Masa of Echo Park

Masa of Echo Park Restaurant Review:

Hip Echo Park is a burgeoning dining destination, but this neighborhood favorite predated the trend. The colorful dining room---eclectic art lines bright golden walls and festively covered tables are scattered around a central bar---draws the locals, as do the umbrella-shaded tables spilling onto the sidewalk. This is one of the few places in L.A. to score some authentic Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, and Masa offers a wide selection of thin-crusted pizzas too. Pastas and gnocchi are served, as are panini, burgers (including one bathed in spicy Buffalo sauce with blue cheese), meatloaf and crêpes. A brief, mainly Californian wine list seems like an afterthought, but the chocolate-almond croissant bread pudding with caramel sauce makes dessert memorable.