Author: Claire Diggins
As someone from the Midwest who has spent a lot of time eating her way through the world of Chicago deep-dish pizza, I was skeptical when I first heard about Masa, a Chicago-style deep-dish pizza restaurant in Echo Park. I set out to to see if all the praise I had heard about Masa was true.
Could a West Coast pizza place really meet the Heartland’s finest culinary standards? After a scintillating three-course meal at Masa, my answer is a resounding yes.
Masa is a family-owned Italian restaurant and bakery located just 10 minutes from Oxy on Sunset and Park. The cozy atmosphere and friendly staff made me feel at home right away. The decor is hospitable and intimate, with different decorative cloth table settings on each table, a fireplace, book shelves and a reading nook with sofas and fluffy chairs situated right in front of their incredible bakery case. The tantalizing case showed off cakes, cheesecake, croissants and cookies.
The walls are covered in clippings of interesting places in Echo Park. It is clear that the owners of Masa are proud of their community and the history of their location. Instead of gloating with clippings of great reviews, they showcase neat things from the community, like an old black-and-white clipping about the first boat house on the lake in Echo Park and the serene old man who lived there, boating to and from his home everyday. Not only does co-owner Rob Reynolds celebrate local gems, but he too is a Chicago native, so he knows deep-dish pizza.
In addition to Masa’s perfectly cooked deep dish, which is made from cornmeal dough baked in a 90-year-old revolving oven, they use local organic produce – not so common in your average Chicago eatery. Their dough is made fresh daily and all of their sauces and dressings are made from scratch.
They even import Chicago favorites like Scala’s Authentic Hot Giardiniera beef. The menu is diverse, and every dish looks just as promising as the next. They have everything you can imagine: paninis, melts, burgers, thin crust bistro pizza, pasta, gnocchi, meatloaf, soup, salads, crepes, appetizers and desserts.
My meal began with an anything-but-standard complimentary bread basket. The delicious loaf of bread was warm and fresh out of the oven, served with butter, of course. To drink, there is wine, wine and more wine. Served by the glass, bottle or carafe, I chose a reasonably priced glass of Syrah, which was rich and spicy, fruity with hints of pepper and tobacco.
Next, I ordered the Masa penne pasta to tide us over while we waited for the deep dish we had ordered.
When my pasta arrived, it was unexpectedly appealing. Garnished with crispy fried shallot strings, this mushroom pasta dish was served in a sun-dried tomato pesto cream sauce with hints of garlic and basil, shaved mushrooms and lots of butter. It was a perfect mint green color peppered with sun-dried tomato bits, and every bite melted in your mouth.
Their deep dish pizza takes 40 to 45 minutes to make, so it’s important to order immediately upon sitting down. You can choose from their deep dish specialties like Lots of Meat, Traditional (Italian sausage and mushroom), California vegetable (spinach and sun-dried tomato) or you can make your own. I ordered the Lots of Cheese deep dish, which came with romona and buffalo mozzarella.
The list of pizza ingredients is endless and includes roasted red pepper, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil, grilled rosemary chicken breast, roasted shallots and even soy cheese and veggie pepperoni. As a vegetarian in a family of south side Chicago carnivores, it was quite spectacular to find a place that serves both authentic Italian beef and soy products.
Finally the pizza arrived. It was hot and gooey and everything I wanted it to be. The crust was crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle, just as deep dish should be. The sauce was made with the freshest ingredients, with whole pear tomatoes, garlic and basil. Their deep dish is cooked in pans forged in Chicago, and you can taste the Windy City in every bite.
I was practically in a coma by the time the attentive and lovely waitress asked if we wanted dessert. Neither of us had room, but it was tempting. I will have to go back sometime and try the cannoli (my personal favorite), chocolate soufflé or perhaps the warm croissant bread pudding.
For delicious authentic Chicago pizza, great service and an inviting home-like atmosphere close to Oxy, go to Masa. Bring your friends, bring your family and bring a big appetite.
Masa of Echo Park Café and Bakery located at 1800 W. Sunset Blvd. 213-989-1558.
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