through regular wine classes to educate our staff on their understanding of acclaimed large and boutique producers, Kirk encourages a wine program that is interesting, comfortable and un-intimidating for guests.

    Ric Christopher, General Manager

    Ric joined Wilshire Restaurant with over 26 years of experience in restaurant business management. His dedication and expertise in the hospitality industry has grown exponentially, working at some of Los Angeles' most notable establishments, including Shutters on the beach in Santa Monica, and the Falcon in Hollywood. Ric shares a passion for restaurants and hospitality with his wife Sarah, who is also in the business.

    Brandon Bernstein, Floor Manager

    Brandon Bernstein joined Wilshire Restaurant in 2012. He has brought along his expansive beer knowledge, love for food and passion for the restaurant industry. Before Wilshire, Brandon started out his restaurant career at a small French bistro at the age of 15, as part of the opening team. Since then Brandon has worked in Tuscany at Relais and Chateaux Il Falconiere, at their Michelin-Starred Restaurant. A Graduate of the Le Cordon Bleu With an Associate’s Degree in Restaurant Management and a Bachelor of Science and Business with a Concentration in Restaurant Management. Brandon is also an avid hockey player.

    Devry Juthans, Special Events Director

    Devry began her hospitality career at Wilshire as our Maitre D'. Her desire for growth and aptitude for the business allowed her to master not only the dynamics of the restaurant floor operation but also the complex world of special events and catering. She is a gifted communicator and deftly collaborates with guests to manage every aspect and detail of their events and parties. As our Special Events Director since 2009, Devry can orchestrate an intimate dinner party or a large scale corporate event in total style.

    Cathy Smith, Daytime Manager

    Cathy is an original member of our inaugural team at Wilshire. As our daytime manager, she is the first person one meets at the door or on the phone, and has faithfully dedicated herself to making our guests feel welcome. She handles the job with grace and treats everyone as if they are stepping into her home for the first time.

    Steve Levine, Owner

    Steve began his career as a restaurateur when in 1998 he acquired La Vecchia Cucina, an Italian restaurant located on Main Street in Santa Monica. He was attracted to the restaurant business after discovering as a customer that a local restaurant could not only provide excellent food, but also serve as a gathering place for the community. Before finally selling La Vecchia to his Chef in 2006, he fulfilled his mission of establishing La Vecchia as a popular neighborhood restaurant that brought customers together for great meals and new friendships. Steve decided in 2004 to raise the bar for Santa Monica with a new project, Wilshire Restaurant.

    Bringing Thomas Schoos on board to design Wilshire, which opened in 2005, Levine wanted to showcase his love of the California lifestyle by integrating the outdoor patio and creating an elegant but accessible and casual appeal. Levine wanted to match the inviting design of the space with a menu that captured the way Southern California and Angelenos like to eat. "It was about creating a place where everybody would feel welcome and comfortable, whether they had simple palates or were committed foodies," he explains.

    In tune with what matters to diners, and a supporter of sustainable farming, ranching and fishing, Levine selected Nyesha Arrington as his current executive chef to reflect a combination of sophisticated cuisine in a space that is still an approachable neighborhood eatery

  • CLINT CLAUSEN | SAL GARCIA | RUI WANG |
    KIRK SIDES | RIC CHRISTOPHER | BRANDON BERNSTEIN
    DEVRY JUTHANS | CATHY SMITH | STEVE LEVINE
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2454 Wilshire Boulevard Santa Monica, CA 90403-5823 (310) 586-1707 visit us