Pasta and...

Reviews

Name: Gennarino DeStefano
Occupation: Former Pastor
Lives in: Fort Lauderdale
Favorite Restaurant: Pasta And…
Reviewed: Pasta And...

Pasta And… is one of my favorite restaurants for a couple of reasons. Although the décor is not the “wow” of an American mindset, it does foster the feeling of an authentic Italian café for those of us who have visited the less traveled streets of Sienna, Citta de Castillo, or Montebelluna. As well, the menu reflects the more contemporary cuisine of Italy, rather than the turn of the century, heavy cooking style considered by most Americans to be Italian. The chef, Francesco, has the heart of a true Florentine when it comes to his creations and you can easily mistake his passion for purity in the recipe for a bad temper. Either way, it adds to the overall experience.

Another reason this restaurant stays high on my list of favorites is because of Francesco’s refusal to cut costs or compromise quality, which adds up to a consistently delicious meal every time we go.

Our personal favorites are the Gamberi Regina and the ravioli with butter and sage sauce. We don’t often indulge in dessert, but the one time I tasted the specialty of the house – “Berries on a Cloud”, it earned the title of Pasta And’s reputation for excellence and uniqueness. They also make a good homemade cheesecake.

One word of warning – if you are not a true Italian connoisseur who appreciates your pasta el dente and knows that cheese never goes on fish, you might want to think about trying the Olive Garden instead.

Name: Eloisa Rodriguez-Dod
Occupation: Law Professor
Lives In: Miami
Favorite Restaurant: River Oyster Bar
Reviewed: Pasta And...

Three friends agreed to go up with me to Margate and try Pasta And… Finding it was a bit of a challenge since it’s located in a strip mall and Mapquest couldn’t quite locate it. However, once we got there we were pleasantly surprised by the friendly and comfortable environment and neighborhood-restaurant feel.

When we were seated at our table, we learned that Pasta And… stands for Pasta And…sauce! This turned out to be very appropriate since the menu includes four different types of pasta and a whole host of different options for the sauce to go with it.

Dinner began with a Caprese Salad and a Spinach and Gorgonzola Bruschetta. The salad was delicious – the tomatoes were a rich red color, the basil was crisp, and there was just the right amount of mozzarella. The bruschetta was good, but the Gorgonzola was absolutely overflowing…we had to use a fork and knife to eat it! However, the flavor was good so no complaints.

The four of us ordered different dishes for our main course so we could all share. I ordered the Fettuccine with Sfiziosa sauce, which is like a Pesto. Our server suggested that I ask for a “touch of cream”, but the result was a sauce that was extremely rich. Together with the overflowing Gorgonzola this made for an extremely filling meal – I would’ve preferred something lighter. My friends loved their food, but agreed that mine was the least tasty, though it still wasn’t bad. My only complaint was that the food was just too rich.

Overall, our meal was good – the ingredients were fresh and we could hear the staff speaking Italian, which gave the place an authentic feel. However, I did think the food was a little too heavy and a little on the expensive side given that it consisted of pasta and sauce…not sure if I would go back. However, a friend of mine loved her meal so much that she went back shortly after our dinner.

Name: Crispy Soloperto
Occupation: Hotel Concierge
Lives In: Miami BeacNh
Favorite Restaurant: Tap Tap
Reviewed: Pasta And...

I went to Pasta And… with a friend for dinner and had a really nice experience. Although at first the atmosphere was a little off-putting because it’s located in a strip mall and the lighting is too harsh for my liking, this didn’t put a damper on our meal. Initially there was only one other party seated, but after about 15 minutes or so, the place filled up and the rest of the experience was really interesting and enjoyable.

I had a Romaine Salad to start, which was okay. The dressing was a little too vinegary, but that’s just personal preference. For my entrée I ordered pasta with pesto which was good – it could have had a bit more flavor, but it was definitely enjoyable. My friend had gnocchi with fish and the broth that the fish was in was absolutely delicious.

They had a decent wine selection, but the highlight was definitely when I ordered a shot of Limoncello and the chef peaked his head out because he had his own private bottle back in the kitchen. He came out and chatted with us for a bit, which was a very nice touch. We also had great conversations with our neighbors that made our dining experience personal and enjoyable.

A couple of negatives – there were only two servers who were also doing double-duty as bussers. Everyone was really sweet and gracious, but I could see how a demanding guest might get irritated and impatient.

This is a great neighborhood Italian place and I would definitely go back if I lived closer by. I would suggest that they have one person only dedicated to bussing tables and two others serving food. The pasta was definitely fresh and everyone was super nice and accommodating.

Restaurant Information