Danny Trejo’s new role: taco king
Now that the Olympics have ended, it’s time to get back to what really matters: Dinner. Here’s a look at what’s been happening in the Los Angeles restaurant scene.
Trejo’s has a taco truck: Danny Trejo, the actor who recently opened Trejo’s Tacos on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles, is launching a food truck that will feature a rotating menu of four tacos. When the Trejo’s Tacos truck launches Monday, there will be brisket, pork, cauliflower and grilled chicken tacos as well as horchata, agua frescas and chips and guacamole. To find the truck, follow @trejostruck on Instagram and Twitter, or visit www.trejostacos.com.
Pastries in Montrose: Christine Moore and Pam Perkins, the duo behind Lincoln in Pasadena, have opened a new cafe in Montrose called C’est La Vie. The restaurant has taken over the space formerly occupied by Bashan on North Verdugo Road. Like its Pasadena counterpart, there are beautiful croissants, cookies and cakes in a pastry case and caramels from Moore’s Pasadena shop Little Flower Candy Co. There are also sandwiches and salads, as well as beer and wine. 3459 N. Verdugo Road, Montrose, (747) 255-7046.
More cocktails in the SFV: The Scratch Restaurants group is expanding. The company, owned by Phillip Frankland Lee and his wife, Margarita Kallas-Lee, (this is the duo behind Scratch|Bar & Kitchen and the recently shuttered Gadarene Swine vegan restaurant) has plans to open Woodley Proper, a cocktail bar and lounge in Encino in mid-October. The lounge will be located next to Scratch|Bar & Kitchen and Oh Man! Ramen, Lee’s new ramen restaurant. Woodley Proper will feature cocktails from Devon Espinosa (whom you may recognize from the Church Key) and food from Lee and co-chef Luke Reyes, who was the chef at the now-closed Butchers & Barbers. Expect fresh bread, desserts by Margarita, a raw bar and an extensive house-made cheese and charcuterie program. The lounge will be open daily from noon to 2 a.m. 16101 Ventura Blvd. No. 245, Encino, www.scratchrestaurants.com.
New York pizza on Sunset: Serafina, the New York City Italian restaurant with more than 20 locations worldwide, has opened its first West Coast location Friday on the Sunset Strip. The restaurant is brought to you by owners Vittorio Assaf and Fabio Granato, and new partners Mel B and Stephen Belafonte. And yes, it’s the Mel B from the Spice Girls. The restaurant has taken over the space previously occupied by Maia on the Sunset Strip. The menu will be similar to what you’ll find at the New York locations, with pasta, salads, thin-crust pizza and new vegan items designed to cater to an L.A. crowd. Serafina will have a second-floor patio that overlooks Sunset. 8768 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, www.serafinarestaurant.com.
PB&J in Koreatown: Lock & Key, a K-town speak-easy, has opened a new concept called Lock Box. You can now walk up to the front window of Lock & Key (now called Lock Box) and order food to-go, including tacos, burritos, salads, burgers and a deep-fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The menu was designed by Lock & Key chef Jose Reyes. The restaurant previously served food only inside the bar. Lock Box is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday from 5 p.m. to midnight and Thursday to Saturday from 5 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. 239 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 389-5625, www.lockandkey.la.
Wine bar in Thai town: Tabula Rasa Bar, a new wine bar in Thai town from Bestia alums Zach Negin (who was a manager and server at the Arts District restaurant) and Daniel Flores (the former general manager there), is scheduled to open in early September near Harvard & Stone. Expect cocktails, beer, light bites and Cuban sandwiches made by Jessica Wang, who has cooked at Elysian and Madcapra. 5125 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles.
More good eats
The Raymond 1886 in Pasadena has a new menu created by executive chef Tim Guiltinan, a new pastry chef in Raymond Morales and a new wine program... Marvin, the wine bar on Beverly Boulevard, is launching ham and sherry nights (it’s lots of ham, sherry and vermouth) every Tuesday starting Sept. 13... Citizen in Beverly Hills is now open for lunch... True Food Kitchen will open a location in Pasadena on Sept. 13.