Gjelina's Long-Awaited Japanese Izakaya in Venice Targets May Opening Date

Things must be heating up inside Travis Lett’s long-rumored Japanese restaurant space on Abbot Kinney. There’s been some tinkering going on inside of late, and now the Gjelina/Gjusta owner has posted a Craiglist ad that gives away quite a bit of information on the place.

The ad posted a few days ago, and asks for front of house help at the upcoming restaurant. Interestingly enough though, the request is rather specific in its verbiage about who will be doing what. Per the listing:

The service model at the restaurant involves working across multiple departments. All FOH staff can be sure that their weekly schedule will be made up of shifts not only serving tables, but also serving behind the bar, prepping food, running food, working in the dish wash, bussing tables and hosting at the door. If you feel that you have the right spirit and energy to embrace this diverse work week, we would love to meet you.

As if to hammer home the point, the ad goes on to let readers know that a “mandatory service charge” will be added to each check, with 100% of that money being split among staff. It’s a move commonly seen in restaurants around town these days, including places like the new Kismet, as a way to combat rising labor, production, and rent costs. Other tipping and payment models are also being tinkered with around town, like the all-inclusive menus planned at Atwater Village’s Journeymen.

Beyond the front of house stuff, the ad also quotes a late-May opening for the restaurant, but doesn’t offer a name, website, or other pertinent details just yet. Lett did talk to Condé Nast Traveler just over a year ago about the spot though, and said at the time it would be a modern izakaya with California influences. That falls right in line with LA’s latest obsession, modern upscale Japanese dining, and seeing as how this is in Venice it’s a sure bet the place will be a hit. More on this as it comes.

1305 Abbot Kinney
Venice, CA

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