The ethnic diversity of Los Angeles has not only lined its streets with a plenty of alluring restaurants to pick from, but also increasingly sees eateries of a new hybrid kind. The newly opened Grá, a sourdough pizza and natural wine restaurant in the Echo Park area, bears all the trademarks of such a place. Founded by London transplant Michael McSharry, its unusual sounding name means love in Gaelic. The dining venue is accommodated in a 3,500 sq.ft. (325 sqm.) former warehouse near Echo Park Lake and sees a fully revamped interior design by design practice Red Deer. The space is divided into a bar, a main dining area with communal tables adjacent to an open-plan kitchen, an off-street patio dining area and a recessed internal courtyard.
The kitchen and back of the house centres around a domed Italian wood-burning oven. The building has been stripped of most elements, but enough remains to reveal its former industrial purpose, and that blends in nicely with all the modern interventions. Large communal tables are alternated by two-tops and four-tops, and lending Grá an additional friendly and homey feel is the abundance of potted greens indoors and on the outside terrace. In true LA fashion, the restaurant has a slight bohemian streak, featuring a DJ booth and bespoke speakers for after dinner debaucheries until the wee little hours. As said, Grá‘s menu is dominated by sourdough pizza, offering six different variations, in addition to a number of salads and side dishes.
Grá
1524 Pizarro Street (Echo Park)
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Wed-Sun 5-10
Publishers Note
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