Villains Tavern, the downtown watering hole, has just announced a new direction for its kitchen and two new chefs. Robbie Richter, who came to L.A. from New York where he made a barbecue name for himself at Fatty 'Cue, and Chris Peterson, formerly of Spago, will be serving up a menu that has a lot in common with Richter's original menu at Roadhouse LA, the short-lived international barbecue concept at the Improv. 

Instead of international barbecue, Richter is calling his menu here international street food, though much of it will be cooked over an open flame. Dishes on the opening menu include Xian mutton kabab with pickled mango, Jalon Alor chicken wing skewers with sweet soy and ginger, and mujadara, a vegetarian dish with Lebanese lentils, rice and caramelized onions. 

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This isn't the first time we've seen Richter and Peterson at Villains: The two collaborated at the location in 2013 when they hosted a whole lamb spit-roast. Later that year they threw a Cajun shrimp boil at Villains.

The new menu at Villains, which will include late night and weekend service, will launch this Thursday, Jan 13.

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