Gjelina on Abbot Kinney has been named #78 on The Daily Meal’s “101 Best Restaurants in America for 2012” list. They beat out the awesome branding iron decor of The Hitching Post II (#79) in Buellton by one spot.
The Daily Meal’s top 3:
#1 Le Bernardin, New York City
#2 Alinea, Chicago
#3 Chez Panisse, Berkeley, Calif.
LA eateries that made the list:
#6 Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles
#25 Animal, Los Angeles
#50 Fig, Los Angeles
#51 Lucques, Los Angeles
#64 Spago, Los Angeles
#72 Valentino, Santa Monica, Calif.
#75 Father’s Office, Los Angeles
From the Daily Meal:
The quintessential neighborhood restaurant, Gjelina, on the trendy Abbott Kinney Boulevard, has anchored the Venice restaurant scene as the neighborhood has turned from grimy to gourmet. Chef Travis Lett’s modern American cuisine is firmly rooted in the abundance of farmers market findings, and both the fire pit and wood-burning oven speak to the restaurant’s ardent rusticity, much like the typical patrons’ unshaven faces and shabbily artful outfits. Crispy, thin-crust pizzas and a roster of creatively prepared vegetable dishes reveal a minimalist sensibility that requires lots of attention to detail. As Lett said to the Los Angeles Times, “We’re working really hard to not look like we’re working really hard.”
Thanks to SG for the heads up!
