A Wood-Fired Newcomer Plants Yet Another Pizza Flag on LA’s Westside Tomorrow

A pair of Westside power players have decided to try their luck in LA’s booming pizza scene, opening the brand new Ghisallo tomorrow in Santa Monica. The restaurant, housed in the former Slice at 1622 Ocean Park Boulevard, comes by way of operators Bruce Horwitz and Mark Meyuhas.

Whereas much of Los Angeles has become obsessed with square, thick pan-style pizzas of late, the new Ghisallo will hew mostly to a more traditional track, meaning wood-fired twelve-inch individual pies with blistered edges. Chef David Rodriguez (who previously worked at Pizzana under star chef Daniele Uditi) is on to run the kitchen, turning out nearly a dozen rotating variations across the menu. There’s the Spartacus with fennel sausage, red onion, and pomodoro sauce, or the Bruxelle with brussels sprouts and roasted garlic. The rest of the menu weaves through starters like salads and meatballs, plus drinks, and Rodriguez will also offer a small collection of takeaway slices. The opening menu is below.

As a pair, owners Horwitz and Meyuhas are most famously known for staple Venice restaurant the Tasting Kitchen on Abbot Kinney, a stalwart in the neighborhood and one of the area’s first chef-driven restaurants to earn city-wide appeal. Horwitz is also a partner in American Beauty, the steakhouse and burger takeaway on Rose Avenue in Venice.

Jakob Layman

The new Ghisallo opens formally tomorrow, keeping hours from Tuesday through Sunday only, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Expect pickup an to-go for now, or delivery via Postmates, GrubHub, or DoorDash.

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