IN THE NEWS: The LA Times’s Molly Hennessy-Fiske and David Zahniser report that a law that would bar new fast-food restaurants from opening in South Los Angeles for at least one year sailed through the Los Angeles City Council [July 29]. … Critic Irene Virbila gives two and a half stars to Ammo (1155 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, www.ammocafe.com), while Amy Scattergood reports that chef Josef Centeno is leaving Echo Park’s Lot 1. www.latimes.com … LA Weekly’s Jonathan Gold reviews Akasha (543 Culver Blvd., Culver City, www.akasharestaurant.com) and has a first bite at 8 Oz. Burger Bar (7661 Melrose Ave., between Stanley and Spaulding avenues, West Hollywood, www.8ozburgerbar.com). www.laweekly.com …

In the August issue, Angeleno magazine names BLT Steak its New Restaurant of the Year. Comme Ca is Best New Restaurant runner-up; Wilshire exec chef Andrew Kirschner gets a nod for Best New Chef, with Animal’s Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook as runner-ups; Hungry Cat is Restaurant of the Year with Hatfield’s as the runner-up; Hiro Urasawa as Chef of the Year with Craig Strong at the Dining Room at Langham Huntington Hotel (former Ritz-Carlton) as runner-up; Craft’s Christine Schimenti is Pastry Chef of the Year (honorable mentions to Water Grill’s John Park and Fraiche’s Miho Travi). The two-month old Anisette gets Best Restaurant Design, Il Grano’s Sal Marino and Joe’s Joe Miller both receive the Vanguard Award, and Palate Food + Wine is noticed for Outstanding Wine Service. … www.la.foodblogging.com reviews, among other places, Porterhouse Bistro (8635 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills).

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Filed under: Los Angeles Restaurants | Tags: 8 Oz Burger Bar, Akasha, Ammo, Angeleno magazine, BLT Steak, fast food ban, Hungry Cat, Lot 1, Porterhouse Bistro |