The Folks Behind Blair’s in Silver Lake Have a Fast Casual Italian Place in the Works

Through trends of all types, Blair’s in Silver Lake has remained a constant. The true neighborhood eatery has been in business for nearly two decades now, with quiet owner Marshall Blair at the helm. Now he’s expanding out with the help of his chef Christopher Washburn, taking over the defunct Halong Bay Vietnamese restaurant.

Initially it was told to Eater that the Maradentro team would be taking that address, but they backed out eventually, which left an opening for Blair. Now he and Washburn are jumping into a new kind of project: Italian with affordable pricing. It’s a model that has worked wonders across the city so far (Knead & Co., anyone?), and should play well with the young families nesting out in Eagle Rock these days.

The Blair’s team doesn’t want to divulge a name just yet, but in talking to them the plan is already in place: do counter service, offer quality products on the cheap, and keep long hours so customers can come and go when they please. The restaurant is still two to three months out, so expect a summer arrival.

1948 Colorado Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA

• Four Reasons Why LA Is Undergoing a Modern Italian Dining Renaissance [ELA]