Some dinners aren’t about the food being the star—they’re about who you’re sitting across from. This was one of those. I met up with my sorority G-Big for a much needed catch up, and LaScala’s Fire felt like the perfect middle ground: easy, reliable, and somewhere you can sit and talk for hours without feeling rushed.

It has that classic busy but comfortable energy, if that makes sense. A little louder, a little more going on, but in a way that works for a reunion type dinner. You’re not there for a quiet, romantic vibe, you’re there to talk, laugh, and stay a while. Which is exactly what we did on a Wednesday night. 

The Dish
Going into it, I obviously had to try the rigatoni vodka. I can’t believe with how many times I have been there, I've never ordered it. And here’s the honest take…it was good, just not my favorite. Nothing was wrong with it, it just didn’t stand out compared to some of the others I’ve had. The sauce was solid, a lot was going on though, the pasta was cooked well, but it didn’t have that wow factor I look for. That being said, this is not a place you go strictly for the vodka sauce, and that’s totally okay! Because where does LaScala really shine? EVERYTHING else. Their salads with homemade chicken cutlets are unreal, like actually craveable. I think about it often. And the wood-fired pizzas? So good. You can smell them throughout the entire restaurant. Crispy, flavorful, and way more memorable in my opinion than the pasta.

The Verdict
LaScala’s Fire isn’t my top pick for rigatoni vodka, but it is a great go-to spot overall. Perfect for catching up, group dinners, or when you want options you know will hit. I would obviously come back, but I’m switching my order next time. To my go-to. Skip the vodka, go for the cutlet salad or pizza. Trust. 6/10.