Restaurant designer Dodd Mitchell likes to keep busy.

After designing some of L.A.’s finest dining establishments (Sushi Roku, Linq, Katana, Falcon, Nonya), did he take a well-deserved break? Heck no. He went back to the drawing board (uh, literally) for Avenue, Beverly Hills’ next big thing.

Opening today, Avenue is designed to attract that familiar crowd of cocktailers, diners, and after-dinner drinkers with a bar area that takes up a full quarter of the restaurant, an outdoor patio, comfy chocolate-brown leather banquettes, a canopy-shaped lit ceiling, and shiny teak floors.

Chef Andrew DeGroot (Pastis, Oceanfront at the Casa del Mar) has conceived a sophisticated American menu: grilled herb-marinated pork chop with caramelized salsify and macaroni and bacon gratin; seared Pacific John Dory with roasted golden chanterelles, sunchokes, savoy cabbage, and prosciutto ragout. For dessert, try the made-to-order fruit sorbet. And afterward, retire to the bar area to give props for Mitchell’s hard work.

Heck. He’s earned it.

Avenue, 301 North Canon Drive, at Dayton Way (310-275-2900).