PastaBAR

5 visits in the last year.
The Good: late hours, low-​key, comfortable space, subtle flavor combinations, interesting pasta varieties.
The Bad: pistacchio gelato (could have been a bad batch), smaller portions than what overweight people require, can be inconsistent (putanesca good one time, not so good another time).
Try this place if you are close to downtown or cenpho and like italian food. Don’t bother if you are looking to cram a pound of spaghetti and meatballs down your gullet.

I went here Saturday night with a party of 4. It is a pretty neat place in a neat area. I felt pretty hip and urban being there. Anyway, I NEVER eat pasta because I «try» to stay away from those carbs, so even coming here was a giant step for me. I wasn’t expecting the pasta here to be anything great but boy was I wrong. Each one that I tried was excellent. The ingredients tasted fresh and delicious and each was very flavorful. I don’t remember exactly which ones I tried (I tried 4 of them), but each one was excellent. They probably don’t make a bad pasta dish.
Some of the dishes have some odd/​random ingredients, but don’t let that scare you. Order each dish as it is listed on the menu and you won’t be disappointed.
When I feel like I have to get carbed up for a big race I will return!
I’m still a little pissed that they didn’t have diet coke or any diet soda at all for that matter. Who doesn’t have diet soda? I get that they are trying to be green, local, natural, organic or whatever else is hip right now but come on. I know I should probably stick to water anyway, but I always enjoy a diet coke with any good meal. I’m not sure why, but I just love it and it makes my meal a lot more enjoyable. Weird, I know.

Walked in about 7:45 on First Friday and were seated right away. We managed to squeak right in between the post work crowd and the later diners, but the place was 90% full.
Service was fast and friendly, the waiter took his time making sure we understood the menu and explaining everything to us.
I had the Bavette al Cedro and my friend tried the Gnocchi alla Lupa, and we shared the lamb side. Honestly, the pasta alone was good enough that I could have passed on the side, but I’m so glad I didn’t. Not sure how they prepare the lamb beyond the slow roasting, but it was tender and very moist. I think I detected among the garlic and sea salt a nice touch of saffron.
My pasta was cooked just right, at first bite I was taken aback by how lemony it was, but quickly realized that the flavors were just perfect. They balanced out in all the areas of taste. I tried my friends gnocchi as well, and it was also just right.
The serving sizes were just perfect, not overwhelming, but not skimpy either. I walked away glad I didn’t eat more and able to pass on dessert.
We each had a Four Peaks, I had the 8^th Street and he the Kiltlifter, and my only complaint there was that they were bottled and not draft.
The whole meal was surprisingly quick, and the service was spot on. I would love to go back and try a few more items off of their menu.

Worst Pasta I have ever eaten. I’m not even kidding.
We ordered the Fried Buffalo Mozzarella, Pork Shoulder & Calamari to start. all of it aside from the Pork was blah and unimpressive, the Pork was tasty, but the flavor was REALLY strong and I couldn’t eat much of it before wanting to vomit.
For our entrees we got the Orecchiette alla Puttanesca ($ 15)… which apparently has 12 random ingredients from some streetwalkers pantry and last time I checked, a streetwalker is a hooker, so, I mean, if you’re cool with eating shit from a hookers pantry, order this, its not good.
We also got the Fettuccini Tagliatta ($ 19)… rib-​eye was a little tough, noodles tasted funky and me and my palate were overall just very disinterested in eating more than 2 bites. Also, id like to add that both entrees were not hot, like they had been sitting there for a while. This irritates me to no end.
Not only was the meal sub-​par, but its was freakin’ expensive! Honestly id rather bust open a package of Safeway brand angel hair and Prego from a can — it tastes better anyway.
Sorry PastaBar, never again.

BORING, FLAVORLESS, OVERPRICED CRAP; exposed-​filament bulbs, paper napkins, sans s/​p shakers. Kale– and collard-​earthy and squishy garnishes little better than pig fodder.
–sealed brown concrete, minimalist 5×7 postage-​stamp art in monochromatic, rhythmically-​spaced repetition
–exposed-​filament bulbs throughout give that yellowish glow evocative of kidnap cinema;
–gangsta buser keeps glaring at us, slamming our glasses down after refilling them; oh, maybe we won’t get out of here alive!
–going to charge me $ 17 for pasta? buy some GODDAM cloth napkins!
–«table bread» is a plastic package of stale, pencil-​thick breadsticks. what would you think if someone brought you two packs of saltines? Yeah, that’s what I mean!
–ambient music an unpleasant mix of rural-​southern Creole woo-​woo ritual chant, washboard-​and-​spoon percussion and harmonica (I think they recruited that woman from the GTA3 shanty town);
–outside, the manager is explaining to the police amidst an army of tow trucks that these cars really are valet-​professionally parked, not by their owners.
–heirloom tomato side dish was the one delicious thing. At $ 3, the best value on the menu (+1 star)…
–unfortunately the spices were so old there was no flavor left in them.
–no s/​p shakers; on request we received two contact-​lens cups of s/​p for pinching, chef style (i.e. no spoons).
On our way out, some employee was being disciplined on the back steps, presumably about to quit.
I’ve never been so glad to quit a place as this.

Had lunch here a few weeks ago. My companion had a hard time finding the place; in fact, he would never have found it had I not left the building to go search for him outside! We liked the ambience; however, I did not particularly care for its narrow aisles.
Friend chose the server’s favorite, Orecchiette con salsiccia («circular, dome-​shaped pasta w/​homemade sausage, braised escarole and garlic w/​pecorino cheese»), while I had one of the daily specials, Garganelli, which came with ricotta, seven herbs (basil, opal basil, chives, nepitela, sorrel, parsley, and oregano), and breadcrumbs. My friend DID NOT care for his choice, citing distaste with the escarole’s texture (I tried a bite and agreed with his appraisal). I also didn’t care for the homemade sausage… it wasn’t very good, actually. I really liked my garganelli! Fantastic, fresh pasta texture, though I found it a little dry, however. If only there was a little more of the cream sauce… I should’ve asked for more on the side.
Before we left, we did check out the restrooms, but only one at a time… he went first, while I waited at the table. He came back with a report that he found the set-​up a little strange, so of course, I had to go check it out myself. I thought it was a bit fun…
Service was helpful and generous (he offered us free wine tasting!), but I found the prices a little steep, esp. with the small quantities given and no accompanying sides.

Came for lunch the other day and with a few changes this place will really shine (like serve bread before the meal, improve the timing of the food ect.). I liked the ambiance and décor, cozy and classy. I missed the art because I had my back to that wall, but the colors they chose were great and the bar had a nice set up.
I had the bread salad and pasta lunch special, it came with an iced tea for $ 12 which I thought was a very reasonable price. The bread salad was amazing, it was fresh and delicious and the pasta (I can’t remember what it was called) was a mix of vine ripened tomatoes and pecorino. You could tell at first bite the pasta was home made, and it was served perfect al dente. I thought the portions were perfect (but I don’t super size everything I eat :)
My date ordered the Orecchiette con Salsicciaa which was pasta, home-​made sausage, greens and pecorino. I’m not sure if they over-​salted the water or had too salty of pecorino but the salt was overkill. Not inedible, but close. He ate it all, and told our server afterward who in very good spirit said he would pass it in to the chef.
I will definitely give this place another shot in the future. The location is great and they are working out the kinks.