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Baco Mercat Named One of Bon Appetit's 10 Best New Restaurants in the US
A bäco--flatbread sandwich--from Bäco Mercat (Photo by djjewelz via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
With so many listicles out there these days, it's hard to keep track of whats what in the food world. One list that we always look forward to, though, is Bon Appetit's best 10 new restaurants in the country.
We have to agree that the themes that tickled editor Andrew Knowlton's fancy this year are on our radar too. His inclinations are indicative of the food scene as a whole, showcasing casual yet edgy cuisine that has replaced yesterday's serious fine dining.
"Well, to start, they're usually scrappy and personal, guided by chefs with a passion to create independently owned places they would want to eat at on their day off," says Knowlton. "As for what that style of restaurant looks, tastes, and sounds like, there are some common themes: husband and wife owners, small dining rooms, no reservations and no tablecloths, open kitchens with ample bar seating, tweezers in the kitchen, tattooed staff, hand made plates, record players, and bargain pre fixe menus."
Only one of L.A.'s restaurants fit the bill, Josef Centeno's Baco Mercat. (Michael Voltaggio's ink was nominated, but it didn't make the final 10.) Congrats to Centeno for making the cut.
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