Nicky Blair's was a high-end Italian restaurant on the

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, next to Le Dome. It thrived in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was named after the proprietor, Nicky Blair, a bit-part film actor who starred in over 75 movies. He established it in 1986 and ran it until his death from

liver cancer Liver cancer, also known as hepatic cancer, primary hepatic cancer, or primary hepatic malignancy, is cancer that starts in the liver. Liver cancer can be primary in which the cancer starts in the liver, or it can be liver metastasis, or secondar ...

in 1998, although he spent his last years in

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attempting to establish another restaurant there.

Service

The restaurant, with a piano bar, served Italian and continental cuisine, including freshly made

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, scallopini, and grilled fish and meat dishes. A 1991 edition of ''LA Access'' described it as a "Noisy, crowded, and glitzy singles bar", which was "good for star-gazing".

Notable patrons

The restaurant was a favorite evening haunt of numerous actors and celebrities, such as

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...

, a close friend of Blair's, and the

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. Sinatra and friends would play poker in the kitchen to escape the attention of fans and the press. In one incident:

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celebrated his 1992 Oscar success at the restaurant.

Sylvester Stallone Sylvester Gardenzio "Sly" Stallone (; born July 6, 1946) is an American actor and filmmaker. In a Sylvester Stallone filmography, film career spanning more than fifty years, Stallone has received List of awards and nominations received by Syl ...

also frequented Nicky Blair's and would take his dates there.

References

{{reflist 1986 establishments in California Defunct Italian restaurants in the United States Defunct restaurants in Los Angeles European restaurants in Los Angeles Italian restaurants in California Restaurants established in 1986