Ritten describes the ambiance as elegant yet approachable.
“This is for families, first dates and business [meetings],” Ritten said. “We want to make sure it's not a special occasion restaurant, it’s for everyone. We don’t want people to feel intimidated.”
On the menu
Palato, which opened in October 2024, offers breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and drink menus.
A breakfast crowd pleaser is the Palato Breakfast featuring two free-range eggs, potatoes, artisan bread and a choice of meat including a sausage patty, which Rogers describes as having particular spices that make it a “gorgeous addition to the plate.”
Popular brunch items include lobster Benedict and avocado toast. A bellini bar, featuring eight types of bellinis, has also been a favored brunch offering.
A top selling lunch and dinner item is the Vesuvio pizza featuring tomato sauce, stracciatella, hearth-roasted tomato and basil.
Looking for a libation?
As the director of food and beverage, Rogers said one of his responsibilities is giving the final approval before any item is added to the menus, including the drink menu.
He said drink recipes are created via a collective effort by their bartending staff. He credits their espresso martini as being one of his favorite menu items.
“We do a house blend of our espresso mix. It has several components—cold brew, espresso and a little decaf espresso. Then we use Licor 43, a little Bailey's, then vodka,” Rogers said.
Ritten pointed out the housemade lemoncello, featuring 100-proof vodka that has been steeped for two months, as being a top seller.
What else?
A Palato food truck is parked in Kaleidoscope Park, and is viewable from the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows. The food truck menu is called ‘Parkside’ and features Palato menu items including pizzas and salads.
“Those types of items that are approachable,” Ritten said. “This is a nice little food outlet because the kids’ pavilion is right here. If kids are playing, parents just want to get a quick bite to eat.”
Meet the chef
Rogers said the menus—crafted by Executive Chef Eric Sakai—highlight Italian comfort food. Ritten noted that Sakai brings an impressive culinary background, including experience at the Four Seasons, Michelin-starred independent kitchens in San Francisco, and restaurants in Italy.
“He has a deep knowledge of Italian cuisine, not only globally, but he can cook regional dishes,” Ritten said. “He loves to do that and calls it ‘A culinary journey through Italy.’”
The background
Hall Hotel is owned by Dallas-based Hall Group, which was formed in 1968 by Craig Hall when he was 18 years old, according to the company's website. Additional properties owned by Hall Group include three Napa Valley wineries, Hall Arts Hotel in Dallas and more. Kaleidoscope Park comes from a private-public partnership between the city of Frisco and the Hall Group, according to prior Community Impact reporting.
- 3220 Internet Blvd., Frisco
- www.palatofrisco.com
