Restaurant Visit: Gjelina in Los Angeles

On a recent trip to LA, a foodie friend of ours clued us in to Gjelina on Abbot Kinney. The food lived up to the billing; however, we found ourselves copiously taking notes on the compelling interior, designed by Culver City–based Modern Arc. We later learned that the wood-clad ceiling is made from planks reclaimed from an old barn in Oregon, while the bricks used in the flooring were salvaged from an old warehouse. The industrial stools and long wooden communal tables are Modern Arc finds. Particularly compelling is the industrial chandelier substitute: mismatched bulbs hung in clusters from an oval hanging meat hook, inspired by "the chaotic mess created by circuitry boards," according to the designers at Modern Arc. Well worth the visit, if you can get a reservation.