Design Dish: Yours Truly
Author:Abigail StoneYours Truly, opened by Dave Reiss, Paul Pruitt and Chef Vartan Abgaryan in the space on Abbot Kinney in Venice formerly occupied by Salt Air, is a lesson in how a few simple tweaks can completely alter the feel of a room.
Partner Paul Pruitt, founder of New School, a hospitality development group, worked with Ital/C on the restrained renovation. The biggest change visible in the restaurant’s exterior; the white façade has been washed with a rich dark blue. A handwritten-style orange logo replaces the vaguely nautical-style lettering. Placed against this deep backdrop, the patio becomes a place to linger.
Inside the large banquettes, formerly upholstered in a beige linen, have been softened. Recovered in a cream and orange fabric with a geometric pattern, they feel casual and inviting, the bright hue striking a vibrant and compelling note in the otherwise mostly white space. Life has also been added to the the interior via Reiss’ collection of colorful handpicked artwork, gathered from flea markets and estate sales. Two large pieces from local artist Tom Everhart hang in the main dining room.
Blue napkins, plenty of greenery and a sprinkling of occasional pillows complete the restaurant’s transformation. These small but impactful tweaks result in a warm room that complements Chef Vartan Abgaryan’s vivid and varied menu. Here too, touches of color in the form of unexpected spices — curry sugar in the Marcona almond appetizer, za’atar in the flatbread that accompanies an avocado hummus, sorrel folded into a scallop tartare, and a pickle juice vinaigrette that sparkles through the Nashville hot shrimp — accomplish the same trick with the palate that hue and texture perform on the eye. It’s a reminder of how much color and spice can add to a room, a dish or, indeed, life.
Yours Truly, 1616 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291, 310.396.9333