New Owners Take Over Drago’s Shuttered Il Buco in Beverly Hills

It was a sad 20-year ending when famed chef Giacomino Drago closed Il Buco Ristorante in late-October. The space sat empty until last weekend when Prospect Gourmand owner/chef Isaac Gamboa signed a new lease at the former trattoria. It won’t be a second version of his established La Cienega shop, but a new restaurant called Gourmando.

Gamboa and wife Chancey want to bring a casual spot for breakfast and lunch, with a fine dining dinner to Robertson, just north of Wilshire. Issac Gamboa wants to showcase California, with seafood, produce, and meats that all hail from the Golden State.

Morning and daytime diners will place an order at the counter, which will include a small bakery display and mini donut shop. The Gamboas nabbed pastry chef Betty Park, whose credits include Faith & Flower and The Ponte. At night, Gamboa says he’ll convert the restaurant mood to a formal one, while Josh Curtis will create a cocktail menu.

It’s a sizeable space, with 2,250 square feet on the bottom, with an additional 630 square foot mezzanine. The old-school feeling will be gone, with revamped booths and flooring, with the exception of the main room’s classic chandelier. Isaac Gamboa estimates three months until it opens.

The Gamboas opened Prospect Gourmand in 2014, which established itself as a neighborhood spot, which proved highly walkable for local residents.

Gourmando. 107 N Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA

• Longtime Beverly Hills Italian Restaurant, Il Buco, Closes Today After 20 Years [ELA]