When City Sip opened in Echo Park four years ago, Mohawk Bend was a quiet place most nights.
There was no iam8bit gallery or Mohawk Bend restaurant across the street.
ELF Cafe was a single storefront.
Now the stretch is lively--and competitive, and owner Nicole Daddio has had to take note.
She is reopening Friday night with a new menu and new emphasis.
"Now people want to enjoy their wine, rather than be educated about it," said Daddio, who trained as a sommelier and brought that emphasis to he original CitySip.
"So we wanted to create a more social vibe," she added.
So in a week-long makeover, benches and couches have substituted for tables and table service.
A new menu,designed by Gloria Felix formerly of Reservoir, features comfort snacks like jicama tortilla tacos and grilled cheese sandwiches priced in the $3 - $7 range.
And the wine and beer menu has been streamlined and updated, with prices "value menus that don't drink like the big guns" in the $6 - $9 per glass.
City Sip had a soft opening last night, with customers from the neighborhood wandering in to see the changes.
Why not see for yourself when the area's last "neighborhood wine bar" opens officially Friday night?
City Sip is located at 2150 W. Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles CA 90026
www.citysipla.com
