The Guisados Team Revived a Classic Mexican Seafood Stand in Silver Lake

There’s new life at the longstanding El Siete Mares stand in Silver Lake this week, as signage is now up for a different mariscos operation known simply as Playita. The blue and white restaurant comes from the Guisados crew, and is already turning out ceviches, tacos, and a whole lot more.

Guisados and George’s Burger Stand co-owner Armando de la Torre Jr. called his newest project “a perfect stop along the way” for drivers heading up and down Sunset Boulevard, a nod to his family’s summertime road trips and seafood stops from childhood. As such, the menu stays approachable and small, with spicy shrimp aguachile on a tostada, seafood cocktails, ceviches, tacos, and small mulita/quesadillas with lots of griddled cheese and shrimp inside. The opening menu is below.

Things are still coming together at the small seafood stand. De la Torre himself was there on Sunday hand-painting some signage, and a menu board is soon expected to glow above the ordering counter. Beyond that the blue and white space will stay mostly the same, with hard-topped booths in the shade, a small parking area, and artsy murals wrapping the building. Hours run daily from lunch through dinner.

De la Torre says the move to a standalone seafood place has been in the works for a little while, and could serve as a new way to keep the expanding the company. Currently the family runs Guisados locations from Boyle Heights and Pasadena to Burbank and Beverly Hills, and De la Torre Jr. runs George’s Burger Stand with partner Robert McCord in Boyle Heights.

Meanwhile, this stretch of Silver Lake has begun hopping once again, as patios are now open for Playita as well as All Day Baby across the street and Filipino restaurant Spoon & Pork next door. Not far away is Diablo, Flore for vegan food, Dayglow, and Night + Market Song, along with soon-to-arrive newcomers like Gemini Bakehouse and Bacari in the closed Cliff’s Edge space.

Playita is open now at 3143 Sunset Boulevard, keeping daily hours from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the week, with an extension to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and an early close at 8 p.m. on Sunday.

• Westside Seafood Pop-Up Rethinks Service Model With New Santa Monica Sidewalk Spot [ELA]

Farley Elliott