Bringing a taste of Hollywood to Burbank

A little piece of Tinseltown is coming to Burbank this weekend as a new restaurant called the Hollywood Pasta Company opens on Burbank Boulevard with Chef Kurt Ehrlich, former chef at Tavern on the Green in New York City, at the helm.

Ehrlich said he's wanted to open a restaurant in Burbank since last year.

“I love Burbank. I'm going to move here next year,” said Ehrlich, who lives in North Hollywood.

When the space at 3803 W. Burbank Blvd. opened up, he decided the time was right.

Ehrlich brings a wealth of experience to his new restaurant. He's previously owned Kurt's Winery and the Pine Valley House, both in San Diego. He's also been a chef at such diverse venues as the Waldorf Astoria in New York City and the Buena Vista Resort at Disney World in Florida. And he's served as chef at many Oscar and Golden Globe parties.

The restaurant will feature Italian cuisine and have 50 seats inside and 20 seats outside, Ehrlich said. The site has been remodeled with burgundy walls, a new ceiling, Italian-style tile on the floor and two pillars outside the entrance.

Ehrlich said what sets the Hollywood Pasta Company apart from other restaurants is its high-end cuisine at affordable prices. Entrees range from spaghetti and meatballs for $10.95 to an 8-ouce filet mignon with bordelaise sauce for $24.95.

There's also a kids' menu with meals for $5.95.

“I feel very strongly that when people see what they're getting here, the price point is great,” he said.

In addition to the restaurant, Ehrlich runs a catering business that's known for featuring meal packages named after film icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Jimmy Stewart.

A lot of his catering customers live in Burbank, so the Burbank Boulevard location was an easy choice for him.

Ehrlich is also working on a TV show called “Cooking with the Stars,” where he visits the home of a well-known personality, interviews them and then cooks with them in their kitchen. “They won't all be celebrities. Some will be industry leaders,” he said. While not wanting to reveal too much about the show, he did say that one of the scheduled featured guests will be Eva Mendes.

He'll tape a demo of the show later this year. There are already companies interested in advertising, he added.

As for the Hollywood Pasta Company, Ehrlich is gearing up for tonight's private grand-opening event. The restaurant will open to the public on Sunday.