"Pasjoli was always one of the fancier restaurants in Santa Monica with tableside pressed duck and a multi-course tasting menu. But after a quick closure, it’s returned with a new, more laidback personality. The space now has more hanging plants, an expanded bar, and a menu that makes it clear that Pasjoli is trying to let its hair down. New dishes lean in the direction of decadent bar food, like cordon bleu chicken wings deboned and stuffed with prosciutto and molten cheese, a gooey burger with marrow aioli and fried shallots, and a mini french onion soup capped with bubbling gruyère that explodes when your spoon pokes in. The prices are a little less daunting for a random Tuesday night dinner, but even with its pivot to casual, Pasjoli is still plenty fancy. It’s still the kind of place where you might overhear a business deal or spot a celebrity couple on a discreet date. Oh, and the pressed duck remains on the menu—for $350." - team infatuation