With Luck, This Underground Garage Party Will Become a Permanent Part of Echo Park

Big things are coming to the greater Echo Park area soon, as two young restaurant types are plotting a casual bar (with food) for the area called Chainsaw. The duo, Karla Subero Pittol and Max Sheffler, have a ton of combined culinary experience, and now they’re working on crafting a dream project, complete with cocktails.

Folks may know Subero Pittol as the former pastry chef at Here’s Looking at You, where her once-per-night bar pies became reason enough to visit the Koreatown restaurant; the late Jonathan Gold once called his slice “a slab of fruity deliciousness.” She’s also worked the line at Animal, while Sheffler is currently a sous chef at Providence after working at places like State Bird Provisions, Single Thread, and the Progress.

While they don’t yet have an official space, the duo has been doing private pop-ups inside a garage in Historic Filipinotown over the past few months. They’re testing out not only drinks and dishes, but also decor details from Merchant Modern, who will be handling the design work for the restaurant once it arrives. Subero Pittol says the overall plan is to aim to be an “elegant dive bar with food,” offering something for all.

Chainsaw is currently in discussions on spaces around Echo Park, and is set to host another private garage pop-up sometime in September. And yes, there will be pie.

• Triple Beam Pizza Takes Roman-Style Pizza Slices to Echo Park Next [ELA]