Suzanne Goin And Caroline Styne Announce Move Of A.o.c. To Iconic West 3rd Street Location

New A.O.C. Boasts Gorgeous Patio, Full Bar, Family-Style Plates and Private Room


LOS ANGELES, California; November 7, 2012 - Chef Suzanne Goin and business partner Caroline Styne, owners of the acclaimed Lucques, A.O.C., Tavern and the Larder at Maple Drive restaurants in Los Angeles, announce that they signed a lease to move A.O.C., their groundbreaking small plates restaurant, to 8700 West 3rd Street, the existing location of il Covo, and former home of Orso in West Hollywood, which will be closing at the end of the year. The building has a rich restaurant history, dating back to Joe Allen, one of the legendary watering holes of Los Angeles that operated there for many years. Opening is planned for early 2013.

Goin and Styne are among many Angelenos enamored with the space, and when they were offered the opportunity, they jumped on it. "Suzanne and I had been trying to think of a big way celebrate our 10th anniversary at A.O.C.," said Styne. "So when this came up, it was truly the most fabulous present we could imagine for ourselves, our staff and our customers. Suzanne and I have fond memories of dining on the Orso patio throughout the 1980's; it's one of the most beautiful and enchanting in Los Angeles. We will finally have a full bar in addition to our extensive wine list and there is even a wood burning oven for our classic A.O.C. dishes and the many new ones to come. It couldn't be more perfect." The timing couldn't be better with a new cookbook, a collection of Goin's recipes from A.O.C. with wine pairing suggestions by Styne, completed and scheduled to publish in fall 2013.

Goin's menu of small plates will remain in place, and her recent experimentations at A.O.C. of Focaccia Night and Paella celebrations have received enthusiastic response, becoming a test drive for the move. She plans to incorporate these and other family style dishes from a wood-burning oven into the menu to give guests more options than the small plate concept that put A.O.C. on the map and started a culinary trend. Leading the kitchen will be the gifted Lauren Herman, who has served as A.O.C.'s Chef de Cuisine since 2011 and has worked with Goin and Styne for the past five years.

The eclectic and extensive wine list created by Styne will continue to play a vital role in the restaurant concept at A.O.C. The beverage program will be further expanded by a full bar and farmers' market-driven cocktails created by Christiaan Rollich, head bartender for all of the restaurants.

In addition to dinner service, the new location provides the ability to offer lunch and brunch in one of the best outdoor patios in the city. Other enhancements include a second floor private dining room overlooking the patio that can accommodate up to 50 guests for private events, wine tastings and more. With a central location that can serve both east and west sides of the city, A.O.C. can now be easily reached by a larger demographic.

Suzanne Goin was named one of Food and Wine magazine's "Best New Chefs" in 1999, within a year after opening her first restaurant. In 2005, Suzanne's cookbook, Sunday Suppers at Lucques, was published by Alfred A. Knopf. In 2006, the James Beard Foundation acknowledged Suzanne's culinary achievements with the award for Best Chef California and an award for her cookbook, Best Cookbook from a Professional Viewpoint.

This has been a busy year for Goin and Styne, with stunning growth. They recently announced a new restaurant opening in Montecito in the spring of 2013 and The Larder at Burton Way, which is scheduled to open in January 2013.

Goin and Styne are among the most respected restaurateurs in California, and continue to receive praise for their food, beverage programs and service