After years of catering and successful pop-ups, Karla Subero Pittol has finally opened her own pint-sized restaurant, Chainsaw Cafe, across the street from equally trendy LA Grocery & Cafe and Little Fish Melrose Hill. Purple and yellow tilework; a patchwork yellow accent wall; and a mismatched collection of stools, chairs, and milk crates imbue the space with an intentionally eclectic feel. Throw in the lush assortment of produce that’s suspended behind the bar and the tiny cafe feels reminiscent of the small, vibrant neighborhood hangouts found in many cities across Europe and Latin America. For now, Chainsaw serves a limited menu of savory dishes and caffeinated drinks that draws inspiration from the chef’s Venezuelan heritage, as well the Here’s Looking at You alum’s cult-favorite passionfruit lime icebox pie, both whole and by the slice, plus other seasonal sweets.
Given the extremely limited space, come solo or with one other person, max.
A quick afternoon snack or morning pick-me-up in East Hollywood. In the future, Subero Pittol plans to open a wine bar next door.