Owners of Prawn and Basil, previously based in Thousand Oaks, are relocating the restaurant to Westlake Village and changing the name to Roast and Rice Kitchen, located at 30990 Russel Ranch Dr. Ste. A.
Owner Duragron (Tata) Lawton tells What Now Los Angeles she believes this continuation is more of a kitchen exploration than a simple relocation/ rebranding. Roast and Rice Kitchen will replace Barone Pizzeria by the end of the year, but not without using their new space to their advantage. Lawton says the restaurant plans to feature all the menu items seen at Prawn and Basil, plus some new additions, thanks to the built-in fire oven that sits within the building.
Customers can expect all the favorites that were at Prawn and Basil, including sushi, shrimp tacos, and Thai drunken noodles. On top of that, Lawton says they will use the built-in fire oven to incorporate new Asian flavors to create fusion pizzas such as curry pizza and other Asian-inspired toppings. That’s not the only thing the restaurant plans to add, as Lawton says they have more menu ideas in the works, such as Chinese chicken roasted duck over rice.
Both Prawn and Basil and Roast and Rice Kitchen are family-owned restaurants, with many different family members of Lawton’s helping around the restaurant. The family was forced to move locations due to high-leasing costs. Despite the fast opening, Lawton says she is both excited and nervous about the new venture, pointing to Los Angeles’ COVID-19 mandates constantly changing as the primary source of stress. Despite the challenging climate in Los Angeles, Lawton says she and her family are hopeful for this new restaurant.
