Los Angeles is a vegan foodie’s heaven. From next-level food trucks to upscale candlelit dining, there’s something plant-based for everyone in the City of Angels. But in 2018, Brooklyn transplant Tara Punzone decided there was something missing from the vegan food scene—authentic Italian fare—and she was ready to fill the niche. It was only a matter of time until Punzone, a veteran chef and culinary director of some of the best plant-based restaurants in New York City and Los Angeles, opened an eatery of her own, and she’s hit the nail on the head with West Hollywood’s Pura Vita.
The five-year-old restaurant specializes in classic southern Italian dishes, and has already cemented its place as a favorite among locals, critics, and celebs. Located on glitzy Santa Monica Boulevard, the small, dimly lit space serves a full house almost every night, and the clientele is as…