L2O

Celebrated chef Laurent Gras, who made his rep in a bevy of Michelin-starred restaurants in France and helmed top-notch kitchens stateside (the Peacock Alley in the Waldorf-Astoria in NYC and the Fifth Floor in San Francisco), has teamed with Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises to launch this modern upscale seafood restaurant in the former Ambria space. The name -- pronounced el-two-oh -- is a combo of Laurent and H2O -- reflects Gras’ affinity for seafood.  Gras is incorporating ingredients such as Japanese hirame, octopus from Spain and turbot from France into his menu; expect dishes like shimaaji cured with salt and red cedar, then lightly smoked, sashimi sliced and finished with apricot oil and Murray salt. There are two prix-fixe menu options: a four-course for $110 and a 12-course tasting menu for $165. The interior features sen wood paneling, ebony tabletops, off-white leather chairs and white onyx, and there’s a Tatami Room with sunken tables and chairs for Japanese-style dining (the Tatami Room will debut in June).