Pijja Palace | Infatuation Score: 8.3 | SW Score: 5.5

Words cannot express how badly I wanted to love this place. A casual interpretation of the intersection between Italian and Indian? Accessible pricing? Incredible on paper. In practice, Pijja Palace proves a very different story. Putting aside the extremely long period in which this was a genuinely difficult reservation to nab and the incredibly overstimulating TV-filled atmosphere — the food is just not good. And even worse, it leaves so much potential on the table.

Weakened spices, bad textures, burnt bits across the board, gloopiness, oiliness, dryness (I could go on but I'll spare your stomach), the menu ends up being a total flavor and texture crapshoot.

Highlights:
On paper, so much of this creative menu looks like it will work
Interesting cocktails

Lowlights:
Insulting to two of the most celebrated cuisines ever
Unwelcoming staff and environment
Enough excess oil to warrant a response from the US military