The Tasting Kitchen

The Tasting Kitchen returned to Abbot Kinney in July 2026 after a long closure and careful rebuild, restoring one of Venice's defining dining rooms without pretending time had stopped. Chef Casey Lane again leads an ingredient-driven kitchen, now with live fire and charcoal adding depth to market vegetables, seafood, pasta and larger plates. Guests can choose à la carte or let the kitchen shape a more extended sequence, which is the clearest way to understand the restaurant's original spirit. The salvaged olive tree remains a living link to the old room, surrounded by plaster, reclaimed marble and a warmer, more refined design. As with any recent reopening, hours and menu rhythm may continue to settle, so confirm before crossing town and reserve ahead. The Tasting Kitchen is not a nostalgia exercise; at its best, it reconnects serious technique with the loose, bohemian confidence that first made the address important.