Palate Food + Wine closes, no date set for reopening

The highly regarded Palate Food + Wine — arguably Glendale’s most well known restaurant in the culinary world — has closed temporarily to reorganize, according to a sign posted on its front door.

Palate, located on South Brand Boulevard, apparently closed last Friday for the reorganization, but no reopening date was listed. And a representative for the eatery — named the top new restaurant in the L.A. area by Los Angeles Magazine in 2009 — could not be reached.

Known for its extensive wine selection, Palate had been written up in several magazines, in addition to Los Angeles Magazine, including Bon Appetit, L.A. Weekly and Esquire, which also named it one of the best new restaurants in 2008.

It was opened by Octavio Becerra, former executive chef of Joachim Splichal’s Patina Group. They partnered in opening the first of the Pinot restaurants, Pinot Bistro, in Studio City, according to the restaurant’s website.

Becerra — known for his tattoos, including a large Japanese knife on the underside of his right forearm — could not be reached for comment.

The potential loss of such a marquee restaurant, especially from the downtown corridor, would definitely be a hit, local business leaders said.

“It’s the loss of a regional restaurant draw. It drew people from Orange County and all over L.A.,” said Helen McDonagh, president of the Downtown Glendale Merchants Assn. “It made Glendale a restaurant destination.”

Palate has been the site of election-night parties and fundraising events in the past, including a successful fundraiser for Glendale Healthy Kids last October.

Among its other accomplishments, Palate was named wine bar of the year in the Sunset Western Wine Awards, sponsored by Sunset magazine, in 2010.

The restaurant’s other key players, according to its website, are Ako Denis, general manager, and wine director and partner Steve Goldun, although his Facebook page identifies his association with Palate in the past tense.