Bäco Mercat
In what *Time Out* called “a shocking turn,” renowned Los Angeles chef and restaurateur Josef Centeno—whose other restaurant, Orsa & Winston, holds a Michelin star—closed Bäco Mercat in early August. Famous for its flatbread sandwiches, fried chicken, and seasonal small plates, Bäco Mercat is often credited with sparking the vibrant downtown L.A. dining scene since its opening in 2011. “I’m not one to dwell on things for too long,” Centeno reflected in a thoughtful statement on the restaurant’s Instagram page, announcing its closure. “I believe that everything has a beginning, a middle, and an end.”