Gjelina Chef Travis Lett to Open Upstairs Veggie Restaurant

Earlier this year Gjelina was awarded 2nd best new LA restaurant in 2008 by LAmag, falling a few heirloom tomatoes short of winner Palate Food & Wine in Glendale. When chef/owner Travis Lett and co-owner Fran Camaj took over the space at 1429 Abbot Kinney a year ago, they actually acquired a building with two floor, the bottom of which houses Gjelina and the top of which has remained vacant. After pondering for some time now what to do with the above area, Travis has finally settled on an Ubuntu-esque venture, a "vegetable-based" restaurant for non-vegetarians. The unnamed upstairs space with have a bistro vibe, seat 20-25 non-vegetarians, and open in a few months. [DD]