Barbershop Moves to Former AOC with Pizza, Friends

Remember how AOC offered up its old home on Third Street for pop-ups? Well, chef Walter el Nagar and partner/wine director Mario Vollera have snagged the space and will relocate their Barbershop pop-up, a prelude to their future Italian restaurant, here from February 27 to March 31. So, that means Wednesday night to Sunday brunch, dinner seatings at 7 and 8:30 p.m., and one seating at noon for brunch. New to the game are pizzas, El Nagar explains, "Mr Mario Vollera in his precedent life was one of the best pizzaiolo in LA when he worked at Antica Pizzeria. We will serve just 3/4 kind of outstanding pizza (pizza napoletana, the only real authentic pizza in our opinion) just at the bar."

As for those tasting menus, the meal is now six courses with amuses at $75 a head and $45 supplemental for a wine pairing. El Nager is working on another Santa Barbara spot prawn dish, a 24-hour slow cooked meat ragu, and some grass fed dry aged beef he secured through Lindy & Grundy. In fact, he's planning on inviting the girls in for a whole animal dinner/lesson, in addition to some other chef/sommelier friends for collaborative meals in the future. [EaterWire]