I think it’s actually full. A month or six weeks out you can reserve any time you want.
It makes sense that it would be busy for a while given the hype about the SF branch. Long-term the question is whether they get repeat business.
It’s on the ground floor.
It was about two-thirds full Sunday night
I don’t know if you guys listened to the 37 hour podcast Dave Chang did but he spoke about the trend of good restaurants moving into odd spaces. He mentioned some of his restaurants in malls (Kawi in Hudson Yards. His Australia restaurant is in a casino). I’m not sure if that is self affirmation to make himself feel better about his decision. He also mentioned how in Asia where space is limited you’ll find great restaurants in alleyways, 2nd floor office buildings, basically anywhere yo can find space.
Chang said there are so many cool places you can find in the Arts District, Tenderloin, West Village and that he predicts more restaurants will end up in less “cool” places like malls and office complexes. We’re starting to see that trend with the growth of mixed use spaces in large cities.
Basement and windowless dining establishments are quite common in Tokyo where I go 1-2 times a year, but in LA - land of sun, blue skies and beaches, I prefer the restaurant have a few windows, even if it’s just a small storefront window.
Melisse and Providence are an exception to my window rule because of the intimate space and low decibels in the dining room.
I missed the boat re: Chef Skene’s cooking at Saison, and I’m on the fence about saving up $$$$ to try the tasting menu under his successor. Sorry, but passing up Angler-LA, however most likely will try Angler SF next year.
Chang still gave Skenes shit for the Beverly Center location, which he clearly thinks is terrible.
Skenes sort of agreed but alluded to the financial realities, which I presume is that the mall’s owner offered him a chunk of the $500 million they’re putting into the place and nobody else stepped up with a better deal.
And that podcast’s only 2-1/2 hours.
He did but I kinda feel like Chang was trying to justify the choices of his restaurants as well. Only time will tell how Angler does but my wife wants to go now because of the longest podcast in the history of the world.
I like your wife. 
2.0x speed cuts it down to only 18.5 hours.
It’s certainly worth trying once, if you can afford to.
Took me almost 3 drives home from El Segundo to Brees to finish that single episode. I’m going to take my wife eventually since we never had a chance to try Saison.
listened to the podcast on The Ringer website
One of these days to get with the speed podcast thing lol
Ok. We went last Friday with low expectations just based on the fact it was at the Beverly Center, and was pleasantly surprised. Although ironically, we didn’t order any seafood. Radicchio salad was amazing, hen of the wood mushroom very good, 45 day dry aged rib eye beautiful and large! But my wife and I both agreed that the cantaloupe sorbet was the show stealer. Perfect way to finish the meal. Might even go back if not for the fact it’s at the Beverly Center.
Oh, and I almost forgot the beets. Somehow they tasted like perfectly smoked pork ribs, which is a good thing in my book. Not sure how he he did that. And speaking of pork, halfway through our meal we saw a full crusted pork shoulder being wheeled out on cart for a table of six. Needless to say it looked amazing, but apparently it’s off the menu and needs to ordered at least two days in advance. How’s that for a seafood restaurant!
and great wine too. i also don’t mind the location. aren’t food, service, & ambiance more important?
don’t find it too expensive either, compared to restaurants of similar caliber in the city. but that may be because we have small appetites and we happily shared one main course (the chicken was huge), with several appetizers (all under $20)
definitely returning
That looks amazing (says the seafood hater).
Can someone please translate this for the social-media-moron in the room?
Is Yao dissing the dissers?
I suppose he completely disagrees with the 3 points that infatuation la was making on their instagram in regards to their first impression of Angler.
Yao loves it, the infatuation didn’t love it:
