Highland Park is about to get a new, serious cocktail bar, called ETA

April 28, 2016 11:09 AM PT

ETA, a new cocktail bar on Figueroa Street in Highland Park, is scheduled to open Friday. And its owners, James Bygrave (formerly of Father’s Office and Lukshon), Ryan Julio and Matt Glassman, are billing their new project as the “first legitimate cocktail bar” in the area.

“We think there are two Highland Parks — York Boulevard and Figueroa,” said Glassman in a release. “And with Fig, you have parking, a Gold Line stop, a freeway close by, but we needed something sleek and sexy, and that’s where we got the idea for ETA.”

The bar, which opens down the street from Glassman’s other bar, the Greyhound, will focus on hand-crafted cocktails and a by-the-glass wine program.

Mauricio Canales, who has worked with Mercado in Santa Monica, the Ace hotel and Bar Ama, created the cocktail menu. Some of his signature drinks include the G&T Fizz, made with Sipsmith VJOP gin, Ford’s gin, house-made black lime tonic syrup, Byrrh Grand Quinquina and egg white; and the Penultimate Word, made with Uncle Val’s botanical gin, Los Javis mezcal joven, cucumber puree, green chartreuse, lime, dill and a Sal de Gusano rim.

All of the wines on the list will be available by the glass, as well as in two-ounce pours. There’s also a small beer list, and bar snacks, which include marinated olives, candied mixed nuts and something called an Adult Lunchable — a bento box with cheeses, charcuterie and crackers.

And as for the name, according to Glassman, it’s a reference to Enfield Tennis Academy, a fictional location in David Foster Wallace’s novel “Infinite Jest.”

“The bar has no connection with the characters, the locations, or the book at all,” said Glassman. “Just a reference to a book I like a lot.”

So no, it doesn’t mean estimated time of arrival, although you might want to consider yours, given that the bar opens Friday at 5 p.m.

5630 N. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, (323) 274-4755.

I’ll take two Negronis. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @Jenn_Harris_

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