Tea House to Turn Tapas Bar

When the Tudor House—a tea house that has served English pies, scones and finger sandwiches for five decades—, it will be transformed into a paella and tapas restaurant under the direction of chef Michael Cardenas.

It will be called Taberna Arros y Vi.

"It's my newest personal passion project," Cardenas said. "A wood burning paella and tapas concept with my chef/partner Perfecto Rocher formerly of 'El Bulli' in Barcelona."

Cardenas gives the same description to the acclaimed Lazy Ox canteen in Little Tokyo, which he opened in December 2009. He's also behind the Sushi Roku restaurants in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, the BOA steakhouses, KATANA on Sunset, Robata Bar, Toranoko and Fat Spoon.

LA Eater first reported the paella and tapas concept in April:

Upon entering, diners will see the stand-up tapas bar, and behind that a casual sit-down dinner spot with booths, wood tables, and exposed brick. Cardenas/Rocher aim to serve Angelenos a “true taste of Catalunya"

Now there's a public notice from the state Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control on the Tudor House's windows. Cardenas, along with partner and Spanish-born chef Perfecto Rocher, have applied for a license to sell beer and wine.

Cardenas did not provide an anticipated opening date.

Proprietors of the said they are the latest casualty of the recession. In announcing the closure on their website, they wrote, "because of the current economy we understand that many of our customers have been unable to support us in the way that they would like and coupled with rising rents these circumstances led us to this unhappy decision."

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