Week in Reviews: No Miss Irene Today, But Lot 1 Bonus, Lemonade, Sako, Seven Restaurant and MORE
It looks like Miss Irene is MIA today as we have no official LAT review to link to. There's a nice "Find" by Linda Burum (Sako Mediterranean Cuisine) but no stars, no "S.", not the usual beat. (What, no fill-in reviews when she's on vacation any more?) Well, fine then. Today we're going to do something we never do on Eater and fill in the gap with a special bonus review/preview of Lot 1 sent to us by our Curbed cohort, Marissa. She checked out Josef Centeno's new Echo Park restaurant last night:
Ok, so the decor looks...hurried like they just wanted to open something quickly. And its WAAAAYYYYYY too bright, they need to lower the lights. Josef seems much more relaxed, baseball cap and facial scruff. Same open kitchen window as Opus, so he looks out on the action as he cooks. About three four-tops outside, no heaters yet; inside seats maybe 20 or 30 max. Almost every table was taken by the time we left around 9:30, so seems to be doing well for the first week. Very convivial atmosphere, everyone asking the table next to them about what they ordered.
Sure, we'll even let her talk about the food.
More Lot 1, plus Ingredients, Lemonade and the new M Cafe ELSEWHERE >>
The Dish Late Lunch/Early Dinner Alert: M Cafe de Chaya Culver City, Lot 1 in Echo Park
Fresh from the scene today: M Cafe Culver City
CULVER CITY: Because they just can't get enough fresh to-go salads in Culver City, M Cafe de Chaya opened yesterday and stays open 8am-9pm daily. The second macrobiotic restaurant for the Chaya group has basically the same menu as the Melrose original, but there's more grab-and-go plus seating inside and out. (9343 Culver Blvd, 310838.4300; website)
ECHO PARK: Holding true to his word, Josef Centeno opens Lot 1 Cafe tonight. The a la carte menu looks enticing enough: Wild arugula salad with guanciale and jidori egg; roast chicken with chard; English pea ravioli; pepper-crusted steak with bone marrow toast. Centeno---whose bacos and tasting menus made serious foodies giddy at Opus---continues the same themes: The flat-bread "bacos" are available during the day, there's brunch on weekends, and Tuesdays are reserved solely for the tasting menu. (1533 Sunset Blvd, 213.481.8400)
Josef Centeno's Lot 1 Menu Revealed
Click to enlarge
Clare over at Rainy Days & Sundays has become quite the Centeno stalker (we kid; you're doing just fine, Grasshopper). She popped over to his new Lot 1, which opens next Monday, May 5 in Echo Park, and spotted the menus hanging in the window. Above we have the a la carte menu, served nightly except for Tuesdays, which is reserved for weekly changing tasting menus. The daytime baco menu has five choices (crispy pork belly and short rib carnitas; panko-crusted fish; crispy eggplant and escabece; lamb sausage; chicken confit). Weekend brunch looks interesting. Excitement is stirring.
· Flore, FoodJiva, Lot 1 Menu! [RDS]
· Big Baco News: Centeno in Echo Park [~ELA~]
Big Baco News: Now It's Centeno in Echo Park
Well it's a big no to the Michaelangelo space and to Casa downtown: Josef Centeno will open Lot 1 around May 5-6. From Rainy Days and Sundays: "He's teaming up with the building owner and her son on this venture. He told me it'll be a real mom and pop style joint with no fancy frills, just good food. Josef will be serving his famous bacos during the day, and an a la carte menu for dinner service every night except Tuesday---that evening will feature a by-reservation-only tasting menu (ressies won't be taken for any other day, just for the tasting menu). The weekend will offer a brunch menu, and Sunday evenings will be a family-style menu of homey stuff like roasted chicken." (1533 Sunset Boulevard, Echo Park)
· EaterWire: Centeno Still Searching in Silver Lake [~ELA~]
· Neuvo Latino Downtown [~ELA~]
· Josef Centeno Back to Bacos [RD&S]
