Brunch-loving Barbara Jean chef Jason Fullilove is busy. The chef is opening a new Windsor Hills cafe, recently launched Barbara Jean 2.0 in Culver City, and his latest project involves partnering with Silver Lake’s iconic El Cid to launch El Oso at El Cid. The new menu officially debuts on August 9.
In recent years, El Cid’s owners have put less emphasis on the food, focusing primarily on the event space and patio instead. Now that’s changing, as the owner bring on Fullilove to create a modern dinner and brunch menu, crafting unique takes on dishes from Spain and Morrocco. Fullilove even brought over favorites from his stint at the shuttered Malibu Pier Restaurant & Bar, with a menu that will showcase red wine braised octopus, housemade naan with hummus, lamb shawarma, and Spanish classics like paella and gambas a la plancha,
As a longtime fan of El Cid, Fullilove was excited about the partnership. “I’d heard of El Cid the moment I moved to California,” Fullilove tells Eater. “It’s so cool to be a part of a venue that’s such a big part of Los Angeles. The patio is so gorgeous, and I can’t wait to start doing brunch.” The chef says that lunch will also be in the works soon.
Fullilove’s El Oso isn’t the only change at El Cid. Back in November, the owners also initiated minor construction to the front facade in an effort to increase visibility to the Silver Lake neighborhood. But don’t worry about the new look and feel; flamenco very much remains on the performance calendar. El Oso starts on August 9 with dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and weekend brunch from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.