"Since its 2021 inception, Pa’La Downtown evolved into a different animal from its simpler and far more humble predecessor, Pa’La, which opened on 24th Street in 2017. Both are seafood-centric, Italian-influenced, and cook almost everything in a wood-burning oven, but Pa’La Downtown offers full-service, breakable dinnerware (not paper plates), cocktails, and an artsy vibe that draws a younger, hipper crowd. The food is also a little edgier. Executive chef and Roka Akor alum Jason Alford offers tapas, small bites, and share plates that give classic Italian dishes a touch of Japanese inflection. Controne beans and winter greens are given a sprinkle of furikake, while Skull Island prawns, nestled on a bed of sweet peperonata, bear the pungent bite of togarashi. Purists will find a few straight-up traditional Italian dishes, too, but the fun here is in the fusion." - Mcconnell Quinn, Nikki Buchanan
