(212) 614-7252

198 Allen St
New York, NY 10002 40.721854 -73.988921

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Neighborhoods: Lower East Side, Downtown

PALAPIZZA.COM

Hours:

Monday To Thursday From 04:00 PM To 12:00 AM Friday From 04:00 PM To 01:00 AM Saturday From 12:00 PM To 01:00 AM Sunday From 12:00 PM To 12:00 AM

Price:

$

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express , Visa , MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Family-Friendly Dining , Family Style Dining , Group Dining , Cheap Eats , Outdoor Dining

Cuisine:

Pizza

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Pala

Featured Review

Erin Behan

Contributor

The Scene – Though not particularly fancy--a display counter showcases premade pizzas and antipasti--the interior achieves homey chic with broad wooden tables and a display wall of wine. Service has a knowledgeable Italian accent. – – The Food – It's imperative to save room for the pizza, so start light with a salad of greens, artichokes and generous shavings of parmigiana. But onto the pizza: Commendations go to both the crust--crisped on the bottom with many interior air bubbles, like a less dense version of focaccia--and the cheese--so rich, it's hard to focus on…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
The rectangular-shaped pizza is ordered by the foot, and one foot easily feeds two. You can also order premade slices (to stay or to go) at the counter if you're in a hurry.
What to Drink:
There's more than 40 wines available by the glass, half or full bottle, plus six beers, including the Italian beers Moretti and Peroni.
Outdoor Seating:
In warm weather, the restaurant sets up a sidewalk cafe.
ambiance
94.44000244140625% positive
  1. “love the decor too and the matching with the wine.”
  2. “The atmosphere reminds me of one of my favorite places in Italy, relaxed and a lot of good food.”
  3. “Great atmosphere!”
  4. “hunger but bring peace back to this cozy LES treasure.”
  5. “There's a very comfortable vibe all around, and the staff is extremely friendly and attentive.”
  6. “Nothing beats sitting outdoors, or in their cozy but airy space on a nice autumn evening.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “In actuality, it's the beginning of some pretty amazing, fabulous, sold by the foot, mouth watering, gourmet, 9-12 types of organic flour, two-five days to rise, words can't even describe pizza/italian spot with the best wine I've ever had!”
  2. “love the decor too and the matching with the wine.”
  3. “Tasty and the wine list is impressive.”
  4. “Think excellent red wine served chilled with a slight bit of effervescence (and no, not the wine cooler type).”
  5. “have visited Pala a few times and thoroughly enjoyed the simple menu, wonderful roman style pizzas, simple antipasti, great wines, wonderful italian waitstaff.”
food quality
92.77999877929688% positive
  1. “bite of this pizze reminded me of a delicious ham & cheese omelet on a thin slice of toast made from fine bread.”
  2. “have visited Pala a few times and thoroughly enjoyed the simple menu, wonderful roman style pizzas, simple antipasti, great wines, wonderful italian waitstaff.”
  3. “this spot is really high quality and you can either stop for a fast slice of pizza or you can sit and have some delicious apetizer befor your pizza comes.”
  4. “The price is good and the pizza is yummy.”
  5. “the service people now are very nice and the pizza it is to die for.”
  6. “We had the Zucca and fresh mozarella pizza.”
  7. “Some of the students who were less adventurous didn't like the pumpkin pizza, but most enjoyed all that they had.”
  8. “Everything is fresh, fresh, fresh.”
  9. “can't describe the overwhelming cravings I get now for their amazing zucca pizza, or the spinach salad.”
  10. “P.S. Big ups to Edena and Gigio for taking three years to bring you the best pizza you're about to have!”
  11. “FOOD: The fried calimari had a tasty, spicy coating, but the seafood itself was almost tough.”
  12. “Nothing would please me more to see this manager locked in a lion cage wearing Pala's delicious foods.”
  13. “The thin slices of soppresetta on the inferno pizze were fresh and peppery, perhaps too much so.”
  14. “Pizza was great, fresh high quality ingredients.”
  15. “The atmosphere reminds me of one of my favorite places in Italy, relaxed and a lot of good food.”
  16. “this is the best pizza ever.”
  17. “Great pizza, decent value”
  18. “Appetizer standouts were the meatballs and arancini and the salad with baby spinach, pears and gorgonzola was excellent.”
  19. “The zucca pizze was the outstanding dish of the evening.”
  20. “The food was great, I reluctantly tried the all wheat pasta with tomato sauce (I was with friends and they wanted to have pizza and something else) and it was amazing.”
  21. “The appetizers were delicious and easy for sharing.”
  22. “The pizza is amazing.”
  23. “love the people that run this place and more importantly the food they make.”
  24. “The dollops of goat cheese on the zucchina pizze were fresh and flavorful, but the flavors of its other ingredients were not distinctive.”
  25. “If you have a large group the restaurant requires that you order food in advance--that makes perfect sense, but it was a bit tough making choices for 24 people a week before hand.”
  26. “They were extremely accomodating on every level and the food was delicious.”
  27. “In actuality, it's the beginning of some pretty amazing, fabulous, sold by the foot, mouth watering, gourmet, 9-12 types of organic flour, two-five days to rise, words can't even describe pizza/italian spot with the best wine I've ever had!”
  28. “Such a shame the food is SO good but the manager is SO nasty”
  29. “just love their pizzas and is definately a hot spot.”
  30. “good pizza shops in New York City are as ubiquitous as Korean nail spots.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “If you have a large group the restaurant requires that you order food in advance--that makes perfect sense, but it was a bit tough making choices for 24 people a week before hand.”
  2. “have visited Pala a few times and thoroughly enjoyed the simple menu, wonderful roman style pizzas, simple antipasti, great wines, wonderful italian waitstaff.”
  3. “forget about the huge selection of very good italian vino which is very affordable.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Great staff, great service, enjoy this place!”
return potential
0.0% positive
  1. “However my whole experience has been ruined by the female manager/owner who was so rude when we asked her a question that we felt as though we should not return.”
service
78.5699987411499% positive
  1. “love the people that run this place and more importantly the food they make.”
  2. “If you have a large group the restaurant requires that you order food in advance--that makes perfect sense, but it was a bit tough making choices for 24 people a week before hand.”
  3. “the service people now are very nice and the pizza it is to die for.”
  4. “Great staff, great service, enjoy this place!”
  5. “The service was good.”
  6. “The manager, typical machissimo italian businessman, sat outside with his chef scowling and smoking -- an uncomfortable dining experience.”
  7. “However my whole experience has been ruined by the female manager/owner who was so rude when we asked her a question that we felt as though we should not return.”
  8. “and the staff always nice and friendly.”
  9. “Nothing would please me more to see this manager locked in a lion cage wearing Pala's delicious foods.”
  10. “Such a shame the food is SO good but the manager is SO nasty”
  11. “Service was a bit slow, but still friendly.”
  12. “Add to that a friendly, attentive staff and you have yourself a win-win situation!”
  13. “There's a very comfortable vibe all around, and the staff is extremely friendly and attentive.”
  14. “The staff was amazing and THE PIZZA tastes like a slice of Italy.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “Great pizza, decent value”
  2. “forget about the huge selection of very good italian vino which is very affordable.”
  3. “It wasn't too pricey and it was definitely a unique taste that I haven't had before.”
  4. “The price is good and the pizza is yummy.”
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. “Service was a bit slow, but still friendly.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/16/11

Great Food for Vegans & Non-Vegans...that's it!

by belladiamondz at Citysearch

Pala has a whole vegan and non-vegan menu which makes it a great place for everyone. Their pizza is amazing!

Hands down best vegan pie I have ever had.

Their “Funghi & Salsiccia Pizza” is so tasty even non-vegan’s that dined with me loved it! Oh and they offer gluten free dough as well.

Now, I can't say enough how great the pizza is.

I must make a complaint…or two.

They tend to have a weird obsession with seating people right next to each other, despite the fact that the restaurant is empty. This has happened to me on several separate occasions wherein there was just a handful of customers and they will not allow you to be seated wherever you would like…instead they make sure to seat you right next to the only other table in the whole place. Oh and the tables are about 10 inches apart from one another.

My other complaint is I have dined here several times, within weeks to months apart and their bathroom is always dirty and very unkempt. Poorly maintained is a severe understatement. Since my first time dining here they still have yet to repair the lock on the door of the only restroom in the place. Never napkins or soap either.

My suggestion, take your pizza to go!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/11/10

The only pizza worth eating

by bea mcclam at Citysearch

There simply is no crust like the pizza crust at Palà's. None. I've had many pizzas over the years and this tops them all. As my 16 year old neighbor put it, after tasting a cold left over slice I had brought uptown with me, "it's ridiculous"...in his language this means "it's so good, it's just ridiculous...no words can describe it."

  • Pros: There is no other crust like it, and the toppings are superb
  • Cons: Did not discover any
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/04/09

Pizza to die for?!

by apollon at Citysearch

pizza, home made pasta. gluten free food!!

yes I agree! last years manager was omg a mooonster, it's true, i remember her. But, she is not there any more thank god.. done! she get fired she's OUT. BRAVO! and the place once again is amazing. Gigio the chef and owner of Pala it is such great guy and great cook. as well the ther kitchen staff. the service people now are very nice and the pizza it is to die for. as well the antipasto, oh don't forget the deserters which are made all at Pala freshly almost every other day. YEAH!!!

i was there 3 times the past month.

  • Pros: the bestest pizza eeeever
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/03/08

Wow!!!

by Gualterimalde at Citysearch

I have been to Pala` Pizza and had a great experience. The food was great, I reluctantly tried the all wheat pasta with tomato sauce (I was with friends and they wanted to have pizza and something else) and it was amazing. The pizzas are soooo different from anything you could find around... I loved the crust which, again is not common in NY. I found them also easily digestible. But the dessert was what surprised me the most.... over all a great find and the ambience was very interesting mix.

I loved it.

  • Pros: Food (and that's the most important thing), ambience, good energy
  • Cons: noisy
3 Star Rating: Average

09/22/08

Such a shame the food is SO good but the manager is SO nasty

by Nukemsu at Citysearch

I was so excited to take my friend out to Pala for his 25th birthday after all of the wonderful things I heard about. The food certainly lived up to my expectations and the outdoor ambience of the LES, provided by the open street front. gave the place a great energy. The mixed drinks were well prepared and the gnocchi was out of this world. The pizza is what this place is really known for and between The Inferno and the Cheese with Truffle oil I was in heaven.

Though don't be fooled...heaven and hell co-habitate in Pala. Never did I ever anticipate that my friends would be eating in one of the most tense and uncomfortable enviornments I have ever experienced in my 6 years of New York City dining. Simply put...the manager was a MONSTER. She treated her staff worse than a mix between Cruella DeVille and Cinderella's stepmother...barking at them in front of customers, threatening their jobs, and huffing and puffing around the establishment. This shocked my friends and I considering we watched her act like Dinah Lohan getting herself privately drunk at the corner bar where she hid out taking drink after drink after drink.

Upon further exploration the waitstaff told horror stories that made Anna Wintour look like Mother Teresa. This manager's attitude played such an awful part in our experience that we spent the rest of the evening coming up with different ways that we could tell her off. Unfortunately, we lost track of how good the actual place was because of the evil creature running it. As a result I DO NOT RECOMMEND Pala if you are looking for a place to eat in comfort but rather if you embrace cruelty and heightened tension. Nothing would please me more to see this manager locked in a lion cage wearing Pala's delicious foods...not only would it satiate the lions? hunger but bring peace back to this cozy LES treasure.

  • Pros: Food and Great Staff
  • Cons: Horrible Monstrous Manager

The Details on Pala

Place Categories:

  • best zucca pizza
  • delicious food
  • love place
  • still friendly service
  • great red wine
  • fresh thin slices
  • airy space
  • very nice service people
  • delicious appetizers
  • great quality ingredients
  • flavorful dollops
  • great antipasti
  • very comfortable vibe
  • excellent fritti
  • good pizza shops
  • unique taste
  • favorite destination
  • perfect sense
  • perfect toppings
  • great energy
  • cozy les treasure
  • nasty manager
  • excellent pears
  • friendly attentive staff
  • uncomfortable dining experience