Kevin Meehan's Kali Takes Over Midtown Bar & Kitchen on Melrose

Kali Dining, which has been producing fruitful, and innovative pop-ups for the last few years, has found a new home along Melrose Avenue. Helmed by Kevin Meehan, the former supper club takes over the old Midtown Bar & Kitchen, which opened in 2013 without too much fanfare or buzz on the blogs.

The new concept, which is dubbed Kali, is a partnership with Meehan and Drew Langley, who was most recently the sommelier at Providence. They had worked together for years at the late L'Orangerie as well as Bastide.

Projected to open before the end of the year, the concept will be contemporary Californian using fine dining technique and local products. The idea is Michelin level food without the stuffy atmosphere or the high price point, which they can accomplish because of favorable lease terms and low overhead. So don't expect a massive staff or fancy white tableclothes, just a comfortable, approachable spot with fair pricing. Langley will head the beverage program, crafting cocktails and assembling an affordable wine list. Overall, it's a solid get for this section of Larchmont/Hancock Park along Melrose Avenue.

Meehan, who was previously chef at Cafe Pinot in Downtown and worked at Patina, has been conducting the Kali Dining supper club at underground locations around town for the past three years.