Bar Angeles Gives Silver Lake Another Casual Dinner Option Next Year

Big news out of Silver Lake today, as word comes that the duo behind Downtown’s Horse Thief is plotting a new dinner concept nearly right next door to Dinosaur Coffee on Sunset Boulevard. The casual restaurant is to be called Bar Angeles, and it’s already got some lofty ideas in the works.

First, the space itself. As every music lover knows, the area just down from Dinosaur is already occupied, albeit by a mural — yes, the one made famous by Elliott Smith as the cover of his seminal album Figure 8. Over the years the painting has become something of a shrine to Smith himself, and defacing efforts in the past have only brought down heavy amounts of shame and scorn.

The guys behind Bar Angeles, Horse Thief’s Wade McElroy and Russell Malixi, are absolutely intent on maintaining the overall integrity of the mural — even their name, Bar Angeles, is an ode to Smith — but will be working with the building’s owner to open up some small portions of the street frontage during construction of the restaurant. Consider it an update to the mural’s legacy.

Eventually, the space will be built-out to its full 1,750 square foot glory, reaching roughly 60 seats, mostly by way of communal tables, and offering full booze in the evenings. Sally Breer, former Curbed Young Guns contender and eye behind McElroy and Malixi’s other upcoming project in Highland Park named Birdie, will be working with the pair again for this build-out.

As for the food and drink, expect a casual, easygoing eatery that looks to marry together the many neighborhoods of Los Angeles. The menu will vary from chef Joey Booterbaugh’s Cal-Med recipes at Birdie, focusing instead on simpler dinner fare that’s meant to be enjoyed with a drink. With less than two dozen total menu items likely, expect weekly and daily specials to rotate in as well — at least until an eventual lunch and brunch service begins.

Bar Angeles has plans to open for service in late fall 2016. Until then the space will be in quiet build-out mode mostly, getting the necessary permitting and even hosting occasional events like art shows in the venue to get the neighborhood warmed up to the new look.

Bar Angeles
4330 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA