What’s Popping Up? David Myers is Adrift in Venice

With a lot more time on our hands for the last eight months, it’s hard to come up with new projects. What do you do if you’re a Michelin-starred gypsy chef with restaurants around the world climbing the walls of your Venice home? Open a burger joint – in 30 days.David Myers is one of L.A.’s creative dining pioneers. He opened Sona on La Cienega Blvd in 2002 on the original restaurant row when there were only a handful of interesting places to eat in Los Angeles and new chefs were just starting to emerge within the city’s evolving culinary scene. His former L.A. flagship Sona earned one Michelin star for three consecutive years. He went on to open Pizzeria Ortica, Sola, Comme ça, AnOther Place and Hinoki & the Bird.

Adrift Burger Bar (Jakob Layman)

The self-described gypsy chef continued to expand to Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and New Delhi. The pandemic brought him back home full circle where he opened an L.A. outpost of ADRIFT Burger Bar, a limited-time-only pop-up burger concept located along Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice. He did it in 30 days and documented the process in a YouTube series.

For Comme ça lovers who miss the restaurant’s famous burger, rejoice. His DM Burger is on the no fuss menu, a medium-rare patty topped with Vermont Cheddar cheese, shaved onion and lettuce, and secret sauce on a brioche bun. Combing his favorite flavors from around the world, try the juicy Adrift Burger, topped with tomato ajwan jam, pickled jalapeños, Gruyère and arugula. For purists, there’s a classic 1940’s Burger and plant-based Impossible product can be substituted on all burgers. Sides include fries and juicy fried mushrooms as well as strawberry and vanilla shakes. And definitely give the iced hibiscus tea a try.

The breezeway (Michele Stueven)

While the art-filled breezy patio is closed for now, decorated with murals that throwback to the days of crowded barrooms by Venice-based blind contour artist Sophie Kipner, the pickup window is open for pre-order, Grubhub delivery or drop-in. When outdoor dining resumes, a living wall features a collection of air plants and succulents selected and potted in ceramics by Japanese florist Yukio of BOZU Los Angeles, all of which are available for diners to purchase and take home. There’s a curated playlist courtesy of Jamaal Layne, coming from the outdoor Sonos sound system, which is also available on Spotify for guests to listen to while enjoying burgers at home.