Pace
New American · Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles
Restaurant in Los Angeles, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Canyon-Side New American
Chef
Sandy Gendel
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Pace is a reliable New American dinner option in Laurel Canyon, OAD-ranked and easy to book; making it practical for mid-week plans or a return visit with a new group. The room suits conversation over spectacle, the signals consistent kitchen performance. Go in person; this is not a takeout proposition.
About Pace
Verdict
Pace is worth booking if you want a reliably good New American dinner in Laurel Canyon without fighting for a reservation. Chef Sandy Gendel's restaurant holds an Opinionated About Dining ranking in North America; #565 in 2024, recommended in 2023; which places it in credible company for the category. Booking is easy, the room suits conversation, it fits anyone who has already been once and wants a reason to return with a different group.
The Room and Experience
Pace sits at 2100 Laurel Canyon Blvd, physically removed from the denser dining corridors of West Hollywood and Silver Lake. That location is part of what defines the experience: the room functions as a neighbourhood anchor, not a destination showcase. The layout rewards smaller groups, couples and parties of two to four will get the most out of the space. Larger groups should confirm seating arrangements in advance, as the room is not built for high-volume configuration. Dinner runs Sunday through Thursday from 5:30 to 10 pm, with Friday and Saturday service extending to 11 pm, giving you a wider window on weekends if you prefer a later start.
On the Question of Delivery and Takeout
Pace is fundamentally a dine-in restaurant. New American cooking at this tier, OAD-ranked, chef-driven, small-room format, depends heavily on how the food is plated and served in context. If you are considering takeout from Pace specifically because you want the Laurel Canyon experience without the commute, you are likely to be disappointed: the spatial and service dimension is a meaningful part of what the rating reflects. For nights when delivery is the priority, the cuisine type means a local New American option with a more takeout-optimised menu will serve you better. When you do go in person, the later Friday and Saturday hours give you enough runway to plan around traffic from the east side or the Valley.
Who Should Book
If you came once for a date night or a low-key dinner and it delivered, Pace earns a second visit with a slightly larger group or a colleague dinner where you need the room to feel relaxed rather than performative. It is easier to book than higher-friction Los Angeles destinations like Kato or Hayato, which makes it practical for plans that come together mid-week. For anyone exploring what New American cooking looks like across the country, it fits into the same conversation as Smyth in Chicago or Bayona in New Orleans, not at those price or prestige points, but sharing the same commitment to craft over concept.
For Los Angeles diners building out a broader dining roster, Pace pairs well with other neighbourhood-anchored restaurants rather than destination tasting-menu spots. Consider it alongside Norah or Salt's Cure as part of a West Hollywood and Canyon circuit. If you want height and spectacle with your New American dinner, 71above offers a different register entirely. Our full Los Angeles restaurants guide covers the broader field if you are still deciding on category.
Practical Details
Address: 2100 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046. Dinner service nightly from 5:30 pm; closes 10 pm Sunday through Thursday, 11 pm Friday and Saturday. No price range data is published in our records, check the current menu directly before booking to confirm spend expectations. Booking is easy relative to the Los Angeles dining market. No dress code data available; given the OAD ranking and neighbourhood positioning, smart casual is a safe default.
Quick reference: Dinner only, Mon–Sun from 5:30 pm; easy to book; smart casual; Laurel Canyon location.
How It Compares
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Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 5:30–10 pm · Tuesday: 5:30–10 pm
- Location
- 2100 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046
- Reservations
- Book on Resy
- Website
- pacerestaurant.com
- Phone
- (323) 654-8583
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Pace reads like a neighborhood institution: quiet, steady and unapologetically local. The copy frames it as part of an older, quieter track of Los Angeles dining that prizes community ties and pantry-driven cooking over tourism-minded spectacle. That longevity is the restaurant's argument, and the writing presents Pace as the sort of place that accrues its reputation through repeat customers rather than one-off visits. The tone is unflashy and rooted — a classic Laurel Canyon spot where serious New American cooking exists in the service of a settled, familiar clientele rather than as a performance.
Best For
Pace is best for people who value neighborhood rhythm over destination theatrics. The description emphasizes repeat visitors and frequent-diner recognition, so it suits local regulars, couples seeking a low-key date, and diners who prioritize a consistently reliable meal over restaurant-of-the-moment energy. Located on Laurel Canyon Boulevard and positioned away from hotel clusters, it works well for evening dining anchored in the community — a place you return to rather than travel across town for.
Ordering Tips
When you visit, prioritize the signatures that the venue is known for: the Cedar Plank Salmon and the Zeus Pizza are called out as highlights. The narrative frames the kitchen as pantry-focused New American, so look for dishes that read as seasonal and ingredient-forward rather than theatrical. Given the restaurant’s neighborhood orientation and frequent-diner base, expect a menu that leans on dependable preparations; ordering a few shareable plates or the named signatures will give a clear sense of what keeps locals coming back.
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 5:30–10 pm
- Tuesday
- 5:30–10 pm
- Wednesday
- 5:30–10 pm
- Thursday
- 5:30–10 pm
- Friday
- 5:30–11 pm
- Saturday
- 5:30–11 pm
- Sunday
- 5:30–10 pm
Location
2100 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046 · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Kato; New Taiwanese, Asian, $$$$
- Hayato; Japanese, $$$$
- Vespertine; Progressive, Contemporary, $$$$
- Holbox; Mexican Seafood, Mexican, $$
- Sushi Kaneyoshi; Sushi, Japanese, $$$$
Restaurant context
Against the highest-profile restaurants in Los Angeles, Pace occupies a different tier by design. Kato and Hayato are both $$$$ operations with serious booking lead times and a level of critical attention that puts them in a different conversation. If the question is where to spend a special-occasion budget, those two deliver more prestige per booking. But if you want a well-regarded dinner that comes together mid-week without planning weeks in advance, Pace wins on accessibility.
Vespertine and Sushi Kaneyoshi are similarly positioned at the $$$$ end; both require significant commitment in time and money, both deliver an experience that is deliberately conceptual or format-specific. Pace is none of those things, which is a feature rather than a limitation if you want dinner rather than a production. Holbox at $$ offers the best value-to-quality ratio in the Los Angeles peer set listed here, works if budget is a factor; though it is a completely different cuisine and energy.
The practical decision: book Pace when you want a credentialed, no-friction New American dinner in the Canyon corridor and you are not trying to impress someone who tracks reservation difficulty as a status signal. Book Kato or Hayato when the occasion demands the full Los Angeles dining ambition. Book Holbox when you want strong cooking at a lower spend. Pace holds its position as the most accessible option among OAD-recognised restaurants in this peer group.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Pace guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Pace
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pace | New American | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #5652023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended | Easy |
| Kato | New Taiwanese, Asian | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #302026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #492026 James Beard Award Semifinalists2026 James Beard Award Nominees2026 James Beard Award Winners2026 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence2026 Michelin 2 Stars2025 LA Times 101 Best Restaurants · #22025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #25 | Unknown |
| Hayato | Japanese | 2026 Food & Wine Top 10 US Restaurants · #62026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #132026 Michelin 2 Stars2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 LA Times 101 Best Restaurants · #52025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #102025 The Best Chef One Knife2025 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Michelin 2 Stars | Unknown |
| Vespertine | Progressive, Contemporary | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #932026 Michelin 2 Stars2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 LA Times 101 Best Restaurants · #332025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #712025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #982025 The Best Chef Two Knives2025 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Michelin 2 Stars | Unknown |
| Holbox | Mexican Seafood, Mexican | 2026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #262026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #532026 James Beard Award Nominees2026 James Beard Award Semifinalists2026 Michelin 1 Star2025 LA Taco Best Tacos in LA · #22025 World's 50 North America's Best Restaurants · #422025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #432025 James Beard Award Semifinalists | Unknown |
| Sushi Kaneyoshi | Sushi, Japanese | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #1032026 Michelin 1 Star2025 LA Times 101 Best Restaurants · #242025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #782025 Michelin 1 Star2024 LA Times 101 Best Restaurants · #322024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #882024 Michelin 1 Star2023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #69 | Unknown |
Comparing your options in Los Angeles for this tier.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pace handle dietary restrictions?
Pace's New American format typically gives kitchens flexibility to accommodate common dietary needs, but no specific policy is listed for this restaurant. Call ahead or contact them directly before your visit; OAD-ranked chef-driven rooms at this level generally prefer advance notice over tableside improvisation.
What should I wear to Pace?
Pace is a Laurel Canyon neighborhood restaurant, not a formal room. Think put-together casual; clean jeans and a nice top are appropriate. It's not a dress-up occasion the way Vespertine or Hayato would be, but arriving in workout clothes would feel out of place for a chef-driven dinner at this tier.
How far ahead should I book Pace?
Book one to two weeks out for a weeknight table; aim for two to three weeks ahead for Friday or Saturday. Pace's Laurel Canyon location means it draws a loyal local crowd rather than tourist walk-ins, so weekend slots move faster than the address suggests. OAD recognition in both 2023 and 2024 has kept it on serious diners' radars.
Is lunch or dinner better at Pace?
Dinner is the format here. Pace runs a single daily service starting at 5:30 pm, seven nights a week, with no lunch service listed. If you want a midday option in the area, you'll need to look elsewhere.
What are alternatives to Pace in Los Angeles?
For chef-driven New American at a comparable level, Kato in West LA is the more ambitious choice and ranks higher on OAD. If you want a special-occasion upgrade, Vespertine in Culver City is in a different price tier but a more singular experience. Holbox at Mercado La Paloma is worth knowing if you'd rather eat outstanding Yucatecan seafood than a sit-down dinner. Hayato and Sushi Kaneyoshi are the go-to options if omakase is on the table.
Is Pace good for a special occasion?
Yes, with the right expectations. Pace works well for a birthday dinner, anniversary, or a colleague dinner where the atmosphere matters but you don't want the formality or price point of a Michelin room. It ranked on OAD's Top Restaurants in North America in both 2023 and 2024, which gives it the credibility to impress guests who follow the food scene. For a milestone that demands a more theatrical or tasting-menu format, Vespertine is the stronger call.
