Josef Centeno Morphs Pete's Into Ledlow Swan Overnight in Downtown

Pete's Los Angeles was doing quite well for the first few months of business, but it might've been too much for the old timers in Historic Core to bear. The menu prices were higher, and the interior took a big turn toward the minimal. Josef Centeno's cooking was top notch, but he decided change the name and modify the concept practically overnight to Ledlow Swan, as first reported by LA Mag.

Even as late as last Friday, Pete's Los Angeles was still painted on the door and top of the menu, but Centeno's menu has slowly shifted from its original "James Beard" type fare to Southern, French, and New American-inflected dishes. Think crispy pork belly, confit duck leg, caramelized cauliflower, and shrimp & grits.

The change makes sense for the nearly two month old eatery, since the name change pushes away any sense of nostalgia for longtime Pete's fans and allows Centeno to focus on the kind of cooking that he's used to. Namely, he's working a strong set of farmers market-driven vegetable dishes, plus robust meat courses packed with flavor yet undergirded by old-school technique.

Ledlow Swan
400 S Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90013