Savta

Wood-fired pizzas? Hand rolls? Boredom was all I felt when I first read the press releases for Savta, a French-inflected wood-fired Italian restaurant with an upstairs handroll bar called Sora. Both are the product of Vincent Benoliel, who also runs Pasta Corner and Michelina inside the longtime Beverly Grove food hall. It was a completely different story once I visited both restaurants. Neither concept reinvents the wheel, but Sora’s array of handrolls and Savta’s menu of crowd-pleasers were surprisingly excellent. L.A. At Savta, I couldn’t get enough of the sweet, cheesy feta phyllo and the mouthwatering beef short rib ragú, which is available in sandwich, pizza or pasta form. Sora’s tiny bleached wood interiors aren’t all that remarkable, but the straightforward menu of open-faced handrolls, appetizers and sashimi plates will sate the sushi craving of anyone who’s shopping at the Grove—or Central L.A. locals looking for an excellent lunch or dinner option. Savta also recently launched a weekend brunch menu that includes a croissant waffle and banana pancakes with candied black cherries and chantilly cream.