Sibling Rival: Brooklyn Born DTLA Raised
The surge of new restaurants in DTLA has not only brought us more great food from more great chefs, it has also brought us a handful of new hotels. Ever since independent restaurants started to become destinations, hotels have stepped their game up by hiring top-notch talent. One such hotel that absolutely nailed it is the new Hoxton Hotel on Broadway.
Getting Sibling Rival to Los Angeles was a combined effort by the Brooklyn-based Sunday Hospitality team and the Hoxton. Staying true to their East Coast roots the interior decor of Sibling Rival is essential New York vibes from the entrance to the patio. Given that it occupies the majority of the entrance to the Hoxton itself, the ambiance almost embraces you in a warm hug with top-notch hospitality and delicious food.
Usually, when big outsiders come into DTLA there is a healthy concern about the East to West mesh-up and locals fear the art of California culture might take a backseat. I am happy to report this is not the case at Sibling Rival, thanks to the man behind the action, Chef John Taube IV, formerly of the NoMad Hotel.
When it comes to hotels in DTLA Chef John already has 6 years of experience working at a high-caliber and high-demand group, but Sibling Rival’s concept was enticing enough to draw him in and dial the concept to appeal to the West Coast audiences. The fact that they picked DTLA to open up was music to his ears as this is where he calls home.
Sibling Rival considers itself a modern American diner, serving breakfast all day as well as lunch and dinner menus. There is no shortage of cocktails, wine, desserts, and vegan options, but the stand out one-hit wonders are definitely their signature pancakes. Chef John’s vision was an ode to the success of the Brooklyn location, with all the means to rival it, by adding a touch of hip-hop and the California way of life. His personally assembled team, he assures me, is the secret to his success: Carlos Arciniega and Rick Pettigrew are actually some of his best friends.
Given that New Yorkers never sleep, the team at Sibling Rival is churning out food as early as 7 am. The staff is casual and easy to approach, which is also true of the back of the house staff; Chef John’s team is ready to meet you! He claims the days of the stuffy, pretentious, and quiet chefs are over — his team wants to say hi. They love cooking together in a fast-paced environment, so a couple of stretches prior to service are necessary but their most important value is to have fun while serving elevated comfort food such as Chef John’s favorite the scramble or Carlos’ burrito.
Meshing East Coast with West Coast has never been an easy feat and only a few places can claim the fame of doing it right. You can go ahead and add Sibling Rival to that list. The fact they opened their doors in DTLA means our metropolis is growing and will soon rival the Big Apple.
siblingrivaldtla.com | 1060 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Written by Mariana Ramos | Photography by Rebekah Lemire
