Three kitchens, one pass

Most restaurants have one kitchen. La Rio has three that share a single pass, the counter where every plate is checked before it reaches the dining room.

A table that orders from all three

A typical table might start with hummus and lahmacun, share a pizza from the wood oven, and finish with lamb chops from the grill. Each of those dishes cooks at a different speed. The pass is where those speeds are reconciled, so the table never waits for one dish while another goes cold.

The menu reads like three countries. The pass makes it one meal.

Each station keeps its own rhythm. The mezze side works ahead, the oven works in minutes, and the grill works in quarters of an hour. The chef on the pass calls each table so that they all arrive together.

What it means for you

Order across the menu without worrying about timing. Tell your server how you like to eat, all at once or in courses, and the kitchen will pace the table around you.