Closed Spanish Restaurant Star Bar Moruno Makes Surprise Return in Silver Lake

Fantastic news for fans of Spanish cuisine in Los Angeles: Bar Moruno is coming back to life. The surprise return of the former Grand Central Market and Original Farmers Market tenant means that, once again, two LA industry heavyweights are back serving slow-roasted meats, Spanish wines, and lots of tinned fish.

The reborn Bar Moruno takes over for the closed Kettle Black in Silver Lake, right on Sunset Boulevard. Co-owner and chef Chris Feldmeier tells Eater that the project is moving forward for a possible opening this winter, with longtime collaborator David Rosoff returning as well to work the floor and pour plenty of wine. The pair have worked together at some of LA’s most lauded restaurants over the years, from Campanile to Mozza, and first opened Bar Moruno five years ago in Downtown. The team later added a location at the Original Farmers Market, though both eventually closed. More recently, Feldmeier was working in the South Bay at Love & Salt, while Rosoff partnered up to open Hippo in Highland Park.

Fans of Bar Moruno will find the same lean-on Spanish flavors (beyond the usual tapas and starter snacks), from the rotisserie chicken to the roasted butternut squash with lots of dukkah. Feldmeier has spent most of his career cooking with fire, so expect Kettle Black’s old wood-fired oven to remain.

What’s more, Feldmeier says that he and Rosoff will be curating a small lunch and sundry takeaway in the former Scout space between the old Kettle Black and Sawyer in Silver Lake. There will be sandwiches, more tinned fish, wine to go, and other grab-and-go items available daily.

The Sawyer space, also picked up by Feldmeier and Rosoff, is set to return to life under the direction of none other than Ricardo Zarate. The busy Peruvian chef — known for Picca, Rosaline, and Once in Las Vegas — has partnered with the pair to do a standalone (and as yet unnamed) restaurant that focuses on Peruvian Nikkei cuisine, and Rosoff will be handling the alcohol there as well.

More to come on the Zarate front down the line. Meanwhile, expect a triumphant return for Bar Moruno sometime this winter.

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