FROM PORCH TO PIZZA PARADISE: LASORTED'S SILVER LAKE SUCCESS STORY

## The Humble Porch Beginnings The journey to open up the restaurant started during the pandemic. "Two days into our lockdown, I was eating butter noodles and I realized I had nothing to do because my job had been taken away, and I had just gotten a pizza oven from my now wife and I was really enjoying it. I was excited to start making pizzas for my friends, family and anyone who was in my neighborhood who wanted to get out of their house in a safe manner." Owner Tommy Brockert had a photo business that was wrecked by the pandemic, so he started slinging pies off his front porch in Silver Lake. What began as a way to stay busy during lockdown has transformed into one of Los Angeles's most beloved pizza destinations. ## Building LA's Own Pizza Identity LaSorted's represents something unique in the crowded LA food scene: Your LA Style Neighborhood Pizzeria serving pizzas, focaccia sandwiches, salads, wings, and more! The name itself pays homage to longtime Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda, has a unique story. "He knows my name's Tommy, and because I 'sorted him' out, it was, 'MAN, Tommy LASORTED!' And I went, 'That is so good!'" While there are many pizza styles out there, LaSorted's describes theirs as "L.A. Style." "The idea behind is that everyone comes to Los Angeles and gives us their greatest things. L.A. embraces it. It's oftentimes pretty hard for the local person from Los Angeles to kind of peek through." ## The Upside Down Revolution One of LaSorted's signature offerings is their UPSIDE DOWN MAMBA SLICE: Our Cheese pizza upside down. From the bottom to the top: 3 Cheese Blend, House Tomato Sauce, Maldon Salt, Garlic Oil Crust, and some Sicilian Oregano. According to Brockert, this style of pizza has roots in Philadelphia, which he learned about from some of his Philly-born employees. The name is exactly what it is: their cheese pizza, with its toppings, flipped, with a three-cheese blend serving as its base, then topped thoroughly with tomato sauce, sprinkled with flaky sea salt, and Sicilian oregano. The thin layer of cooked cheese underneath the sauce forms a buffer between the sauce and the pizza crust, making for a uniquely excellent texture that many West coasters, such as yours, truly haven't experienced before visiting LaSorted's. ## From Pop-Up to Permanent Fixture We first became obsessed with LaSorted's brick-oven pizza as a pop-up. These days, you'll find them at a takeout window in Silver Lake. He started making pizzas on his front porch during the pandemic, and in 2021, he opened his first LaSorted's Pizza brick-and-mortar location on Dodgers opening day. The Silver Lake location at 2847 W Sunset Blvd · Los Angeles, CA 90026 has become a neighborhood staple, operating Monday: 11am – 9pm Tuesday: 11am – 9pm Wednesday: 11am – 9pm Thursday: 11am – 9pm Friday: 11am – 10pm Saturday: 11am – 10pm Sunday: 11am – 9pm ## Menu Highlights and Local Favorites Beyond their famous upside-down slice, LaSorted's offers an impressive array of options. MORTADELLA SANDWICH: Mortadella with pistachio, Burrata, Pistachio Cream has become a customer favorite, with reviewers praising "I went with the Mortadella focaccia and it was outstanding! It's served slightly warmed as the focaccia is toasted which offers a nice contrast in temperature and texture from the filing." The menu extends beyond pizza to include LONELY GUY FRIES: Our take on the stadium classic. Fried Garlic, Garlic Oil, Parmesan, Parsley, Salt, Pepper. Served with Ranch and Ketchup always. and 3 of our house meatballs (beef/pork/veal) with house tomato sauce, topped with Parmesan cheese and basil. Served with focaccia bread ## Community Impact and Recognition "Easily the best pizza in LA." "The best pizza in silver lake!" "Best in LA!" These customer reviews reflect the restaurant's growing reputation. Maybe it's the brick-and-mortar digs, or the power that comes with being so close to Dodger Stadium, but this iteration of LaSorted's (like Lasorda, get it?) has earned a place in the LA pizza pantheon as well as our stomachs. ## The Dodgers Connection LaSorted's is just about a mile away from Dodger Stadium. Their pizza is some of the best in the city, but LaSorted's is a heartfelt tribute to the Los Angeles Dodgers with every wall of the restaurant covered in memorabilia that tells the story of the team's rich legacy. The restaurant serves as a gathering place for fans, especially during baseball season. ## Expanding the Vision The success of the Silver Lake location led to expansion. Growing from humble beginnings making pizza on his porch for friends and neighbors during COVID, Brockert opened up a Silver Lake pizza counter in 2021 before expanding to this Chinatown location last year — just in time for the Dodgers 2024 World Series win. ## The Future of LA-Style Pizza LaSorted's reinforces a feeling I've had for a while now, which is that we truly are living in a Golden Age of Pizza. And LA really does have some of the best pizza in the country. What started as a pandemic necessity has evolved into a testament to Los Angeles's ability to create its own culinary identity, proving that sometimes the best ideas come from the most unexpected circumstances – like a photographer with a pizza oven and a porch full of possibilities.