ANGE July 2012 : Page 82
Neighborhood Watch As a whole, the recent revitalization of downtown is a collection of beautiful lofts in historic buildings, chic restaurants, fantastic bars and lounges, all adding a unique avor to a part of Los Angeles that had long been neglected. One of the most up-and-coming is the Arts District (artsdistrictla. com), set among operating warehouses between Little Tokyo and the L.A. River. While artists have been living in the area since the ’70s, it really became a dining and drinking destination over the last few years, with some of the newest openings— Eat.Drink. Americano (923 E. 3rd St., L.A., 213.620.0781), Belgian resto Little Bear (1855 Industrial St., L.A., 213.622.8100, littlebearla.com), java joint Handsome Co ee Roasters (582 Mateo St., L.A., 213.621.4194, handsomeco ee.com), e Pie Hole (714 Traction Ave., L.A., 213.537.0115, thepieholela.com) and hipster watering hole One-Eyed Gypsy (901 E. 1st St., L.A., one-eyedgypsy.com)—joining popular spots Church & State (1850 Industrial St., L.A., 213.405.1434, churchandstatebistro.com), Urth Ca é (451 S. Hewitt St., L.A., 213.797.4534, urthca e.com), gourmet sausage haven Wurstküche (800 E. 3rd St., L.A., 213.687.4444, wurstkuche.com) and the carnivalesque Villains Tavern (1356 Palmetto St., L.A., 213.613.0766, villainstavern.com). JOE KNOWS The Bäco by Josef Centeno On the Horizon Someone needs to pinch us. There are so many great restaurants breaking ground, it almost feels like a dream. One thing we’ll be seeing a lot of this year: L.A.’s top chefs opening second concepts all over town. Our Best Chef 2012, Josef Centeno, brings Tex-Mex food to Bar Amá , just a hop and a skip from one of our favorites, Bäco Mercat. Test Kitchen’s Walter Manzke is making headway on République , which will feature his show-stopping French cuisine in a modern industrial space. And Bill Chait, the restaurateur behind many successful spots (Short Order, Picca, Rivera, Playa) is working on an Italian project, Bestia , in the Arts District. His other restaurant, Mess Hall , is taking over the former Louise’s, which he also owns, in Los Feliz. We’re excited for the down-home Connie & Ted’s , chef Michael Cimarusti’s (Providence) New England-style seafood shack in West Hollywood. Quinn and Karen Hatfi eld’s The Sycamore Kitchen should be open by the time you read this. And David Myers has a restaurant, still unnamed, in the works at a swanky condo tower, The Century, in Century City. EVERYTHING’S COMING UP TAR & ROSES Andrew Kirschner BEST NEW RESTAURANT Tar & Roses Santa Monica native Andrew Kirschner grew up going to the famed farmers’ market every week, so it’s no wonder he opened his rst restaurant just a stone fruit’s throw away. After working kitchens at Joe’s Restaurant, Table 8 and, most recently, Wilshire restaurant, the chef has come into his own at the spot he named for the avor references to his favorite Italian wine (nebbiolo). What Tar & Roses has going for it: everything. e space is casual and comfortable, lled with beach-chic locals sharing chicken oysters on a stick and beet salads. e wine list is superb and accessible, the servers a able and knowledgeable. e wood-burning oven is the kitchen’s favorite tool, used to turn out everything but pizza—fresh English peas, gem lettuce and heirloom carrots are charred in it; the best roast chicken in town gets its golden glow from it; and it puts a perfect sear on a rib-eye steak. 602 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.587.0700, tarandroses.com 82 | Angeleno | July 2012 TAR & ROSES PHOTO BY CARIN KRASNER; PAPILLES PHOTO BY ANDREA BRICCO; BÄCO PHOTO BY CARIN KRASNER
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