Tucked away in an unassuming strip mall in Encino, California, Pasta | Bar defies all expectations of what a Michelin-starred restaurant should look like. From the outside, it could easily be mistaken for a nail salon or dry cleaner, but inside, it transforms into an intimate 18-seat culinary theater. Despite its location in a modest strip mall, Pasta | Bar delivers a theatrical and immersive dining experience that has earned it a place among Southern California’s most exciting culinary destinations.
Helmed by chef Phillip Frankland Lee and pastry chef Margarita Kallas-Lee, the restaurant delivers a wildly inventive multi-course tasting menu that blends bold creativity with refined technique. The flavors reimagine Italian cuisine with California flair.
Dishes like squid ink paccheri with marinated squid or sunflower-seed agnolotti with crispy duck confit push boundaries while remaining deeply satisfying. Desserts reflect the same adventurous spirit, such as the beloved bone marrow custard with blackberry granita.
All that delectable creativity has earned Pasta | Bar a lot of attention. Pasta | Bar has held a Michelin star since 2021. And Los Angeles Magazine awarded it “Best Pasta Tasting Menu” in 2021 as well.
Pasta | Bar’s unlikely setting only enhances the surprise and delight of the delicious experience. It’s a true hidden culinary gem.
Pasta | Bar
⭐ 1 Michelin Star
$$$$ · Contemporary, American
📍Location: 16101 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 250, Encino, CA 91436
🍽️ Reservations: Pasta | Bar