Openings

Downtown To Lose and Gain Restaurant Veterans

Photo: Lazy Ox Canteen

Downtown is losing one of its veteran eateries, while gaining a new restaurant from some respected names. Pacific Grille will close after December 22nd, following ten years in the financial district. The restaurant survived bankruptcy in 2004, reports L.A. Downtown News, the same year it saw new ownership under Aileen Watanabe, who is now ready to “move on to something else,” apparently to the protests of curious customers. Watanabe shares that the new JW Marriott is somewhat interested in buying Pacific Grille’s liquor license, but that there are no specific plans for the restaurant to be reopened at this point.

Before this vet shutters though, Lazy Ox Canteen will fling its doors open in Little Tokyo, by December 10th “at the latest,” reports Elina Shatkin at The Daily Dish. The restaurant is a year-in-the-making and marks the return of the uber-talented Meson G, Opus, and Lot 1 chef Josef Centeno. He is teamed up here with Michael Cardenas, who’s no slouch himself, having helped put Sushi Roku, Boa, and Katana on our streets following manager positions at Matsuhisa and Chaya.

The food appears to span the gamut of detailed, Japanese-leaning, though international ingredients found at some of Centeno’s other gigs. They also promise to grind their own beef for burgers, as well as confit and cook whole baby pigs, among other dedicated techniques. There will also be microbrews and Japanese beers that are yet to hit our shores. The menu is not up yet, but is coming soon to The Lazy Ox’s website.

Pacific Grille to Close [L.A. Downtown News]

Small Bites: Fork opens in Montrose, Lazy Ox reveals menu and microbrews [Daily Dish]

Downtown To Lose and Gain Restaurant Veterans