- By Kymberly Chase
Tucked up in the hills of Laurel Canyon, head chef and owner Sandy Gendel fuses organics with art and community with luxury in his treasured progeny, Pace. True to its name, this super cute sanctuary offers a cozy and serene approach to refined Italian cuisine. The atmosphere is romantic and ideal — a perfect combination of intimacy and ambiance. It’s one of the few places I’ve ever been where a couple can truly feel alone in the midst of a crowd. After 20 years Pace is still a local favorite.
Rarely do I sing a salad’s praises but their caesar is extraordinary. Crisp, tangy and farm fresh, it does the great Roman general proud. The shrimp scampi piccanti is divine. It is immaculately prepared with white beans in a tomato stew, and had I been dining alone I would have considered licking the plate clean! The spaghetti bolognese is arguably the best I’ve ever had and proves the difference homemade pasta can make. The true standout, however, is the grilled salmon. It was all I could do not to run to the kitchen and kiss the chefs! When we ordered, our server told us it is Pace’s most famous dish. This is a great date spot!
Pace Restaurant is located at 2100 Laurel Canyon Boulevard.
