Nearly a year ago, the seductive archways and boldly colored tiles of Acabar’s alluring interior were finally unveiled.
Formerly occupied for nearly 40 years by Moroccan-themed Dar Maghreb, Acabar partners Frederic and Nicolas Meschin, and Sue Choi (The Little Door) teamed up with business impresario Jerry Murray and acclaimed film director Roland Emmerich to bring new life to the restaurant.
The gorgeous resurrection was crowned with cuisine by executive chef Octavio Becerra, who invited adventurous diners on an exciting Spice Trail journey with his global fare.
Flash forward nearly 12 months to find chef de cuisine Kevin Luzande (Zagat’s “30 Under 30”) at the helm and his new Mediterranean-influenced dishes on the dinner menu. Indulge on artfully prepared selections like Summer Risotto with with charred onions, corn duo, porcini mushrooms, parmigiano reggiano; Northern Halibut with verbena broth, pistachios, forbidden rice, and summer squash; and Roasted Quail with fig and cashew nut stuffing, charred radicchio, mint, red cerignola olives.
Complimenting the creativity of the cuisine are new summer cocktails. Josh Goldman and Julian Cox (Soigné Group) created the seven-drink list based on flavor profiles by channeling historical cocktail chronicler, Charles H. Baker, Jr. (specifically his 1946 edition of The Gentleman’s Companion: Being an Exotic Drinking Book or, Around the World with Jigger, Beaker and Flask). Order up a variety of drinks like the Tequila por mi Amante (strawberry tequila, Vermouth di Torino, lemon, acid phosphate), and Pan American Clipper (bonded applejack brandy, lime, pomegranate, absinthe) or opt for a Bartender’s Choice.
Acabar also serves up Happy Hour Tuesday-Friday evenings from 6-8 p.m. where you can start your night over market fresh oysters for $1.50, $7 cocktails, glasses of wine and small bite specials like the Spanish Can ‘O’ Sardines with shaved fennel, house-churned butter and pain rustique, and the Crispy Shrimp Toast with rock shrimp, quail egg, Thai basil and fish sauce.
1510 N Stanley Ave., L.A.,323.876.1400. acabar-la.com