Silver Lake Star Freedman’s Returns, But With a Whole New Greek Menu and Vibe

Staple Silver Lake restaurant Freedman’s is coming back, though it certainly won’t look like how fans remember it. The neo-Jewish-ish restaurant known for its tableside carved brisket, cauldrons of soup, and cool, moody wallpaper will instead be spending the summer in Greece, flipping its menu (and its look) entirely. Welcome to Greekman’s.

The playful Greekman’s name is the work of owner Jonah Freedman and the team, who wanted to offer something unique for the restaurant’s long-awaited reopening. And with Greek food lesser represented in greater Los Angeles than along the Eastern seaboard, Freedman figured the opportunity was ripe to offer olive-heavy entrees and lots of souvlaki. The blue and white menu will also tick off plates like lamb chops, a grilled branzino, smoked cauliflower with spicy labneh, and more — plus wine and cocktails and ouzo, of course. The opening Greekman’s menu is below.

Most of the new seating will come from a summery patio with lots of shade and leafy touches, available for dinner only (walk-ins are available, but reservations via Resy are encouraged). As for the interior of the Freedman’s space, that’s being tweaked to just Freedman’s Bar at the moment, with cocktails and some small snacks like a brisket sandwich and hot dogs. Reps for the restaurant tell Eater that the whole brisket meals (and perhaps some other enduring Freedman’s menu items) that became so popular for the restaurant during quarantine will indeed continue down the line, but for now it’s all about the sandwich inside for brisket lovers.

As for the long-term future of Freedman’s at 2619 Sunset Boulevard, stay tuned. Freedman says he’s eager for now just to reopen in some capacity and to take the space in a new direction, without losing the heart of Freedman’s overall. So dive into the clear blue waters of Greekman’s, opening (along with Freedman’s Bar inside) Thursday through Saturday for dinner service only, starting June 17.

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