The Perils of the Industry

Speaking of Top Chef alums, it seems that Season Two winner Ilan Hall is experiencing the pains of the business side inherent in being a restaurant owner. His brand new LA spot is having some trouble filling the seats on a consistent basis: "It took nearly a dozen city inspections before Hall could reopen. Crowds have been mixed — on weekends, when The Gorbals stays open until 2 a.m., they can see up to 250 people a day, Hall said. On weekdays during dinner the 70-seat restaurant has been more than half full on a consistent basis." [LADN]