Lucia LA: Usher & Saweetie’s Favorite New Caribbean Restaurant
Los Angeles’s dining scene just got a significant infusion of Caribbean flavor, and it’s drawing a celebrity clientele. Lucia, a new restaurant spearheaded by Sam Jordan and Chef Cleophus “Ophus” Hethington, isn’t just serving elevated Caribbean dishes; it’s aiming to redefine how African diaspora cuisine is perceived in a city known for its diverse culinary landscape. The buzz is real, and the reservations are filling up prompt.
A Design That Sets the Stage
The restaurant itself, captured beautifully by photographer Brandon Barré, is a key part of the experience. The design features a striking curved bar, backlit and lined with bottles, creating a low-key yet sophisticated energy. Banquette seating, mirroring the bar’s curves, invites diners to settle in and savor the experience. Barré’s work on Lucia also earned the restaurant a 2025 win in the Americas – Surface Interiors category from the Restaurant and Bar Design Awards, as noted on Instagram.
Celebrity Sightings and a Focus on Flavor
Lucia has quickly become a hotspot for celebrities seeking a more authentic and refined dining experience. Usher recently enjoyed a quiet meal there, and Saweetie celebrated her birthday with friends at the restaurant, according to reports. But, as owner Sam Jordan emphasizes, the celebrity appeal isn’t the primary goal. “For LA to be such a diverse city, I didn’t have like a lot of high-end cuisine serving dishes from the African diaspora,” Jordan shared. He launched Lucia in 2025 with a clear mission: to elevate Caribbean cuisine and fill a gap in the Los Angeles dining scene.
Beyond Mom-and-Pop Shops: Elevating the Cuisine
Jordan’s vision extends beyond simply opening a restaurant. He wants to “eradicate the lines” and provide a different perspective on Caribbean cuisine, while also acknowledging and celebrating the existing “mom-and-pop shops” throughout the city. “It’s important for our community here to break down barriers and deliver a different perspective of the cuisine and highlight it in a way that pretty much every other cuisine is highlighted,” he stressed. This ambition stems from a lifelong love of food and entrepreneurship, nurtured through extensive travel as a child.
Chef Hethington’s Caribbean Soul
Bringing Jordan’s vision to life in the kitchen is Chef Cleophus “Ophus” Hethington. Hethington’s approach is rooted in authentic ingredients and unexpected flavor combinations, presented with a fine-dining aesthetic. His menu showcases dishes like coconut rice and peas, callaloo mixed with spinach, collard greens, butternut squash, and okra, alongside main courses like a NY strip with fufu. But it’s the plantains that truly capture his passion. “I love plantains and here, it’s my plantains served in three different ways,” Hethington proudly declared, referring to his Plantain Expressions – served as maduros and chips with BBQ sauce.
A Deeper Connection to Culinary Heritage
Lucia isn’t just about serving delicious food; it’s about celebrating the cultural heritage behind it. Jordan emphasizes the often-overlooked connections between Black American cuisine and the African diaspora. “Black American cuisine is kind of lost on like the general population—not just Black people, but America in general,” he stated. He points to shared techniques, ingredients, and styles that have been passed down through generations, shaped by travel, colonization, and enslavement. “You have similar techniques and ingredients and styles that have been passed down through generations, through travel, through colonization, through enslavement, and all these aspects of shared history make it to the plate.”
What’s on the Horizon for Lucia?
With Lucia firmly establishing itself as a destination for both discerning diners and celebrity guests, the focus now shifts to maintaining that momentum and continuing to refine the dining experience. Jordan and Hethington are committed to showcasing the breadth and depth of Caribbean cuisine, and to providing a platform for the flavors and traditions of the African diaspora. The restaurant’s success is likely to inspire further exploration of these culinary traditions within the Los Angeles dining scene, and potentially beyond.