Enrique Olvera’s long-awaited modern Mexican Eatery Damian has an opening date: Wednesday, October 21. That’s according to the DTLA Arts District restaurant’s Facebook. Damian was originally primed for a mid-2019 debut, at 2132 E 7th Pl., but a number of factors, including the ongoing pandemic, forced delay after delay. Olvera’s second in-the-works concept — a back-alley taqueria adjacent Damian called Ditroit — is still not ready to open, however.
Damian’s 20-item menu — which includes starters, mains, and desserts — is “rooted in Mexican culture while celebrating seasonal Californian produce,” according to the restaurant’s website. Dishes include the spiny lobster (frijoles puercos, fried rice, and flour tortilla), a fried fish taco (cabbage, chipotle salsa), and banana leaf flan with passion fruit.
Olvera has risen to great acclaim with his Pujol and Cosme concepts in NYC landing on the of World’s 50 Best Restaurant list. Damian is meant to be formal in juxtaposition to the casual Ditroit, and was designed to be “very similar to Cosme.” Expect the tortillas to be housemade and a zero waste-focused beverage program centered on a mezcal bar to round out the offerings.
Damian will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reps for the restaurant on Friday did not immediately respond a request for comment by What Now Los Angeles.
