Crustacean Beverly Hills‘ celebrated the grand opening Anna May Bar, inspired by film and fashion trailblazer Anna May Wong, the first Asian-American woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The celeb-obsessed Vietnamese restaurant is known for its modern Asian fusion cuisine conceived by legendary chef Helene An. Anna May Bar at Crustacean features a new menu composed of reimagined Crustacean classics and new signature items.

The Anna May Bar boasts a solid cocktail menu that promises to surprise aficionados with exotic ingredients. New additions include the signature Anna May, a picturesque cocktail combining Dos Hombres mezcal, Aperol, Peychaud’s bitters and champagne yuzu foam crowned with gold leaf. Another fan favorite is the Midnight Caller which is a libation of Sông Cái Vietnamese gin, sake, butterfly tea, and lavender bitters. Cinema also plays a small part as cocktails including Daughter of the Dragon, Mr. Wu, Crimson City, and Road to Dishonour are named after Wong’s films.

The reopening comes with a new menu composed of Crustacean classics and new items as small plates. Savory new selections on the bites menu include tapas like portions of salmon sashimi, crab toast, crab legs and steamed vegan dumplings. Veteran menu items include An’s famous garlic noodles, tuna cigars, and filet mignon satay. There’s also filet mignon satay, spicy chicken meatballs and a Jenga-style plate of eggplant fries. Both the bar and the dining room menus lean vegan-forward with items like with the beet tartare in a yuzu vinaigrette and avocado.

Run by four generations of women in the An family over the course of more than 50 years, House of An’s portfolio of restaurants started with Diana An’s 1971 purchase of a San Francisco Italian deli later named Thanh Long. Along the way, House of An added Crustacean Beverly Hills, An Catering, AnQi bistro in South Coast Plaza, and Tiato in Santa Monica.

By Kinya Claiborne, STYLE & SOCIETY