4 Horse Ranch

What's Happening Inside Horses, the Buzzy LA Restaurant Now Shrouded in Drama? | Bon Appétit

"Since opening in fall 2021 it quickly became a celebrity-packed, critically praised California bistro known for its vibey atmosphere, hard-to-get Resy reservations, and a devoted 70-person staff. The kitchen and bar serve well-executed dishes such as hand-cut steak tartare, a popular cheeseburger, off‑menu rigatoni with spicy nduja, côte de porc with haricots verts, and espresso martinis; service moments include staff converging to sing happy birthday around the signature slice of cake enclosed in a spun-sugar dome. The restaurant has been embroiled in a very public divorce between co-owners Liz Johnson and Will Aghajanian—Johnson obtained a restraining order in November 2022 alleging multiple forms of abuse, including accusations that more than one cat was killed; Aghajanian disputes those claims and has accused Johnson of animal abuse and of trying to take control of the business. The scandal, which followed earlier reporting about Ken Friedman’s early involvement, generated intense national media coverage, social-media backlash, death threats to staff, a temporary disabling of Instagram comments, a Yelp “unusual activity” alert, and a noticeable dip in diners despite reservations appearing fully booked; the owners issued a statement saying Aghajanian has not been involved in day-to-day operations for the past six months." - ByEmily Wilson