Chef Eric Greenspan is returning to the restaurant business with the opening of Mish Delicatessen in Los Angeles. Located in the Fairfax District, this venture represents a personal shift for the chef after a long career in fine dining and media. Greenspan spent two years researching traditional deli staples, including bagels and smoked meats, to build a menu that honors history while incorporating his own culinary perspective.
The development of Mish follows a complex period for Greenspan, which included a high-profile stint as the founding chef for the Tesla Diner. That project drew significant public scrutiny due to controversies surrounding Elon Musk. Greenspan departed the diner in late 2025 to focus entirely on his own concept, which he describes as his most personal work to date.
Mish features a dedicated bagel program that utilizes a wood-fired oven and a unique boiling process inspired by French fine dining techniques. The menu includes house-cured gravlax, hardwood-smoked pastrami, and latkes served with apple marmalade. Partnering with veteran bartender Julian Cox, the restaurant also offers a cocktail program that incorporates flavors like halva and amba.
Beyond the kitchen, the space at 127 S. La Brea Ave. focuses on natural light and community seating. Greenspan has recruited Master Chef winner Dara Yu to manage the bakery program, which produces items such as babka and sea salt black-and-white cookies. For Greenspan, the transition away from television and consulting back into day-to-day operations allows him to reconnect with the work of running a kitchen.
Greenspan views this project as his return to being an operator. After spending years in media and corporate consulting, he prioritizes the tactile experience of cooking and interacting with guests. Mish serves as both a culinary experiment and a reflection of his own history, marking a new chapter in a thirty-year career.