Downtown LA’s Music Center Names Chicago-Based Company to Run Restaurants

A few weeks ago, Patina Group ended its partnership with the Music Center, a collection of performance venues in Downtown LA that boasted such restaurants as the Michelin-starred Patina, Kendall’s Brasserie, and more. The crown jewel in Patina’s operation was its flagship restaurant at the ground floor of the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall, which closed unceremoniously in late July, laying off staff without much fanfare despite decades of service. Today, the Music Center announces a new partnership with Levy Restaurants, which operates out of Chicago, for its 15 food venues across Bunker Hill.

Rachel Moore, the Music Center’s CEO, said Levy has the operational know-how to handle large venues while giving a “clear sense of what consumers are looking for in authentic and creative dining experiences.” Levy, which operates the Michelin-starred Spiaggia, River Roast, Paddlefish, and Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse in Chicago, already does the concessions at Dodger Stadium, Staples Center, the Rose Bowl, and Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.

The Music Center hasn’t announced any particular restaurants for Downtown LA, though a rep says that the goal is to “completely reinvent” the space at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and reexamine the other food and beverages spaces across the venues. While a competent operator like Levy should help stabilize the area’s restaurants, which draws diners from across the county looking for pre- and post-event meals, it’s a missed opportunity for LA’s own restaurant groups to instill a bit more local flavor.

In other news:

— Andy Wang has a story in Zagat of chefs lamenting the closure of Beverly Soon Tofu in Koreatown, which will serve its last bowls of sundubu-jjigae and other Korean classics this Sunday. Preordering has been difficult since demand is outsized, but those who persevere can get a final taste before the 34-year-old icon is closed.

— Kern County is doing a drive-thru food fair in Bakersfield from September 25 to October 4 with giant corn dogs, candy apples, and Old West cinnamon rolls.

— LA Taco has a collection of underground ceviche spots to check out in LA as part of its Ceviche Week.

— Sur La Table will close its Santa Monica store, reports Toddrickallen.