YEE: Wood Handcrafted Pizza

Another great event set up by Katie B!
Us lucky Unilocalers got to sample handcrafted artisan pizza. it was a great meal that featured wine, appetizers, and several different types of pizzas. To start, while we waited for the food, we were offered red or white wine. I chose the red and enjoyed it, but I’m not a wine connoisseur.
There was a bit of a lag getting started and in between the wine serving and the first appetizer. There was crispy kale, crispy Brussels sprouts, baby kale Caesar salad, and a beet and goat cheese salad. Everything was served family style, with plates passed around. The Brussels sprouts were a definite hit; I loved them and pretty much everyone else at my table did as well. They were crispy and flavorful. I also loved the beet and goat cheese salad. It had generous portions of cheese and red and gold beets.
The baby kale Caesar and crispy kale were okay but I wouldn’t order them if I came on my own.
The pizzas themselves were tasty and, in particular, the crust, which apparently is thanks to the super-​high temperature of the oven used for cooking. The crust was thin and crispy with a nice flavor to it. I got to try the lamb sausage, hot soppressatta, classic Margherita, vegan, and potato and anchovy. The Margherita was probably my favorite; the flavors were simple and the quality of the ingredients evident. The soppressatta was also good but pepperoni just isn’t my favorite – if it had been sausage, that would have been a different story! Lamb was tasty, although my slice had just one piece of meat on it. The vegan was also good, although not enough that I would order it over any of the non-​vegan choices. I didn’t care for the potato/​anchovy mix; potatoes seemed out of place on the pizza and I don’t think I tasted any anchovies, which was disappointing.
The food was good and I would like to return, although I do think that the prices are quite high. The event itself offered a lot of selection and was fun but ran very long. It didn’t seem like the restaurant was prepared to serve so many people at once. The event started late, then there were delays between serving wine and appetizers, and then again prior to serving the pizza.

Thanks Katie, this was a fun event. I leaped out of my comfort zone and actually ate the crispy brussel sprouts and crispy kale. Both items I would normally not touch with a 10ft pole, but I really enjoyed them. The space was beautiful, my only complaint was that it was super loud and I couldn’t really hear what my interesting table mates were saying.
I also thought the pizza was really tasty and if I was in the area, I’d definitely go back again. Bonus, I got to talk about Santa Clarita with two people!

Unilocal’s 365 Review Challenge 2015 #26 — #365
Did some one say hand crafted pizza?
Thanks to our lovely CM (Katie B.) for an intimate setting on the sunset strip. I enjoyed seeing my Unilocal friends like Hugh and Jeff B. and making new ones like Siama who is from London. Cheers! The owner gave an excellent presentation about his artisan pizzas, told us about his background and how he got involved in the business. The wait staff was attentive to the large crowd and served us Truvee Wines: Chardonnay and Rhone Style Red Blend. Like in every Unilocal event comes Unilocal swag, we received luggage tags and ear buds with the Unilocal logo on them. Totally cute!
Let’s get to the FOOD:
First was the Appetizers:
Crispy Kale had a sweat tangy sauce to it and reminded me of tasting fresh seaweed.
Crispy Brussel Sprouts were fried to a crisp, reminded me of eating pork rinds.
Salads:
Glazed Beet and Goat Cheese Napoleon tasted sweet with a not so strong sour taste. Very unique I’d say.
Baby Kale Caesar tasted fresh from the garden!
Pizzas:
The pizzas were the crème de la crème of the event. Made with love and such passion from the owner, they include:
–Classic Margherita
–Hot Soppressatta
–Lamb Sausage
–Smoked Mozzerella and Brussels with crispy pancetta
–Cavolo Nero and Pancetta
–Ti Lascera A Bocca Aperta
My favorite pizza was the lamb sausage because I am a meat eater and love my pizzas with a lot of meat. Last by not least is the cream puff dessert made by the owner’s Mom. The event was a total bang and quickly turned into social hour as it winded down. Making friendly connections is what makes Unilocal worth Unilocaling for. I truly feel connected to the other Unilocalers.

My FIRST Unilocal ELITE EVENT and it was amazing. I was lucky enough to grab a spot in the parking lot since my friend and I arrived pretty early. I’ve seen Wood Handcrafted Pizza before since we frequent the restaurants nearby but never had a chance to try it.
I loved the really cool iridescent tables. Décor was sleek and clean altogether so it created a very cool and casual atmosphere.
We had a huge menu that included drinks, appetizers, salads, pizzas, and a dessert. I was pretty much stuffed after the tasting. My favorites were the Marguerita pizza, crispy brussel sprouts, and the anchovy and potato pizza. The pizza dough was really good and has this charred taste due to the high heat ovens!
The owner explained that he does his best to make sure all aspects of his restaurant is imported from Italy and that includes the pizza boxes! How cool, right?! It was also really sweet that his mom made the cream puffs we had for dessert. Gotta love family establishments!
Only complaint was that it gets really loud in there due to the echo or something. Not sure, but with all the people there and the music, it was a little to much for me. I know, I’m a grandma…
All in all, it was a great event for my first one! :)

Thank you Katie B and Wood Handcrafted Pizza for organizing this amazing event! I don’t venture into this part of LA often, but glad I got to try out this new pizza joint. The owner Eric was super friendly and passionate about the art of napoleon pizzas. He even gave us a detailed explanation and history into this pizza specialty! Eric told us that all ingredients from the pizza were imported from Italy, in order to give us an authentic experience without having to travel all the way to Naples. Even the pizza boxes are from Italy!
We got a wide sampling of the food. My fave appetizers were the crispy kale. It was light and crispy and the balsamic glaze on top was just the perfect balance to it! If all veggies tasted like this, I wouldn’t mind eating veggies all day long!
We had a good sampling of 6 pizzas. All were delicious! But I can see why Eric doesn’t encourage delivery or take out, as the pizzas taste the best when its piping hot from the oven!
I left happy, full, and a bit more educated on the napoleon style thin crust pizzas. Thanks Unilocal for an awesome event!
And I love the new Unilocal earbuds and luggage tag! Can’t say no to free swag!
Parking: The place has a small parking lot for itself. There’s also street metered parking. Meters are free after 8pm!

one of those cavernous spaces that takes every sound, amplifies exponentially and then throws it right back at you, wood offers up some tasty gastronomical delights.
loved the truvee wine, so much so that it was a true act of will to not consume a second glass, but i had promised my mister to drive home sober…
most noteworthy, in my book, were the crispy brussels sprouts, which had this pomegranate molasses. better than french fries, in my book. the crispy kale was crispy and it was kale, but other than that it was fine.
being the token vegan at the joint, i did not partake of the bulk of the pizzas, but my fellow Unilocalsters seemed mighty happy once the pizzas started flowing. towards the end of the evening the very sweet owner sent a vegan pizza my way. great crust, loved the portobellos on it, but the cheese was not super great, and cilantro just doesn’t really belong on a pizza in my book. nevertheless, i was hungry, and that was so damned good crust – chewy and slightly charred.
would i return on my own? i would. i know my mister would love the meat offerings and the crust, but i would probably go cheese free. :)

Such a wonderful event and for Brit on holiday to LA this was My first taste of Handcrafted Pizza in LA and it was amazing! The dough was light and a little crispy at the ends! The toppings were really good each one complimented the overall flavour! And my new one love is the crispy Brussels sprouts! I could eat them constantly!
The owner Eric is very passionate about his business and it really shows how welcoming and friendly the staff are and how the large tables are great as you could come in on your own or with a friend or in groups!
Thumbs up Katie for a great night! I made some new Unilocaler friends which I hope to see again in the future!

Wine and pizza, yay! This was a lovely, intimate tasting event, with great food and new Unilocal friends. Truvee Wines did a great job keeping us hydrated, and the winery itself has a very sweet and charming backstory. The pizza was quite authentic and simply delicious. The crust was incredibly flavorful all by itself. We tried so many items, but I think my absolute favorite was the lamb sausage pizza, which was also the one I was most looking forward to trying. The servers were always on top of things, especially since we Unilocalers like our wine. The finishing touch of the evening was the dessert: cream puffs made by the owners mother, aw. A big thanks to Katie B for organizing, and WOOD and Truvee Wines for providing so many delicious dishes and drinks!

Thanks to Katie B., Truvee wines, and Wood Handcrafted Pizza for a fun night of wonderful food, wine, and conversation. Katie B. was engaging and delightful as always… always good to see her ! The Truvee Wines Rhone Style Red was delicious and helped tide me over for dinner. I loved the history and culinary lesson of Napoli style pizzas. The owner and staff at Wood were very gracious and attentive hosts. I certainly met my veggie quota for the day :) My favorites for the night were the bar none the Hot Soppressata pizza. The pizza crust is amazing, thin, crispy, and fresh. The cheese and salami were perfectly salty and had a nice subtle heat. I also enjoyed the Ti Lascera A Bocca Aperta pizza. I enjoy anchovies and the dill and potato were a nice combination. The Glazed Beet and Goat Cheese Napoleon was also refreshing, sweet, and had a perfect texture. The crispy brussel sprouts were also quite good especially with a little sprinkle of extra salt. Lastly, the owner’s mother’s cream puffs were simply delizioso! I would eat them every single day. No joke! Thank you again!

(Attended 03÷30÷15 M @ 7:00pm): There was nothing handcrafted about this wood I sported!
Such a treat for the YEE: Wood Handcrafted Pizza event to literally be in my backyard! Opened almost a year in the former Tom’s Burgers location, this was my first time here. What a better opportunity to sample their menu! Here’s a breakdown of my experience:
Event Eats — Thirteen tasty treats to tempt the tastebuds.
Unilocal Swag & Truvee Wines Rhone Style Red Blend — The earbuds and luggage tag were cool. Not particularly a fan of «blends», this dark red had a soft nose, easy on the palate, and a clean finish.
Truvee Wines Chardonnay — A sweet nose, a hint of citrus on the palate, and a crisp dry finish, this bordered on a Sauvignon Blanc which I liked.
Crispy Kale — Reminded me a bit of both nori and Kettle Chips, this was an interesting and fun way to eat kale — bravo!
Crispy Brussels Sprouts — Don’t let the presentation fool you as your kids would enjoy this. However, bacon bits would’ve made this so much better!
Baby Kale Ceasar Salad — Healthy and enjoyable, but the large strips of pizza dough was distracting like you were suppose to stuff the kale into them.
Glazed Beet and Goat Cheese Napoleon — Not a fan of either beet or goat cheese, but I loved the colorful dessert-​like presentation.
Neopolitan Pizzas:
~Classic Margherita — Simplicity at its best with fresh basil always a refreshing treat.
~Hot Soppressatta — Simple done right, similar to the Margherita with hints of Italian dry salami.
~Lamb Sausage — Not a fan of lamb on pizza, but the ricotta was a hit with me.
~Smoked Mozzarella & Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Pancetta — YUMMY; ’nuff said!
~Cavolo Nero (Kale) and Pancetta — I was kaled-​out and sadly no pancetta made it over from the previous table.
~Ti Lascera A Bocca Aperta (Anchovy) — My favorite! Sodium-​be-​damned, I loved anchovies and the potatoes.
Cream Puff — Light and filled with creamy goodness, this fit into my mouth.
Service — After a warm hug from L.A. East CM Queen Katie B., you made your nametag and grabbed a seat. Immediately, friendly staff members armed with water filled your glass and offered wine (other beverages available upon request). Your glass was constantly filled and the rest of the evening was a long continuous procession of culinary courses. Before serving, the co-​owner gave a brief speech on how their pizza was made. The staff did a wonderful job!
Parking (Free) — They had a small private lot, so chances were you parked along the main drag of Sunset Blvd. at a meter which were valid only until 8pm nightly ($ 1.00/hr.). Please always observe any posted street signs. I lived half-​a-​mile away so easily I walked it.
Atmosphere, décor, ambience — A stark-​white clean modern restaurant with communal tables inside and an inviting outdoor patio area perfect for people-​watching. No noted decorations, abundant natural lighting came through all the surrounding glass windows while minimal electric lighting hung from the ceiling. No TVs and music usually played in the background, except for this night when conversations bounced around and filled the restaurant.
Attire — It was totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-​shirt, boardshorts, and flip-​flops.
Overall, YEE: Wood Handcrafted Pizza was an enjoyable evening. Thanks to Katie B. and the entire staff for a wonderful event! It was nice to make and meet new Unilocal friends. I found total value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (total paid experience was around $ 10.00 for tip only). And, they accepted my credit card of choice… AMEX! 5.0 STARS

What an amazing event! I was beyond excited to go this Unilocal Elite Event since it was my first one for the 2015! What a great way to kick everything off than an event with pizza, wine, and other Unilocalers!
It was my first time at Wood Handcrafted Pizza and parking was interesting, but that goes for anything in Silverlake or LA for that matter. In other words, it was nothing out of the ordinary. ;)
DRINKS: The McBride Sister’s Truvee Wines were absolutely tasty, aromatic, and full of flavor. The Red Blend was surprising me for me because I’m not typically a red wine drinker, but this totally got my tastebuds jumping from the deep fruity flavor. The Chardonnay was amazing and well-​balanced.
FOOD: The food… it was… so… DELICIOUS! There was a wide variety of items:
— Crispy Brussel Sprouts: I’m on a brussels sprouts kick so this is totally up my alley. All of the pieces were slightly charred and cooked to perfection so that the true flavors came out. I couldn’t stop eating this.
— Crispy Kale: I’m by no means a kale kind of guy. I’d normally run away if I could, but the plate was in front of me and peer pressure got the best of me. It was like a light bulb went off! The crispy kale was my favorite non-​pizza item! It was A-​M-​A-​Z-​I-​N-​G-​! Extremely crispy with some almonds is such a great combination. I’m actually dreaming about this because I liked it that much.
— Baby Kale Ceasar: The kale with hints of tomato and pecorino was a great twist on a classic. Let’s not forget about the flatbread! It was very good! After taking a bite, I was really excited to eat pizza!
— Glazed Beet and Goat Cheese Napoleon: I’m not really a beet person, but tried this anyway. Again, I’m not a beet type of person, but the goat cheese definitely helped make it more palatable for my non-​beet palate.
— Classic Margherita: They kept it tight with tradition and this was just as it should be… a classic!
— Cavolo Nero and Pancetta: This was very interesting since kale was on here, but it added some much needed greenery. The crispy pancetta was Heavenly!
— Lamb Sausage: This was so cheesy that I wanted more cheese. Haha. I didn’t mind eating my way through a cheesy pizza to get to the delicious lamb sausage.
— Smoked Mozzarella and Brussels: Who knew that brussels sprouts would be amazing on a pizza?! I will forever order pizza with brussels sprouts! Plus you can’t forget about crispy pancetta to always turn things up a notch!
My overall comment was that the pizza crust really showed the quality and attention to detail that they described. It was really amazing. I actually looked forward to eating the crust of the pizza because it was airy, had a great flavor, and had just the right amount of charring. All the different pizzas I tasted were delicious and you were really able to taste the smokiness in the mozzarella. Oh and the crispy pancetta was spot on! So yummy!
ATMOSPHERE: The modern décor with clean lines is totally my type of aesthetics. I loved the open airy feel that makes it feel very intimate at the same time. The communal tables were such a great idea. I also really like that the pizza oven is right there at the font and you can see all the pizza making action. With a full house, it can get really loud, but I guess that’s just a sign that everyone is truly have a great time!
SERVICE: The owner and staff gave top notch service, were extremely friendly, and definitely paid attention to every detail. The staff was totally on it the whole night to make sure food was delivered to every table, empty plates were picked up, and that our drinks (wine, soda, water) were always filled. They constantly checked on us and made sure that we were taking care of. The staff showed no hesitation when we asked for condiments and were quick to bring whatever we needed. This was all around excellent service that made the night really enjoyable and everything flow smoothly.
FINAL THOUGHTS: This was such a great event. The evening flew by because it was just such a blast with delicious drinks and an absolutely scrumptious tasting menu.
Thanks again to Unilocal and Katie B. for putting this fantastic event on for us!
Katie B., it’s always great seeing you because you’re full of smiles and so full of energy. You did great keeping things going the entire night! You rock my socks off! :)
Thanks to Truvee Wines and the McBride sisters for having such great wine. I’m a total fan!
Last and definitely not least, thank you to Wood Handcrafted Pizza for a tasting menu that I really loved. It reaffirmed my love for brussels sprouts in various ways. Yes, I will eat Kale in a salad, fried or on a pizza. Seriously… who knew?! The pizza was to-​die-​for. Needless to say, I will be back here sometime in the very near future!

Another awesome Unilocal Elite event. Wood clearly put a lot of time and resources to make sure we had a good time, so although things did take longer than expected, it was well worth the wait. There are already plenty of pictures and reviews of the pizzas (which I found delicious), but I did want to note on the amount of passion and knowledge brought by the owner. This is clearly a calling for him and I couldn’t be happier that he shared it with us.

Absolutely a five-​star event! My compliments to Katie and Eric, the owner of Wood.
There’s not a lot to say but I am going to start with the one negative so I can get on to the many positives. Acoustics, my friend. It was a full house and it was incredibly difficult to hear my table-​mates. Okay, that’s the negative.
Now to the positives: We felt so very welcome from the moment we walked in. Everyone from owner Eric to the kitchen people and waitstaff were just incredible. The seemed to genuinely want people to enjoy. And enjoy we did. Katie had a red and white by Truvee wines. They were yummy. Maybe too yummy because I imbibed a bit too much. Thank heavens for the incredible food to keep me upright.
Roasted brussel sprouts — OMFG!
Krispy Kale — even more OMFG!
Kale Caesar — it was good but I’m a serious traditional caesar fan, so…
Pizza — FANTASTIC! My favorite was the mozzarella with crispy pancetta. In fact, when I go back — and I will — I’m asking that they add onion to that. It would be perfect.
Dessert — crème puffs made by Eric’s mom — yummy!
I’ll definitely be back. I can’t recommend this place highly enough. When Eric spoke to the assembled he talked of his love of food and his determination to make his pizza unique. He understood the nuance and subtlety of his ingredients and preparation/​cooking methods. He spoke as a man passionate about food and hospitality. What more could you want in a restauranteur.

Thank you Unilocal,Wood, Truvee for a fun and delicious night! Wood and its owner really worked their best to make us all feel welcome, and their efforts showed. I enjoyed the variety of dishes and pizzas offered — yay for anchovies! Truvee’s red wine was easy to drink and paired nicely with our dishes. All in all, I will definitely swing by Wood to get the full experience when I’m in the neighborhood and craving pizza. Lastly, thanks to Katie B. for yet another well-​orchestrated event. Thanks to all for a fun Monday night!

This was my very first Unilocal elite event and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! I got to sit at a table filled with fresh new faces and mingle with fellow foodies who love the same things as me! We exchanged restaurant and travel recommendations throughout the meal! Everything that was served at this event was fantastic! From the beverages to dessert, I was so impressed. I can’t wait to bring my husband back so he can try the food! The crispy kale and crispy Brussels sprouts were delicious. The pizzas were so flavorful and the dough was the perfect texture! I loved meeting the owner and hearing his stories about the art of making traditional Neapolitan pizza. His passion for creating the best pizzas using high quality ingredients imported from Italy is truly inspiring! The story behind the sisters who started their own wine company was moving as well! Overall, I had a fantastic time and did not want the night to end! I made new Unilocal and Instagram friends, ate fantastic food and had so much fun!

Thank you Unilocal and Wood for another Unilocal Elite tasting event– it was nice to learn more about how the traditional Neopolitan-​style pizzas were made at Wood (in a 900 degree over for 55 seconds) and their attention to authentic details. Although they had many unique pizza combinations, I’m afraid this type of pizza just isn’t my favorite. The menu options were heavy on kale (kale chips, baby kale Caesar salad, on pizzas…) and brussel sprouts, which not everyone enjoys several courses of.
It was well over an hour before any actual food came out (we were served kale chips and brussel sprouts then salad) so I was hungry by the time the classic margherita pizza arrived. The crust style is slightly chewy with a charred bottom layer, which some may like I guess, but it overpowered the other flavors (although these were subtle in most) in many of the slices. The lamb sausage slice was different, and although I’m not a huge lamb eater, the single piece of sausage on my slice was flavorful. The least favorite was the potatoes and anchovy pizza, which was fishy and just a weird combination that didn’t sit well with my tastebuds. By then I was totally over the brussel sprouts, but that was one of the options paired with smoky mozzarella.
They have communal-​style tables with wood benches, which after awhile are very uncomfortable.
I appreciate their ambition and hope they figure out the kinks of their business and perhaps rework their menu to offer more appealing options for those of us who may be seeking something more accessible.

~~~ Unilocal ELITE EVENTS~~~~
I seriously love pizza, wine, Unilocalers and Katie B.‘s Unilocal events so I was thrilled to be included on the guest list yesterday, March 30, 2015, at Wood Handcrafted Pizza.
LOCATION:
It’s a new restaurant on the northeast corner of Silver Lake Blvd. & Sunset Blvd. They do have a small parking lot, but it was full when I arrived so I just found a spot on Reservoir Blvd.
FOOD & SERVICE:
The appetizers, salad, pizza and wine were delicious. I was seated at the end of my table, so I didn’t get any good shots of the pizza. This was due to the fact that there would only be a few slices left by the time it made it to my end of the table. My fellow Unilocalers have taken some nice photos, so check those out. I took a video of the restaurant and a few photos of the wine bottles, appetizers and salad if you would like to check those out too.
The décor inside the restaurant is lovely. The glass on top of the pretty wood communal tables looked iridescent in the light. The plants on each table were a nice touch too. The roller shades on the widows are perfect and I have been looking for something like that for my own home. They totally filter the sun during the day and then they’re easy to roll up when the sun goes down.
The owner and staff were so hospitable and efficient. You can tell the owner of Wood Handcrafted Pizza really knows how to cook Napoleon style pizza. The staff were the best and they were always there to bring more water, wine, food and anything else we needed.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
Thank you Katie B. for including me on the guest list. I will definitely go back to Wood Handcrafted Pizza on my own as I love thin crust pizza and Silver Lake is pretty close to my home. Thank you to Wood Handcrafted Pizza for letting us take over your restaurant for the evening and sampling your delicious pizza and other items on your menu. Thank you to the McBride sisters at Truvee Wines for the wine. I love red wine and I will definitely be looking for a distributor.

YEE-​HAW! Craft pizza, wine, friends, Los Angeles… pretty much a bunch of my favorite things!
It was clear that the owner and staff care about craft and tradition when it comes to the food.
Speaking of food… it wouldn’t stop! Seriously, I was getting full before the pizza even arrived.
I will be back, great place and great food.