Pine & Crane Team Opening Taiwanese Concept in Highland Park

Pine & Crane, which has become a beloved place for Chinese food in Silver Lake (as well as an Eater 38 restaurant), is opening a new Taiwanese concept inside the former Ba in Highland Park. Rumors were hot on The Eastsider that the Pine & Crane team, led by founder Vivian Ku, was opening inside the corner slot on York and Avenue 51, right in the thick of so many new places like Block Party, Hi-Hat, Donut Friend, and Town Pizza.

Though the new concept doesn’t have a name, it’s projected to open by January 2017, with affordable menu items clocking in at under $10 each. They’ll serve a selection of beers and tea to go along with the fare.

Similar to Pine & Crane, this Highland Park restaurant will have a quick service feel, though the food itself will be very different from its Silver Lake sister. Think scallion bread, buns, soups, and other small dishes wrapped in paper for take out, instead of the wontons, dumplings, cold appetizers, and noodles at Pine & Crane.

Once it opens, the Highland Park shop will be open six days a week from noon to 11 p.m. and until midnight on weekends.

Ba’s owners James Graham and Julia Latané posted a notice recently that they were “moving on to different projects.”

• Who is she? New restaurateur taking over Highland Park French restaurant [Eastsider]
• Pine & Crane, a Serene Taiwanese Cafe in Silver Lake [ELA]