Last week, Melissa Perello, chef and owner of celebrated Frances and one-MICHELIN-starred Octavia in San Francisco, finally opened M. Georgina, her first restaurant in Los Angeles. Over a year in the making, M. Georgina now sits in its happy home that is The Row DTLA, a sprawling shopping mall conglomerate comprised of 65 restaurants and shops, pop-ups and Chad Robertson and Elisabeth Prueitt’s gargantuan The Manufactory. Taking a cue from her restaurant Frances, which is named after Perello’s maternal grandmother, M. Georgina is named after her paternal grandmother.
Set over 4,500 square feet, the sunshine-filled space is adorned with floor-to-ceiling windows, a total of 137 seats total indoors and across two outdoor patios, and a wood-burning hearth on display in the open kitchen. (Diners take note of the log area next to the kitchen.)
On the menu are dishes coming out of the aforementioned hearth. A mammoth-sized baked surf clam is prepared diavolo-style; squid ink pita is grilled and stuffed with trout roe and served with a Calabrian chile béchamel; and wood-baked black cod arrives with creamed escarole and cipollini onions. Diners can expect the menu to change frequently, reflecting SoCal’s longevity of the seasons. A chef’s tasting menu to be served family style will launch in the coming weeks.
At the bar, Adam Flamenbaum handles cocktails while master sommelier Alan Murray (of Perello’s Octavia) and wine director Alex Davis (formerly of Nyesha Arrington’s now-defunct Native) take care of the wine list.
Welcome to Los Angeles, chef.
M. Georgina is located at 777 Alameda Street and open on Tuesday through Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Hero image by Danielle Adams.
