Evan Funke Snags Former Beacon Space for New Resto

The Los Angeles dining scene suffered a palpable loss when longtime Rustic Canyon chef Evan Funke clocked out of the seasonal Santa Monica eatery. Perhaps you were a fan of his lauded Rustic Canyon burger, or had a soft spot for his sweet corn agnolotti which graced the menu year after year when seasonally appropriate. And while Funke has been off the grid for at least the past six months, the chef has now landed at the shuttered Beacon space (Michael Cardenas' deal there fell through and he instead snapped up Tudor House in Santa Monica) to open his first solo restaurant! Funke confirms the new eatery and adds that he's excited to be working in Culver City. That's all he is ready to share at the moment, but certainly much more to come. [EaterWire]