Lot 1: tasting menu is on!

[slacker]

The tasting menu has started at Lot 1! Last night Chef Centeno decided to offer a tasting menu, and it will be available every night. 4 courses for $50. I've called in my reservation.

[diningdivala]

by the by, here's a sample menu and prices, news from Eater LA

http://la.eater.com/archives/2008/07/...

[RicRios]

Sorry. No booze, no schmooze.

[slacker]

Thanks! I am there, booze or no.

[slacker]

Joseph Centeno KNOWS HOW TO COOK. How is $12.50 per course pricey? And don't chowhounders follow the food? What does it matter where he chose to have a restaurant? Aside from the fact that I don't see how that neighborhood could be called "sketchy." I've been for dinner, will be going back for another baco, and can't wait to try the tasting menu.

[zinFAN]

hmm... seems a bit pricey considering the sketchy neighborhood in which it's situated. Any further details of what the tasting menu might entail?

[fooddude37]

It might not be Hancock Park, but I would highly not consider it "sketchy" either. Considering the food is awesome it's actually quite reasonable. I went here for lunch today and it was solid. I actually inquired about the tasting menu, and our server noted that you can add courses at $10 per, recalling days of Opus. The only remaining problem with Lot 1 is the beer/wine license. It's going to be hard for me to justify spending that kind of dough and not having wine to go with it.

[RicRios]

Q: BYOB allowed ?

A: (according to LATimes) A beer and wine license is pending and in the meantime there is no BYOB option.

http://theguide.latimes.com/los-angel...

[slacker]

No byob, apparently that slows down the license process.

[carter]

Worse yet, it STOPS the process.
But it will most likely be next year, or very late this year, before any wine will be consumed on premises, regardless of source or payment.

[Ciao Bob]

Does anyone else think these liquour license laws are antiquated and ridiculous? Seemingly they serve only to keep a senseless bureaucracy meddling and slowing down commerce for no purpose. Just who will be harmed by the consumption of brought (or bought) alcohol at Lot 1? Why does it take so long to get the thing anyway? Why can some places only serve wine/beer but not spirits? Land of the free my arse! Land of the regulated is more like it. I am surprised Centeno is allowed to cook with wine, absent a license, what a menace to society.

[nosh]

Lot 1 is in Eric Garcetti's City Council district. I don't expect Centeno to suicidally speak out, but it appears that he has not coughed up enough "support" to green light his alcohol application. Oh, and I can't wait for the councilman's spokeshole to issue a carefully worded statement about how they have to be sensitive to community concerns about increased alcohol sales in a regentrified neighborhood -- as if drunken criminals are getting their buzz on with wine by the glass at an upscale restaurant rather than the nearby discount liquor stores.

[carter]

Don't get me started!!!
But you should hear some of the NIMBYs talk about the issue.
And god forbid you should want to serve booze near a church or school - then all bets are off, or at least will tend to take many times longer to accomplish than otherwise.

[jlrobe]

echo park is not that sketchy man! C'mon

If WD-50 and inoteca can be located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, then Lot 1 can certainly be located in echo park.

50$ is not expensive. If it were $200, that would be different. ACtually, that would be like Shibucho on beverly.