Travis Lett Of Gjelina Is Planning A Restaurant In NYC

Ask New York food writers what's the one restaurant from L.A. they would most like to see come to NYC, and many will answer Gjelina, Travis Lett's Venice restaurant that pretty much epitomizes California's relaxed-but-creative and deeply flavorful food moment NYC seems to be having right now.

Now the dream is a reality: Lett's team is heading east, Eater reports, confirming the recent rumor. The chef, along with partners Fran Cemaj and Shelley Armistead, are teaming up with The Spotted Pig's Ken Friedman to open a two-story project on Noho's picturesque Bond Street—right next to Il Buco and just a few storefronts down from Mile End.

Restaurant details are scant at the moment, but hopes are high for something akin to Gjelina and its spin-off little sister bakery and café, Gjusta, whose baklava croissant and babka would fit nicely into the New York food scene. One thing to consider though is how Gjelina's menu—which relies heavily on SoCal's abundance of fruits and vegetables—will have to bend to conform to New York's produce lineup. Still, with Lett and Friedman at the helm, this is sure to be good—really good in fact.

Construction could be done as early as this summer, but according to Friedman, the opening may be a bit further away. More information should trickle out soon, so stay tuned.

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