Mess Hall is Anything But Messy, Inside Los Feliz's Hippest New American Addition

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Mess Hall is one of the year's most tracked and hotly awaited openings, a clean retro mod American dining hall and bar soft opening this weekend in Los Feliz. It's hard to believe that this space once operated as a Louise's Trattoria, partner Bill Chait, owner of the Louise's chainlet, plus Rob Serritella revamped the space into the above pictured. But, actually this building has much more history than spaghetti with tomato sauce.
While first opened in 1929 as Willard's Chicken Inn, about 10 years later the site was converted into a location of celebrity magnet Brown Derby, a popular chain owned by Bob Cobb, creator of the Cobb Salad. In 1960 the restaurant was reborn as Michael's of Los Feliz and in 1992 Louise's Trattoria and The Derby nightclub moved in until 2009. Now, Mess Hall. Paying homage to the past, Mess Hall incorporates original steel and exposed beams that date back to 1929. Exposed brick, polished steel, and reclaimed wood define the space along with a muted color palette and assortment of sharetables, booths, two and fourtops, plus bar seating.

Chef Keith Silverton (Dominick's, Water Grill) is serving a farm-to-table regional American comfort food menu, and those adult beverages that were originally under the watch of Josh Goldman and Julian Cox are now composed by Erik Lund of Rivera. There's an on overall focus on brown liquors and weekly changing craft beers.

Starting September 10, Mess Hall will serve daily 5 to 11 p.m. with a late night menu offered until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Still to come, breakfast, brunch, lunch, and an outdoor coffee bar brewing Stumptown coffee, fresh juice, and to-go breakfast and lunch goods.
·All Mess Hall Coverage [~ELA~]