Jose Garces Looking "All Over" For LA Restaurant Site

Sounds like Iron Chef Jose Garces — who made his first foray to the West Coast last year with the Basque-inspired Tinto, and tacos-and-Tequila spot El Jefe, both at Palm Springs' Saguaro Hotel — is getting more serious about expanding even further West. Over the weekend Eater caught up with the James Beard Award winner at Tinto, and when queried about Los Angeles restaurant plans, Garces stated, "We're exploring opportunities in L.A ... We're looking at Santa Monica. I hear Downtown L.A. is happening now. We're looking basically all over. We're really getting to know the market." An opening would still be well down the road, in part because the majority of Garces Group's eateries are in Philadelphia and Atlantic City. "I'm pretty entrenched there. It would take me some time, but we're looking to start ? We're looking to expand our brand."
·All Jose Garces Coverage [~ELA~]
— Lizbeth Scordo