Changes are ahead at Little Thief in North Park as Papalito prepares to finish its residency in the kitchen. The wine bar has been open since last summer, pairing natural wines with Papalito’s Sonoran-inspired BBQ and sandwiches. Chef Drew Bent will continue to grow his Papalo brand while heading up kitchen operations at Modbom in East Village. Paplito is expected to complete service at Little Thief on May 21st.
The kitchen will transfer over to Chef Juan Gonzalez of Mesa Agricola on an intermittent basis, serving farm-to-table cuisine from Wednesdays to Sundays from May 24th until July 30th. Later this summer, Little Thief will partner with Long Story Short on a full-time basis.
Long Story Short has been operating as a pop-up restaurant, serving multi-course dinners at Solana Beach wine shop Vino Carta since December 2021.
Chefs Kelly and Elliott Townsend carefully source hyper-local ingredients and seasonal produce from Chino Farm in Rancho Santa Fe. Considered as California cuisine, Long Story Short produces an inventive and always-changing menu featuring seafood, vegetables, and new takes on classic bistro-style dishes.
“We are most looking forward to great weather this summer and great weather means great ingredients,” Elliott and Kelly Townsend share in a press release. “We are looking forward to cooking in the community we live in. Being close to home means a lot to us.”
Long Story Short is expected to begin service at Little Thief on August 2nd, 2023. Get to know Long Story Short by following on Instagram. Make reservations for upcoming service by Mesa Agricola at Little Thief by visiting their website.
