Bill Chait Backs Ori Menashe's Bestia, Louise's Los Feliz Reborn as Mess Hall, Test Kitchen Dinner at Short Order

Last week the LAT profiled restaurateur Bill Chait, the individual responsible for organizing some of Los Angeles' most successful new ventures including Short Order, Short Cake, Rivera, Playa, Picca, Sotto, and, of course, Test Kitchen.

Chait reveals details on several up and coming projects including Bestia, that previously mentioned $1.2-million 140-seat trattoria cheffed by Ori Menashe (Angelini Osteria) located in the Arts District Downtown, and Mess Hall, a reconceptualization of Louise's Trattoria in Los Feliz in conjunction with designer Osvaldo Maiozzi (Rivera). Chait describes Mess Hall as "higher energy, simpler food, with a modern twist."

Meanwhile, Chait is also considering a partnership with Neal Fraser and that restaurant concept in Vibiana, and Chait also plans to relaunch Test Kitchen this coming fall.

[Photo: kevinEats/ Chef John Sedlar and Bill Chait]

On February 25 Chait has arranged a Test Kitchen preview dinner, of sorts, at Short Order. Walter Manzke, Kris Morningstar, Adam Horton, Christian Page, and Ori Menashe will each prepare a unique burger with cocktails created by Julian Cox, Daniel Warrilow (Son of a Gun), Paul Sanguinetti (Stark Bar), and Chris Parke (Raphael). Burgers, sides, and cocktails all a la carte. Email here with name, phone number, time, and size of party for a resy.
·Test Kitchen Returns With Five Chefs in One Night at Short Order [Grub Street]
·Bill Chait navigates rocky shoals of L.A. restaurant business [LAT]