It’s Still Tough Times in the Rough and Tumble Arts District

Osso DTLA has closed

It’s a quiet shutter for Osso, the Arts District restaurant originally opened by a pair of New York City restaurant vets in Nick Montgomery and Ami Lourie. The restaurant, housed in the former One-Eyed Gypsy address, had struggled to find a consistent audience and even reconcepted at one point, with Montgomery leaving a while back.

That’s not to say the food was bad or the concept unstable. The truth is, it can still be a slog to find new and returning diners in the Arts District, despite all the real estate hype. Much like the South Park neighborhood closer to the Staples Center, dreams of big residential buildings filled with creative types seem far away when your sidewalk is covered in construction equipment and regulars complain there’s nowhere to park. With an increasing density of restaurants unmatched by a similar density of living space, it can still be surprisingly tough times in one of LA’s most talked-about dining neighborhoods.

The genius of Alvin Cailan

Ozy takes a look at Alvin Cailan, especially his journey to becoming a food truck star and eventual serial restaurateur. It’s a winding path with a big stop in Portland and elsewhere, but ultimately lands the Unit 120 lead right where he wants to be: helping others in the city he loves.

A big update at Rossoblu

Take a look at this big new update for Downtown’s forthcoming Rossoblu: a massive grill. The heavy metal kitchen staple is set up to get a lot of use from chef Steve Samson soon, as the restaurant tracks an opening for sometime in the first quarter of 2017.

No more Acapulco

The Los Feliz outlet of casual Mexican chain Acapulco has shuttered. Driving past on Sunset Boulevard shows the place stripped of basically any signage, with Yelp confirming the place is all buttoned up. What’s next for the space is anyone’s guess, but if anything the chain restaurant was an anomaly for the area for years, given the prime real estate.

Indian mashup food to know about

LA Weekly tackles the chicken tikka masala quesadilla (among other dishes) from 23rd Street Cafe, coming away with a big appreciation for the cross-cultural mashup of Indian and Mexican cuisines. It’s not the most well thought out food, the piece reasons, but a solid way to bring flavors you might not expect together in delicious ways.

Halal Guys history

Ever wonder how the Halal Guys went from one cart location in Manhattan to a slew of franchise agreements and lines around the block in several cities across America? It’s a fascinating story brought to life by KCET, and shows the importance of business relationships, following your gut, and having a great product.

Red Herring does brunch

Red Herring is a hit in Eagle Rock, with the classy newcomer fitting right in to the still-growing dining scene out that way. To continue stretching their muscle, the restaurant is launching brunch as of this weekend. It’s straightforward fare but looks promising, as the menu below can attest.