When asked nearly a year ago what she had planned for her new Echo Park restaurant, all that Marta Teegan said was that it would be “a small neighborhood place with tasty food.” On Monday night, the first customers got to sample that “tasty food” at Cortez, Teegan’s new restaurant focused on seasonal and organic foods. Teegan, who also operates Echo Park’s Cookbook grocery, and partner Robert Stelzner opened the 1,250-square foot restaurant, which is dominated by a pair of giant, hoop-shaped chandeliers, away from Echo Park’s main drag of restaurants and bars on Sunset Boulevard. Instead, they leased space in a brick building on Allison Avenue between an auto repair shop and an affordable housing complex.
What exactly is on the Cortez menu? None was available today and none was readily available online. But a jobs posting on Craigslist said Cortez will “work exclusively with local, seasonal, and organic produce, offering an ever-changing menu, using only pasture raised meats and sustainable seafood.”
An employee today said the restaurant will be serving dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will eventually be added.
Congratulations! If the quality of food is as good here as it is at Cookbook I’m sure to be eating here a few times a week.
I am looking forward to giving it a whirl – as a big fan of Cookbook I am happy to see this new venture!
Nice to see an attractive brick facade that wasn’t stuccoed over.
oh hell yes.
Bravo!
Good luck Cortez!
Cortez. A Spanish conquistador responsible for the death of tens of thousands of indigenous people in the Americas now glorified by namesake in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood…
Hmmm.
I’m thinking of a deli in the Fairfax district… perhaps I could call it Adolf’s?
Or how about a Cambodian restaurant named Pol Pot?
Btw his name is spelled Cortes.
Maybe the restaurant is named after Jose Cortez, the now-retired professional NFL place-kicker who also had a brief stint for the Los Angeles Xtreme in the XFL. I love Wikipedia.
maybe reference to The Sea of Cortez, another name for the Gulf of California. there is more than one Cortez. i can’t wait to check this out. i love cookbook.
Idiot. Common hispanic last name.
Why do you think it’s such a common spanish last name, douche?
wiki, first entry in google search … didn’t even have to try the second link
Antawn Cortez Jamison (born 1976), Professional NBA power forward
Dave “Baby” Cortez (born 1938), American pop music and R&B musician
Gregorio Cortez (1875–1916), Mexican folk hero
Hernán Cortés (or Hernando Cortés) (1485–1547), Spanish conquistador
Jayne Cortez (born 1936), American poet
José Cortéz (born May 1975), professional NFL place-kicker
Page Cortez (born 1961), member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Lafayette
Paul E. Cortez, American soldier convicted of war crimes
Raul Cortez (1932–2006), Brazilian actor
Ricardo Cortez (1899–1977), silent film star
White guilt is so transparent and ineffectual.
You should know, James…
hopefully, not as expensive as cookbook!
hopefully all their lettuces aren’t bad/limp by 6pm when the average working joe comes in to buy dinner supplies … like they are at cookbook!
Such a particular goat
Or, maybe an homage to the Nike ‘Cortez’ shoes favored by old school cholos? Not………..
(I know the restaurant is spelled ‘Cortes’)
and costanza
I knew it would look good but had no idea it would be this gorgeous. Can’t wait to sit at the communal table with some fine food from the folks of Cookbook.
CAN NOT WAIT!!!!!!!
Correction: The restaurant is located in between Radi’s auto shop and Novak hair salon.