Chef and owner John Cleveland will offer delicious dishes at the Neighborhood Grill by Post & Beam. (photo courtesy of NHMLAC)

The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County has named the NHM’s reimagined restaurant Neighborhood Grill by Post & Beam. It will open to visitors on Friday, March 17, as part of the museum’s food service reorganization with South LA Cafe Hospitality.

Neighborhood Grill will be operated by chef and owner John Cleveland and co-owner Roni Cleveland, of Post & Beam restaurant in the Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw District. Known for its “California soul” approach to food, the restaurant combines Southern comfort with California innovation. Grand opening celebrations are planned for the weekend of March 17-19.

Neighborhood Grill’s menu draws inspiration from L.A.’s quintessential casual dining favorites through the curated lens of Post & Beam. It will offer a dynamic selection of made-to-order and grab-and-go items for guests to enjoy as part of their museum experience. Cleveland’s creative, customizable menu includes hot and cold sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, street tacos, salads, nuggets, snacks and sweet treats, as well as an abundance of vegan and gluten-free options. Signature items include hot pastrami sandwiches, vegan tacos (wild mushroom, smoked cauliflower and heart of palm), nachos and chips and queso. Grab-and-go items will be offered from South Los Angeles vendors such as Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen, Hotville Chicken and Southern Girls Desserts.

With indoor and outdoor seating, the new restaurant will be open during public museum hours from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and replaces NHM Grill, the museum’s former restaurant operated by Trimana. Post & Beam’s casual concept restaurant is one of the major elements of NHMLAC’s partnership with the newly formed South LA Café Hospitality, which began managing the museums’ food and beverage program on Feb. 1. Co-founded by Los Angeles natives Joe and Celia Ward-Wallace, SLAC is a certified minority business enterprise and women-led business. It includes South LA Cafe, South LA Market and the nonprofit South LA Cafe Community Foundation. SLAC Hospitality will also oversee catering for NHMLAC special events, and will operate a new café inside NHM Commons, a new wing at the NHM scheduled to open mid-2024.

“The opening of Neighborhood Grill by Post & Beam is an exciting first step in our transformational partnership with SLAC Hospitality – a values-aligned, socially-aware collaboration created in the spirit of connecting more with our local neighbors and driving our vision for the Natural History Museum to be a dynamic community hub,” NHMLAC president and director Lori Bettison-Varga said.

“I’m excited to put together a family focused concept with the partners at the museum, and to have a space that will allow our team to grow,” Cleveland added. “It was very encouraging to know that NHM makes an effort to support families and small businesses. I want to create a casual and versatile food experience that reflects our neighborhood and supports our community. I love that food is going to be part of the memories that people make when they visit here.”

The Natural History Museum is located at 900 Exposition Blvd. For information, visit nhmlac.org.