Ray Garcia knew he had to make a big splash if he was going to leave the comfortable environs of the Fairmont in Santa Monica. Sure, FIG was a blockbuster, popular from the get-go, and amenable to the creative chef's vision of using market-fresh ingredients. But Garcia's going truer to his heritage with B.S. Taqueria, which preludes his upcoming Broken Spanish (slated for the old Rivera space).
This new production with Bill Chait slots right into the former Mo-Chica in Downtown, though with a much more colorful interior designed by All the Bells & Whistles. Strong color lines, a cloud of wooden whisks called molinillos, and what might be the most green space in Los Angeles not involving marijuana or sunlight. Yes, that rather dim back room at Mo-Chica's been transformed into a lush, wonderful magical realism of Like Water for Chocolate.
A cloud of wooden whisks called molinillos
When it opens for lunch service tomorrow, the taqueria will be a much more casual affair, whereupon diners order at the counter and grab a number before the food gets dropped off at the table. Or one could opt to sit at the bar and enjoy lunch, with Julian Cox mixing cocktails like Hoja Santa, which fuses tequila, hoja santa, cucumber, raw agave, and sal de camarones.
For now, hours will run Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and eventual weekend service. Dinner will be slated for a few weeks later. See the full menu below, which touts everything from a tasty beet milanesa torta to clams & lardo tacos (remember, two tacos per order).
B.S. Taqueria
514 W. 7th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
