Feel Like You're On Vacay In Mexico At Rick Bayless' Red O

by Emily Green · May 18, 2010

Next Wednesday, Rick Bayless' highly anticipated Red O on Melrose will open its doors to the public for dinner service. According to Grubstreet, the new restaurant's cuisine will consist of a fusion of Mexican and lighter Cali-style fare, such as ceviche and albondigas, although a full menu is not yet available. After months of construction and buzz surrounding the Chicago chef's first foray into L.A.'s restaurant world, the reservation line is now open and taking names.

Last week, some trusty insiders had the privilege of attending the exclusive Red O private preview dinner for friends and family and came back raving to us about both the food and the space which had, "the feeling of being in Mexico or Miami." Um, okay, we love it already.

The impressive interior is broken up into several distinct spaces, each with its own vibe. Among them are a lounge-type area with cozy couch seating, a dining room with big, round and smaller square tables, and even a long communal table near the bar, which boasts some leather swings reminiscent of hammocks. Brilliant! The ideal place to plop yourself for a little tequila-induced siesta, as long as you're cool with people watching you sleep, so mind the drooling.

Oh, there's also a glass tunnel which leads to a tequila lounge with a huge fireplace and pool of floating candles. Radical. Our insiders say they can't wait to experience Red O this summer when temperatures permit the restaurant roll up its front, creating shared indoor-outdoor space.

So basically, if you're down with delicious food at prices that won't break the bank, are game for some tequila tasting, and enjoy the feeling of being on a tropical vacation, you should to hit up Red O. Just be sure to make a reservation.