Miami Chef Chops Into Melrose With Italian Submarine Sandwiches

There’s a surprising new sandwich shop landing along Melrose soon, taking up residence inside the shuttered Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese. The place is called Pirolo’s Panino, and it should open in a matter of weeks.

Pirolo’s is in part the work of namesake chef Michael Pirolo, a 2016 James Beard Foundation Award semi-finalist in the Best Chef South category for his restaurant Italian Macchialina. He’s joined up with John Kolaski (Disruptive Restaurant Group) and his new K2 restaurant group, with plans to bring a variety of dining experiences to Los Angeles and beyond in the near future.

First up is the casual Melrose spot, focusing mostly on takeaway sandwiches like meatball subs, chicken parmesan, and Italian cold cuts, along with salads and main dishes like baked ziti. There will be some limited seating at the actual address, but mostly the shop is mean for grab-and-go meals and delivery.

Beyond Pirolo’s Panino, Kolaski is looking to chef Pirolo and partner Giancarlo Pagani (who is also involved at the sandwich shop) to head up an Italian restaurant project to be called Massima. That more formal restaurant will and somewhere in Los Angeles, likely by the end of the year. Beyond all that, the K2 team is also opening the food and beverage for the Graduate Hotel in Iowa City sometime later this year.

In the meantime there is Pirolo’s Panino, which is likely to open next month along Melrose. Nearby Uncle Paulie’s Deli will offer some competition in the Italian-American deli space, while Melrose proper is already lousy with Italian food from Spartina to Blackbird Pizzeria to the incoming Ronan nearby.

Pirolo’s Panino
7461 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA

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