This is #DishingIt – where we give you the inside scoop on what’s new and downright finger lickin’ good on the culinary scene. As tricky as it can be to achieve, we like to believe that maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet is all about balance. And though we like to top you up with tips and tricks that’ll help you achieve optimal wellness, we love sharing about one of our favourite hobbies: eating all the things. If you like trying different cuisines and discovering the next best hole in the wall as well as gourmet meals, then let’s get to talkin’. Today, we share our experience at Pura Vita, a vegan Italian restaurant we loved in West Hollywood.
The Vibe
Pura Vita is a plant-based Italian wine bar on Santa Monica Blvd. (we hear soon to expand on the Sunset Strip) and somehow out-Italians every red-checkered-tablecloth joint in the city. With warm lighting, rich tones and just enough romance to make any ordinary night feel like an occasion, the restaurant creates a moody vibe that welcomes you in with open arms. Located in the heart of West Hollywood, the bar is the place to sip on local wine while catching up with friends, and the intimate nature of the tables invite you to linger as long as necessary. Multiple-year winner of the best vegan Italian restaurant in the country, Pura Vita isn’t a consolation prize for the hippy crowd. It’s the real thing.
The Service & Hospitality
The team at Pura Vita makes you feel like you’re a guest in their home and welcome you with open arms. Service is quick and effortless without ever feeling rushed, your water is filled before you notice it’s empty, your questions are answered with genuine enthusiasm, and the whole team moves with a warmth that is truly felt. You get the sense that the people working here feel like one big happy Italian family, and that’s something that makes me genuinely interested in coming back here again and again.
The Food & Drinks
Okay, let me fill you in on a little secret, this restaurant has done it; they’ve created one of the best vegan Italian restaurants you will ever find. And the best part yet, it’s located in the welcoming heart of West Hollywood. Chef Tara Punzone, an Italian American from NYC, has woven her Italian heritage and vegan lifestyle into a menu that pulls from her roots and leans into all the vegan undertones that actually taste good. Take a look at the extensive wine list, complete with organic and biodynamic wines, thoughtfully selected to pair with the highly curated vegan menu. Where wellness is top of mind, quality of ingredients is sure to follow.
As a vegan myself, when I saw Pura Vita pop up on my itinerary, I was eager to experience a true vegan restaurant in all its glory. I kept it simple, bruschetta and Puttanesca pasta. As the bruschetta arrived, I eagerly dove into the freshness and simplicity of the dish. Crunchy and soft sourdough with local cherry tomatoes, hints of basil and the best olive oil you could ask for this side of the world. It was sweet, delicious and made its way into my heart. The Puttanesca was by far one of the best vegan pastas I’ve ever experienced. It was fresh, full of flavour and I felt as if I was transported into the Italian countryside.
Take to their curated collection of local and international wine or indulge in a cocktail or two. Pura Vita in West Hollywood has it all covered and simply goes above-and-beyond in creating the perfect vegan restaurant in the heart of LA, Italian-style.
