LAReview
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Pace
Included In
Anyone who’s ever opened a bag of Gardetto’s knows one thing - the brown rye chips are the best part. The rest of the contents are fine, but it’s also just a bunch of seasoned pretzels and you could get that from almost any bag inside the vending machine. Making those little chips the priority is the only way to do it. And when it comes to maximizing your dinner at Pace, the classic Italian restaurant in Laurel Canyon, a similar strategy should be taken. Concentrate on the brown rye chips and don’t fill up on the pretzels.
So what are Pace’s rye chips? For one, the cedar wood grilled salmon. While a piece of salmon sitting on a wood plank shouldn’t be memorable, this one is. Then you’ve got the soul-curing tortellini, the rigatoni, and the Zeus’ pizza with enough fresh prosciutto on top to feed an Italian family of four. These are all pretty traditional, but they taste like a really good home-cooked meal and that alone will make everyone at the table happy. Is the rest of Pace’s menu inedible garbage food? Definitely not. But knowing the highlights is key to having the best meal possible.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Now that the food portion of your night is settled, you can concentrate on the real reason you’re even here: the space. Pace is legendary - an unofficial landmark of the old Laurel Canyon before it became the traffic-clogged shortcut you take to get to the Valley. The old, rustic building looks like the kind of place you pass by driving around Tuscany. And even though you’re in the center of the city, this part of Laurel Canyon feels like you’re in an enchanted forest where love and magic are still possible. Also, the people-watching is second to none. Pace pulls a more local crowd, but guess who the locals are? Celebrities. The kind of 90’s television celebrities who are now talking very loudly about their invasive sciatica pain. And that more than makes up for the not-mind-blowing food.
Use Pace for a left-of-center date night, and it’s going to go well for you. Use it for a wine-drenched friends dinner on a Wednesday night, and it’s also going to go well for you. There are very few ways to fail at Pace - even if you end up with a few pretzels on your plate.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Cedar Wood Grilled Salmon
Tortellini Di Zucca E Ricotta
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Insalate Vegetale
Rigatoni Alla Salsiccia & Peperoni Arrostiti
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Zeus’ Pie
photo credit: Jakob Layman