:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66478473/french_food_bistro.0.jpg)
2020 is gearing up to be another big year for dining in Los Angeles, with huge international and star local names all vying for dining dollars in the City of Angels. While long-awaited projects like Damian/Ditroit, from Enrique Olvera and Daniela Soto-Innes of Pujol and Cosme, are now tracking for sometime this summer, there’s still a fair bit of buzzy excitement right around the corner for places from the South Bay to Downtown to Century City.
Among the earliest arrivals will be Sightglass, set to open this very month in Hollywood’s rapidly changing Media District neighborhood. Others include a rebrand of a familiar West Adams space, and one of LA’s biggest chef duos dropping a couple of side-by-side projects in West LA. As for trends: This may be the year of the French dining renaissance.
These are the most anticipated upcoming openings for spring 2020
Caldo Verde
Location: 1106 Broadway, Los Angeles
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13754037/DTLA_Renderings_Feb_2019_07.jpg)
Major Players: Caroline Styne, Suzanne Goin
The Situation: Located on the ground floor of the Proper Hotel in Downtown’s South Park neighborhood, Caldo Verde will lean heavily into Portuguese, Spanish, and Moorish-by-way-of-California flavors. Expect shareable portions of the namesake soup, as well as seafood like octopus braised in squid ink and the famous pork and clams. Communal seating, as well as a bar, will round out the room at what may well be the hottest new DTLA hotel opening of the year.
Projected Opening: June 2020
Bicyclette Bistro
Location: 9575 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16016468/Walter_Marge_Manzke_Night_Time_Portrait_JakobLayman.0319.Republique_472.jpg)
Major Players: Margarita Manzke, Walter Manzke
The Situation: The Manzkes are taking over both the former Picca and Sotto spaces on Pico Boulevard, with plans for the first space — Bicyclette Bistro — to operate as a French bistro. That means Republique vibes but with a new Manzke spin, and a whole second space still to come. But first, chef Walter Manzke needs to recover from a scary traffic incident earlier this year.
Project Opening: April 2020
Bull & Butterfly
Location: 12746 Jefferson Blvd., Playa Vista
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/18369383/Bull___Butterfly___Alan___Heidi_Jackson__Chef_Ben_Ford___Exterior_Rendering.jpg)
Major Players: Ben Ford, Alan and Heidi Jackson
The Situation: Ford’s Filling Station chef Ben Ford is ready to make his triumphant dinnertime return to the city with a new modern California steakhouse in Playa Vista. Expect a menu filled with ranchero cuisine from California and Mexico and lots of charcoal and fire, as seen from the open kitchen, alongside local and Valle de Guadalupe wines. Partners Alan and Heidi Jackson are the founders of growing local chain Lemonade.
Projected Opening: Mid-April 2020
Sightglass Coffee
Location: 7051 Willoughby Ave., Los Angeles
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19309931/sightglass_coffee.jpg)
Major Players: Jerad and Justin Morrison, Brett Cooper
The Situation: Bay Area coffee roasting phenom Sightglass has picked up a cool 10,000 square feet of space in the Hollywood Media District, right by Tartine Sycamore. The plan is to not only roast and serve coffee, but also offer an expansive all-day dining setup under star former San Francisco chef Brett Cooper, formerly of Aster. Next up: A second space down in West Adams.
Projected Opening: March 2020
Johnny’s Pastrami
Location: 4327 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles
Major Players: Travis Lett (no longer involved)
The Situation: West Adams’ longstanding Johnny’s Pastrami space got a big new tenant last year in Travis Lett, the now-former Gjelina/Gjusta/MTN chef out of Venice. Questions surround the seemingly-finished space now that Eater has learned that Lett is no longer involved. The restaurant planned originally to open mid-February, but with Matt Winter of M. Winter Design at the helm, it’s sure to be one pretty place when it finally opens up.
Projected Opening: March 2020
Ospi
Location: 2025 Pacific Avenue, Venice, CA
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/18943241/canal_club_venice_facebook.jpg)
Major Players: Jackson Kalb, Melissa Saka
The Situation: Jame Enoteca chef Jackson Kalb, a budding young talent in LA’s Cali-Italian scene, hopes to open his next restaurant Ospi in Venice by late spring. The name comes from the Italian word ospitalita, or hospitality. The menu features pasta made on site, including some of the most popular plates from Jame, plus pizza, and a mix of California and Italian wines. The former Canal Club space will also have a full bar, with a specific focus on Negronis. Considering Jame’s popularity in family-focused El Segundo, this second effort from Kalb should be a hit among pasta-hungry Venice locals. —Matthew Kang
Projected Opening: May/June 2020
Sweet Red Peach
Location: 1035 S. Prairie Avenue unit 5, Inglewood, CA
Major Players: Karolyn Plummer
The Situation: Inglewood’s darling bakery Sweet Red Peach expands next month. The bakery outgrew its present space, took over a space only three doors down, and in April will turn it into a full-service cafe. Owner Karolyn Plummer’s specialties will be on display including her signature 7-Up cake, pies, and pound cakes. The new spot will sport cafe-style seating with coffee and homemade soft-serve vanilla ice cream, directly across the street from the new NFL stadium. —Mona Holmes
Projected Opening: April 2020
Lumière
Location: Century City
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19533683/lumiere_century_plaza.png)
Major Players: Jason Franey, Fairmont Century Plaza
The Situation: Century City’s Fairmont Century Plaza has been undergoing a massive overhaul, and will soon bring Lumière to life as a refined French bistro with jeweled tones, lots of clean lines, and plenty of wine. Chef Jason Franey (Eleven Madison Park) will oversee the bistro, which is set to anchor more than 100,000 square feet of new retail and restaurant space at the plaza.
Projected Opening: June 2020
Firestone Tire Building
Location: 800 S. La Brea, Los Angeles, CA
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19782766/firestone_tire_building.png)
Major Players: Chicas Tacos, Pouring With Heart
The Situation: Talk about adaptive reuse. The gorgeous former Firestone Tire building on La Brea, just south of Wilshire, is nearly complete after a years-long transformation into an indoor-outdoor destination for beer, tacos, and more. Pouring With Heart (Arts District Brewing, Cole’s) is on to pour beer under the name All Season Brewing Company, and the folks from Chicas Tacos will handle the food.
Projected Opening: April 2020
Perle
Location: 43 E. Union St., Pasadena, CA
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19785622/Charcuterie__Crudo__Steak_Tartare.jpg)
Major Players: Dean Yasharian
The Situation: Longtime chef Dean Yasharian is back after a sizable stint over at the Chateau Marmont. The former Daniel Boulud disciple (he opened Bar Boulud in London years back) is ready to turn out staple French dishes in a laid-back bistro environment right in the heart of Old Pasadena.
Projected Opening: March 2020
Update: A previous version of this post listed Trademark, a project with Beau Laughlin and Ray Garcia. Chef Garcia tells Eater today that he will no longer be moving forward with that project; it has been removed. Travis Lett has also confirmed that he is no longer involved with the West Adams project above.
Loading comments...