Let's play two
Let's play two
Ètra, Melrose Hill, The Georgian Room, Domaine LA, Ojai restaurants, mansion tax, Mohawk General Store, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Person
The Melrose Hill moment
Ètra, which opened last week in Melrose Hill, is the first capital-d Dinner restaurant among the neighborhood’s slew of forthcoming openings (see Intel, below). The Italian newcomer hides behind its daytime counterpart, Café Telegrama, which was immediately swarmed when it opened last month.
Parking is tricky around the trafficky intersection of Western and Melrose, an early concern for the burgeoning area, where blue chip gallerist David Zwirner also planted his LA flag last spring. Otherwise, it’s been an impressive doubleheader premiere.
Telegrama serves a satisfying Greek yogurt with granola and seasonal preserves in the morning. At lunch, a craveworthy tuna melt-inspired sandwich stars pepperoncini aioli in place of cheddar. The space is airy and polished, with a sunny patio that folds into Ètra come nightfall.
Handsome and (a bit too) dimly lit, Ètra is reminiscent of a Bode store: all warm wood, an intimate smattering of tables, and a six-seat wine bar. Chef and co-owner Evan Algorri gives the people what they want: crudo, extra-tender meatballs, pastas, chicken with Calabrian chili juice, steak with grilled cabbage. The silky spaghetti pomodoro has a kick of heat, and the chicory salad with anchovy, black pepper, and cured yolk is the best new Caesar in town.
During opening week, the crowd was a who’s who from the restaurant industry and LA’s creative set. As galleries continue to open up in the area, it’s likely to become an art world go-to.
But right out of the gate, Ètra is as hot at night as Telegrama by day. Melrose Hill is off to the races. –Emily Wilson
→ Ètra (Melrose Hill) • 737 N. Western Ave. • dinner Tues.-Sun. • Reserve.
→ Cafe Telegrama (Melrose Hill) • 737 N. Western Ave. • 8a-3p daily.
RESTAURANTS • Intel
MORE MELROSE HILL: The team from beloved wine shop Domaine LA is opening a French restaurant in the neighborhood. Per our source, the buildout should be done by March and it'll be “somewhere in between Stir Crazy and [NYC’s] Frenchette.”
AND MORE: Also slated for early ’24, L.A. Grocery & Cafe, a 5,000 SF cafe and market by one of the Honey Hi founders. Plus, the first west coast outpost of New York City’s Scarr’s Pizza, a full-service restaurant from the Little Fish team, and Color Club, a new nightclub from the Haas Brothers (who are currently on display at Deitch).
LA RESTAURANT LINKS: Austin’s Uchi, new to LA, plans 14-seat omakase counter adjacent to Uchi LA • The city is ready to make outdoor dining permanent • Nin Cupcakes to open first retail store in East Hollywood • World’s first AI-powered restaurant is opening in Pasadena.
GETAWAYS • The Nines
Restaurants, Ojai
Rory’s Place, new California cuisine classic
Pinyon, wood-fired pizza and seasonal vegetables must-hit
The Dutchess, bakery by day, Burmese-inspired fare at night
Ojai Rôtie, Lebanese-French mainstay with first-rate rotisserie chicken
Izakaya Full Moon, skewers and sashimi, washed down with sake
Farmer and the Cook, longstanding organic cafe with excellent enchiladas
Little Sama, Southeast Asian spot attached to Topa Topa Brewing Co.
Boccali’s, family-friendly Italian-American dishing lasagnas and parmesans
Tipple & Ramble (above), wine and charcuterie boards, Instagrammable environs
Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or email found@itsfoundla.com.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Soho House to stop admitting new members in LA, NY, London • JetBlue plans to retrofit Mint cabins • Amex expanding new premium vacation-rental platform • Brazil to require visas from Americans starting next month • Chartering a sailboat in the Caribbean.
REAL ESTATE • On the Market
Taxing times
The mansion tax went into effect for the City of Los Angeles on April 1, levying a 4% charge on all residential sales in the city between $5 million and $10 million, and 5.5% on sales above $10 million. The impact so far? Just above $5 million or $10 million, nothing is trading.
That’s because the tax wipes out any gains from $5,000,000 to $5,208,333 and $10,000,000 to $10,582,010.
“Why would you sell in that range?” luxury real estate agent Paul Salazar of Hilton & Hyland asked real estate news website Inman. “It makes no sense.”
Indeed, sensibility has won out. According to data furnished by Salazar, between April 1 and late November, only one home sold between $5M to $5.2M. During the same period in 2022, 22 properties traded in that zone. On Zillow, FOUND noted only two currently active single-family property listings for $5M-$5.2M within city boundaries.
Of course, that means that the market for properties priced just below $5 million is an active one. Three current listings, in Venice and Playa Vista, hovering just under that liminal line:
→ 13213 Rose Ave. (Venice, above) • 5BR/5.5BA, 4800 SF • Modern design plus a recent $245K price chop • Ask: $4.75M • Days on market: 28 • Broker: Brian Maser, The Condo Experts.
→ 611 Broadway (Venice) • 7BR/7BA, 6134 SF • Ask: $4.995M • Two airy, modern units near Abbot Kinney • Days on market: 12 • Broker: Alex Baker and Kerry Ann Sullivan, Pardee Properties.
→ 5212 Village Dr. (Playa Vista) • 4BR/6BA, 4279 SF • Ask: $4.995M • Three-story modernist home • Days on market: 46 • Broker: Paige Ogden, Pardee Properties.
WORK AND PLAY LINKS: Massive fire guts historic California Yacht Club in Marina Del Ray • Touring a Malibu beach house with interiors inspired by Walt Disney Concert Hall • Inside Extreme Cashmere’s LA pop-up at Just One Eye • With Residency Art Gallery, Rick Garzon is reentering the LA art scene.
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Gift Guide
Gazeworthy
Local artist Sonya Boyajian not only makes handmade, collectible treasures like this whimsical, painted candle, but also hosts an under-the-radar series of pottery classes for adults and kids. Either would make a dreamy gift. –Zoe Schaeffer
→ Shop: SB-5 Palo Santo (Sonya Boyajian), $600.
WORK • Thursday Routine
Cindy Lou and me
SANDY ARANGO, ecommerce director, Mohawk General Store
Neighborhood you live in: Los Feliz
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
On Thursdays, we shoot our weekly arrivals. There’s lots of movement in our photo studio in the morning. The Mohawk team, Cindy Lou (the dog), photographer, and models arrive. Then we shoot two models at a time — while one model changes, the other gets photographed. We do this dance for the entire day, once a week, every Thursday.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Shooting new arrivals, holiday gifts and New Year's Eve looks!
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
This weekend I'm going to Santo, a sushi spot that recently opened in Silver Lake. The original location is in Mexico City and I've heard amazing things about it.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I'm looking forward to seeing Mary Lattimore, a classically trained harpist, during her January residency at Zebulon. She’s playing with various musicians for four weekends in January.
Any weekend getaways?
I finally made it to The Courts for the first time a few weeks ago and plan on going back as soon as I can. It's a tennis club in the desert with four courts and a swimming pool, right next to Anza Borrego State Park. Every design detail is on point and each court pays visual homage to each of the grand slams.
What was your last great vacation?
Zihuatanejo. I had been trying to get there since Andy Dufresne moved there in The Shawshank Redemption and finally made it. It's a special place! Highly recommend Restaurante Mar y Cielo at sunset.
BARS • First Round
No pictures, please
Sitting in a green leather booth in the velvety Georgian Room, it’s easy to feel like time stopped. There’s a tall, handsome man stationed at the piano, playing Elton John, Carole King, and Amy Winehouse. Bartenders in immaculate white jackets prepare Manhattans and mai tais. Photography is forbidden.
For decades, time did stop here. The bar, originally opened in 1933, was closed in the middle of last century, and remained so until The Georgian Hotel upstairs re-opened this past spring after a stylish revamp. The return to old Hollywood glamor was worth the wait.
In addition to the stiff drinks, there’s a full, Italian steakhouse menu — rigatoni alla vodka and dry-aged ribeyes. Dinner is served until 1:30a, outrageously late in LA, but not at the timeless Georgian Room. –Victoire Loup
→ The Georgian Room (Santa Monica) • 1415 Ocean Ave. • For reservations, call (424) 722-6846 or email tgr@thegeorgian.com.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Ballgames
Lakers v Knicks, Crypto.com Arena (Downtown), Mon @ 730p, section 101, $453 per
Clippers v Knicks, Crypto.com Arena (Downtown), Mon @ 730p, section 101, $220 per
LA Bowl: UCLA v Boise St., SoFi Stadium (Inglewood), Sat @ 430p, section VIP132, $183 per
ASK FOUND
A few FOUND subscriber PROMPTS for which we are seeking intel:
What’s the best bookstore in LA?
What’s the best spot for a civilized New Year’s Eve dinner?
I’m updating my wardrobe for ’24. What are the best men’s and women’s boutiques?
Got answers or more questions? Hit reply or or email found@itsfoundla.com.