The Eat Sheet: Artisan House and Downtown L.A.'s Other Notable New Dining Destinations

Downtown is arguably the city’s epicenter for location shooting, with 7,951 production days last year alone, according to industry permit coordinator Film L.A. Not everyone on these shoots, of course, is altogether satiated by what’s available at the craft services table. So why not venture out a few blocks across the urban back lot? Herewith, the latest openings in the neighborhood for cast and crewmembers to check out before and after work—or even between takes.

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Artisan House
Officially opening today, this massive, high-ceilinged complex full of reclaimed marble on the ground floor of the Pacific Electric Lofts in the Historic Core is remarkably ambitious. The sit-down restaurant serves foie gras terrines just a block from Skid Row. The bar finds mixologist Elden McFeron III, a vet of The Bazaar, whipping up margaritas cryo-frozen with liquid nitrogen. And the market annex sells made-to-order deli sandwiches—as well as gelato, wine and more—until 2AM (and an hour later on weekends). 600 S. Main St., L.A., 213.622.6333, artisanhouse.net

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The Pie Hole
Run by veterans of Providence and Eveleigh, the Arts District space does for pies what countless sweet shops did for cupcakes several years ago: reinvent a nostalgic dessert staple for gourmet tastes. Amateurs ask for the banana cream and the popular lemon meringue, produced with old-school lemon curd. But the in-the-know visitors order the savory pies like the short rib, the mac ‘n’ cheese (with a Panko-crusted top) and the roasted beet and goat cheese served cold. 714 Traction Ave., L.A., 213.537.0115, pieholela.com

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Baco Mercat
Josef Centeno, the critically acclaimed toque behind nose-to-tail phenom Lazy Ox Canteen, has been developing his own variant on a flatbread sandwich for years—since his long-ago stint at the defunct Meson G on Melrose. Now he’s opened a Historic Core storefront dedicated to the gyro-taco mash-up. Iterations involve pork belly and beef carnitas, crispy shrimp and sriracha and chicken escabeche and spicy green Yemenite zhoug. 408 S. Main St., L.A., 213.687.8808, bacomercat.com.

Local
Politically correct Silver Lake diner Local has opened a second outpost at downtown’s Grand Central Market, in a space until recently occupied by the short-lived, much-blogged-about Peruvian soul food spot Chimu. As at the original, the menu (whole wheat pancakes, quinoa burgers, tofu chili) is vegan-friendly, inevitably organic and regionally sourced. Also run out of the same address by the same ownership is Flanders Frites, dispensing Belgian fries and Dutch croquettes. 324 S. Hill St., L.A., 213.625.1097