Roman Food Is Invading LA, and Next Up Is Echo Park

Echo Park’s next big project is Bacetti, a long-awaited Italian destination tucked up toward the hills off Echo Park Avenue. Originally known as Etti, the restaurant has been planned for more than two years as a Roman-focused dining destination meant to work in concert with next-door wine tenant Tilda. Now it’s all coming together for a mid-November arrival.

As is all the rage these days, from Oste on West Third Street to the upcoming Mother Wolf by chef Evan Funke in Hollywood, the new Bacetti will focus on the flavors and inspirations of the historic Roman culinary tradition. Incoming chef Joel Stovall, who previously worked at Orsa & Winston and opened Il Fiore in Downtown, calls Bacetti’s menu a “love letter” to the ancient city, adding that he plans to offer staples like cacio e pepe, rigatoni all’Amatriciana, Roman-ish pizza, and a full slate of piatti piccoli, shared small plates. The wines will also lean natural and from Italy.

The Bacetti space is nearly done, meaning an opening will likely happen in the next few weeks. The bow truss building — Tilda will be at left, Bacetti at right if looking from the street — has been pulled back to its raw form, beams and all, and infused with greens, dark stone tabletops, and lots of tile. There’s no formal word on an opening date or menu just yet, but Stovall and the Bacetti team say that an arrival in mid-November for the Bacetti space at 1507 Echo Park Avenue is likely.

Meanwhile, Echo Park continues to teem with restaurants, from the busy patios at Lowboy at Bar Henry to the incoming Quarter Sheets and House of Gluten dual restaurant project in the former Trencher space just off Sunset.

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