Pala'a: Latin seafood BYOB opens in Ardmore

The Philly area's Venezuelan dining scene is expanding ever so slightly, and now the Main Line has an outlet for South American arepas, empanadas, and patacones.

The seafood-focused Pala'a – a 23-seat BYOB cafe open for breakfast on Tuesday and Wednesday, and for lunch and dinner Thursday through Sunday – on the Lancaster Avenue side of the longtime Felicia's Pizza Kitchen (18 W. Lancaster Ave.) in Ardmore.

Pala'a means "ocean" in Wayuu, a language spoken in a sliver of Colombia and Venezuela.

Venezuelan-born entrepreneur Cira Ferreira, caterer Levi Hernandez, and server Ivan Brcek, specializing in empanadas, hallaquitas, ceviches, tartares, chupe, arepas, patacones, and the signature drink papelón, have set up a boldly decorated dining room with graphics of beaches and beach chairs.

You order at the counter. Figure on $3.95 to $5.75 for appetizers, $5.95 to $14.95 for entrees, and $14.50 to $15.75 for platters.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

The last year has brought two casual Venezuelans to the city: Puyero Venezuelan Flavor (524 S. Fourth St. in Queen Village) and TartAreperia 18.64 (1204 N. Front St., beneath the Girard Avenue El stop on the edge of Northern Liberties).

A previous version of this article referred to Felicia's in the past tense. It is very much still open.