The restaurant is set to open this summer at 1305 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Travis Lett, acclaimed chef and former co-owner of the Gjelina Group, is making a comeback to the Los Angeles dining scene with a new Japanese izakaya named RVR (pronounced “river”), according to a report from LA Eater.
The restaurant is set to open this summer at 1305 Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, occupying the space that once housed MTN.
Lett, who sold his stake in the Gjelina Group in 2019, left behind popular establishments like Gjelina, Gjusta, GTA, and the now-closed MTN. After nearly five years away from the kitchen, Lett is partnering with a new business associate and a fresh hospitality group to launch RVR, Eater reported.
Lett’s exit from the business coincided with the birth of his son, giving him time to focus on family and recuperate from nearly two decades of intense work. His planned sabbatical extended due to the pandemic, but now, Lett is eager to return to the kitchen.
RVR will focus on everyday Japanese cuisine, inspired by Lett’s lifelong passion for Japanese food and culture. “It’s not a high-end omakase experience. It’s about the extraordinary everyday food of Japan—noodles, yakitori, grilled dishes, and pickles,” he explained to Eater.
RVR will feature a lunch and dinner program, although Lett has yet to finalize the details.
