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Name: Pastaria
Address: 7734 Forsyth Blvd, Saint Louis, MO, 63105
Telephone: (314) 862-6603
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.07

Pastaria

7734 Forsyth Blvd, Saint Louis, MO, 63105

(314) 862-6603
Store is closed

Pastaria Menu

Soups-salads-appetizers

Minestrone Soup

Roasted Sweet Potato Soup

Roasted Radish Bruschetta

Crispy Risotto Balls

Mixed Greens

Chopped Salad

Vegetable Salad

Orange Salad

Shaved Kale

Shrimp Salad

Porchetta Carpacio
Vegetables

Broccoli

Roasted Carrots

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Crispy Potatoes
Pastas

Chitarra

Chitarra Al Pomodoro

Canestri Cacio E Pepe

Pappardelle

Strozzapreti

Pistachio Ravioli

Garganelli

Italian Ramen

Lasagna

Bucatini All’ Amatriciana
Pizza

Margherita

Pastaria Marinara

Four Cheese

House-made American Pepperoni

The Roman

Finocchiona Fennel Salami

Pizza Of The Day

The Holmes
Desserts

Mama Rodolico’s Tiramisu

Dark Chocolate Tart

Yoghurt Panna Cotta

Assorted Gelato And Sorbetto Flavors

Cannoli
Entrees

Wood Oven Roasted Chicken Breast

Braised Beef

Wood Oven Roasted Salmon

Healthy Meal suggestions for Pastaria

Soups-salads-appetizers

Minestrone Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Sweet Potato Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Radish Bruschetta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Risotto Balls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mixed Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chopped Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetable Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Orange Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shaved Kale [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Porchetta Carpacio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Vegetables

Broccoli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Carrots [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Brussels Sprouts [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Potatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pastas

Chitarra [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chitarra Al Pomodoro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Canestri Cacio E Pepe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pappardelle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strozzapreti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pistachio Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garganelli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Ramen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lasagna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bucatini All’ Amatriciana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pizza

Margherita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pastaria Marinara [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Four Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House-made American Pepperoni [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Roman [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Finocchiona Fennel Salami [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pizza Of The Day [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Holmes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Mama Rodolico’s Tiramisu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dark Chocolate Tart [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yoghurt Panna Cotta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Assorted Gelato And Sorbetto Flavors [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cannoli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entrees

Wood Oven Roasted Chicken Breast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Braised Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wood Oven Roasted Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.

Church’s Chicken ( 805 N Kingshighway Blvd )

Church’s Chicken ( 10646 New Halls Ferry Rd )

Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.

Church’s Chicken ( 805 N Kingshighway Blvd )

Church’s Chicken ( 10646 New Halls Ferry Rd )

Write An Anonymous Review

Tom J.

Mostly a pretty good experience at Pastaria. Of course my expectations were high - how could they not be if you follow the St. Louis food scene at all. Were my expections met? No. But we did have a good time and left fans of the place. It was Meatball Monday, so they offered a three meatball app. This was a no-brainer for me. I love meatballs. These tasted good. The sauce was interesting, a theme for the night, but the texture was not good, at least for me. They were too mushy. I don't know what the perfect meatball is. I guess there are so many ways to do it, there is no such thing, but for me, they need to be somewhat firm. We shared a house salad. To be honest, I don't remember it, so I have to call it not memorable. I think it was fine, though. The bread service was not good. We each got a piece dense and fairly dry bread. My wife was so disappointed with the end piece they set down, she literally made a sad face, which doesn't happen very often. For our meals, things started to look up quite a bit. we ordered a small cheese pizza for our daughter. It was good - very similar to the pizza they used to serve at Spaghetteria Mama Mia, which I always liked. The pasta dishes were also quite good; Strozzapreti, aka Pastaria Bolognese and Bucatini All' Amatriciana. Both dishes were unlike any pasta we had ever eaten. Very flavorful and with enough spice to satisfy us, which usually doesn't happen with Italian food. One complaint is both dishes were dry. This might be "authentic" - I don't know. The Bucatini cooled off pretty quickly, so the last third of it was eaten at about room temperature. Service was good. The atmosphere is loud and casual (don't go for a business dinner). Overall, we had a good time and the pasta was delicious, which pretty much trumps everything when the restaurant is named Pastaria.
(4)
Bonnie L.

Had a chance to sample a few more things, this time from the lunch menu. My favorite items are the pasta, granola, and donuts. The staff is super nice. From the hostess to the bartender to the carryout team. Note I did carryout so my assessment was written keeping that in mind. Pasta. Chitarra al pomodoro. Spaghetti with tomatoes, garlic, basil, cheese. The flavor was delicious. Not too acidic or sweet. Nice tomato and garlic flavor. Granola. I didn't take a pic of the sign but I think it said olive oil. I think I also saw cherries, oats, almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds. This was the FRESHEST granola I've had. It's not too sweet and very tasty. I would go back just for the granola! Checkout bannerroad if you like granola. Donuts. I had the glazed the the lemon custard. Both were delicious. The lemon custard was very generous with the filling. The lemon flavor was there and it wasn't too sweet. It was one of the best donuts, but I did like the grape jelly more. The regular glazed was enormous and very tasty. If you like glazed donuts you have to try it here! Now this is a donut! Pizza. I had the margherita and it was tasty. Plenty of basil. I also had the roman with bacon and chili. It was very flavorful. The pizza was very good but the crust is thin and there are parts that are black from the oven. I liked the pasta more than the pizza but of someone bought me a pizza I would gladly eat it. It was not oily or greasy at all and I'm sure I will try more in the future. Chopped salad. It had chickpeas, olives, pistachio, pepperoni with red wine vinaigrette. It was good but I may try another one next time. Risotto balls. Very light and crispy. Not oily at all. It was good but it had a lot of cheese. My preference is more rice, but for those that like cheese, get it! It came with red sauce and a white sauce. Askinosie Dark Chocolate Gelato. Very tasty. I will get vanilla bean next time. I got to try basil and it was interesting. It was a great meal!
(5)
Molly O.

The stars must have been aligned Saturday. I was expecting a hour plus wait by reading reviews. Lucky for me I was greeted and seated right away. The place just has a great vibe and it especially shows with the employees. I ordered the breakfast pizza O M G. They nailed it. From the crust to the sause to the egg everything was perfect, each bite better than the last. I did order the bombolone, oh how you completed me. Definitely recommend
(5)
Louise K.

Marginal at best. Came here for lunch and I usually judge a restaurant by the crowd it draws. Despite being a packed full house (and I do mean packed like sardines! I felt like we were sitting on top of each other and all I saw were server butts in my face!), I cannot for the life of me figure out why anyone would want to spend money on the food here. The food was mediocre, the kale salad tried to be interesting, but failed because of all of the add-ons-they just masked the taste of the kale. The pasta was thick, gooey, and chewy, not at all al dente, but if you ever want to hang wallpaper, you might try using their pasta as paste. I would have tried dessert, but my palate was urging me to leave. If you are in business and are here for lunch, better hope you don't push a time card, service from the kitchen to table was extremely slow. I will say though that my server was friendly and attentive...he was one with the nicer shaped backsides.
(2)
Tim C.

I don't know what everyone else is experiencing but this was one of the most disappointing dinners out I've ever had. We came here last night and I ordered the Chitarra with clams. What came to the table was a bowl of spaghetti with garlic oil. I took one bite and was wondering. After the second bite that was it. The description is "white wine, garlic, lemon, chili, parsley". There were a couple of pieces of something in there that may have been clams otherwise, nothing. If I wanted to be sure that someone never came to my restaurant again, this is what I would serve them. I'm being as nice as I can be about this. Our server was very good and the service in general, was very good. This is all about the food.
(2)
Pam G.

On a recent trip to St. Louis, we decided to only eat in restaurants we hadn't eaten in before. We were staying in the Overland area, so we were looking for restaurants more centrally located, not downtown. After reading several reviews, we settled on Pastaria in Clayton. We arrived there around 6:30 on a Sunday evening and found street parking easily. When we walked in, we realized that it was packed! I was still on Tennessee time and so that felt like 7:30 to me and I was starving, so we grabbed the last two seats at the counter. Kind of awkward and right on the end, but we loved it. We had a great view of their wood fired oven and the stoves. Watching the chef's work was fascinating. I'm so glad that we didn't sit somewhere out in the restaurant! Our waitress, Tiffany, was excellent. She answered all of our questions and took our order quickly. My husband ordered the Wood Oven Roasted Chicken. I ordered the Italian Ramen. We split a mixed green salad. They split the salad for us and it was perfect. A nice spring greens mix with pears, walnuts and goat cheese. It did take a while for us to get our food, but we didn't really mind. We were watching the chef's work, the pizzas being made and of the goings on behind the counter. We kept trying to guess which chicken in the oven was going to be my husbands. When the food came, it was more than worth the wait. My husband's chicken was fantastic. It was a large chicken breast with part of the wing. It was smokey with crisp skin, but still moist inside. It was served with a bread salad of toasted bread, cucumbers, tomatoes and pickled red onions. My Italian Ramen was incredible. I could eat this every day for the rest of my life. The broth was insanely rich and flavorful and almost thick from the grana padano cheese. The ramen noodles, perfectly chewy and the chicken, smoky and tender. Topped with a perfectly cooked soft egg and fresh basil. I was going to try and get the runny egg yolk food porn shot, but I knew that once I put my spoon it it, I was going to be all about the eating, and not about the photos. I want to try and make this at home. It was like chicken noodle soup kicked up several hundred notches. Next time we go to St. Louis, it's going to be hard to stick to our only new restaurant rule, because this ramen is going to be calling to me.
(5)
Terri S.

Love this place. We always sit at the pass and watching the expertise by which the food is prepared is always a treat! Today I had the lasagna for the first time and it was decadent with a bÃ©chamel sauce and beautiful mushrooms. Sorry no pic..I'll try better next time.
(5)
Dee G.

I love this place! Everything is delicious!! I was only in town for a short time and ate here three times - that in and of itself says something about the food! First, the bread here is fantastic. Normally, I am not much of a bread eater, but I couldn't stop. On my first visit I tried the salmon. It was cooked perfectly! It was fresh and came with tasty sides. On my second visit, I considered trying the pasta but loved the salmon so much I opted for it again. However, after seeing how good everyone else's pasta looked I opted for the ravioli on my final visit. It was worth it! Amazing! You could tell they made it fresh. Also, the prices here are very reasonable, especially for the quality of the food. I definitely recommend trying this restaurant!
(5)
Fern R.

Yes it's that good! This is pasta, pure, fresh, with incredible flavors! It is simple yet complex. It's pasta like the Italians make it-the real deal. A celebration of ingredients perfected into a dish that makes my palette rejoice!!!qww It doesn't stop there-pizza, salads and hands down, the best gelato outside gof Italy-all prepared with great pride!
(5)
Brendan C.

Pastaria defines al dente. I came here with a party of three on a weekday right before close. The open kitchen keeps things lively and warm, and the continuous complimentary crusty bread is great. I started with the arancini which came with marinara and tartar sauce. They had a great crunch, but the risotto base could've used more herbs. The risotto is super cheesy, melty and gooey, but I felt like it could have used more S&P, or maybe a tiny bit of lemon juice to cut through the richness of he risotto. Between the three of us, I ended up tasting three dishes. The bucatini was pretty good, but it could use with more pork. There was a good level of spice and geez the pasta was perfectly toothsome. Stewed beef was a bit sweeter than I thought it was. The noodles were perfectly cooked, and the olives are a nice addition. They add a bit of saltiness and brine to the dish that's sorely needed to cut through the sweet and sticky sauce the stewed beef comes with. But, I thought that the olives could've been smaller. Cutting the olives would give a bit more even distribution of olive, and the bite with olive wouldn't be as salty. Pomodoro - basil and white wine sauce. It was pretty light and I still just can't get over how well-cooked the pasta is. I get that all they need is some testing and a timer, but dang, that stuff is great. Happy Eating!
(4)
Marci E.

Food is great - not your ordinary pasta place. Some of the best pasta, salad and soups in the area. Sometimes super crowded and noisy. Have had great service and also wait service that seemed distracted or overwhelmed. I don't come here as often as I'd like for the food because it isn't a relaxing place. Yet, I've never been disappointed in the food.
(4)
Audrey J.

Ah Pastaria, we meet again and this time better than ever. I was reached out to by a manager here apologizing for my past experiences and to me, that is enough to give this place another shot. It's the middle of the week and there is a wait, they're always packed. They absolutely are not short on business but the management cares enough about my experience to apologize and want to make things right... And really, that's incredible and the way things should be. I'm impressed, Pastaria. So I brought my best friend back with me. She actually has already been, and if you read my previous review, she was one of the friends that I suggested Pastaria to and had a bad experience. This time was completely different for us both. Our server, Justin, was incredible. He answered questions, kept our water glasses full, wine flowing, made suggestions... All around wonderful in every way. To start we had the Risotto Balls... You have to get them, there isn't an option. Just do it and you'll have no regrets. My friend had the Lasagna Bianca consisting of bÃ©chamel, roasted mushrooms, fontina, brown butter. I stole a bite and it was AMAZING! Incredibly rich, but oh so good. I had the Chitarra al Pomodoro consisting of tomatoes, garlic, basil, Grana Padano. I also added fresh mozzarella! It was so good. And a very big serving. To end our meal we, of course, ended with Gelato. You can't go wrong here. Of course if you read my previous reviews you'd know I am absolutely obsessed with the Caramel gelato. It's one of my favorite things I've ever ate, ever. I'm so glad I came back. Hopefully every time after this is like how this previous time was! From the host staff, to the servers, to the manager coming around to check on us... We were very impressed and will absolutely be back!
(5)
John W.

I loved this restaurant / dining experience . The staff was attentive,fun & professional. We sat at the kitchen bar in front of " Madeline " who made pizzas @ a rapid fervor. (The attention to detail,energy & love she transferred into the food was beautiful ) ( I'm a huge believer in energy transference into the food you consume ) We enjoyed the " Heirloom Tomato Salad " ( beautiful locally sourced tomatoes, w/ fresh ricotta cheese, basil & xvo )... A " Shaved Kale Salad " w/ pecorino cheese, fresh bread crumbs & an anchovy ,xvo creamy dressing that was perfectly balanced. Then we shared the " Pistachio Raviolis "... Pistachios,mint in a lemon/ butter sauce. The chef floated throughout the restaurant helping & supporting his staff in a respectful and teaching way. I will bring family & friends here moving forward. * Best meal I've shared in quite some time. * Balanced pricing for fresh & sustainable produce & locally sourced meats. * 'LOVE'd it !
(5)
Jamie P.

First Kraft experience. Very fun atmosphere! Came with a group to check out before I host my rehearsal dinner here in a couple of months. Was very busy and had to wait for a table but we got drinks at the bar. Negroni was pre mixed- I do not recommend it! It's too easy to make to not make it fresh, especially if it is listed as a signature cocktail on your menu! Food was all delicious. We sampled a lot of appetizers and favorites were risotto balls and fig and onion bruschetta. Stand out entrees included the Bolognese and the veggie lasagna. Service was a tad slow but can understand because they were busy. hopefully the kitchen appropriates enough time for us for rehearsal. Will update review then!
(4)
Simone N.

Why did it take me so long to come here????? I always heard rave reviews about this place but never got a chance to have dinner here until last friday. They offer a very convenient way of getting table by leaving your name and number with the hostess and they text you when your table is ready. This is nice if you want to take a stroll during the warm summer nights and not just sit and wait like almost all other restaurants. The vibe is very energetic. You can tell that people come here for good company and food and enjoy themselves. its casual enough yet sophisticated at the same time. I highly recommend sitting at the bar sometime. You get wonderful entertainment from the chef's. You get to see how everything is made from beginning to end plus its a nice change of scenery during dinner. The house wine is very smooth and gets better and better as you enjoy it with your meal. I have to say that the Bolognese pasta with the sqirley noodles is my favorite. The sauce has a smokey underlining taste that just really makes the dish. I also would like to mention that I started the night off with the shredded kale salad and opted for the white wine dressing....delicious in every way shape and form. To finish off the night as you exit the restaurant they offer a market and ice cream bar. The Mascarpone flavor really hits the spot, not too sweet but just enough to make it indulgent. I noticed that the location also offers brunch and they offer private dinning. I am really going to make an effort to try their brunch and make an excuse to have dinner and dessert here every night....if my belly will allow it.
(5)
Anna B.

Ok so the wait is absurd, but every time I go, I understand why people put up with it. You really can't go wrong here. Tonight I went for Chitarra al Pomodoro - aka spaghetti with marinara, only better. Very tasty and a generous portion size. We also split the bruchetta appetizer... probably tasted so good because I was starving from our 1.5 hr wait but hey... its Friday night. At least I knew to expect it thanks to the no wait app. Of course we had to round out the meal with gelato -- also a win. After generously letting me try four different flavors (ok I know... but I love ice cream and they all sounded so good!) I settled on a seasonal/rotating one. YUM. I do have to say I think the menu is a little overpriced, which keeps me from coming frequently but every once and a while I'll splurge. The atmosphere and the service are both spot on though.
(4)
Elizabeth L.

Visited last week for a date nite. Had an early dinner around 5 pm and our server greeted us with a smile and answered our many questions about the menu. We were struck right away with how much bigger this place seemed in person vs the pics we've seen. Other helpers helped us out by posting their entree photos. I got pasta bolognese bc I wanted to try their meat sauce, hubby got a dish with chopped olives and pork. Risotto balls to start were to die for! Next time I'm getting those and a salad and calling it a meal. Ambience is excellent but we thought it was fairly loud. Open kitchen is fun to watch. We will be back!
(4)
Tracey W.

How this place could exceed my exceedingly unrealistic expectations and its ridiculously bloated reputation is beyond me, but it did, and from the second I set foot in the door. Gerard Craft, the It Girl of the St. Louis dining scene, has somehow transcended the pretentious bubble of fine dining in STL to create an approachable yet trendy new hot spot. This restaurant is a "fresh approach" to Italian dining, the fresh approach being that it is "family friendly". I am far from a kid, but I see this place through a kids' eyes (and my palette probably has the sophistication of a two year old), so this place really speaks to me. I became a believer as soon as I stepped inside and saw the giant, open dining room with enormous family photos splashed across the wall and an open kitchen with smiling chefs hustling and bustling. There was a warm glow and a comforting orchestra of laughter, conversation, and the clatter of forks and plates. This place is the exact opposite of Brasserie, and that is why I love it. There was a wait, but it only fed the anticipation. We were seated quickly and even though the tables are extremely close together, I didn't feel cramped or that my private conversation was impeded at all. Each table seemed ensconced in its own bubble, despite being practically on top of other tables. I couldn't pronounce or recognize much on the menu, but it really does not matter. Just roll the dice, because everyone is a winner here. We got the crispy risotto balls, which to my understanding is the pretentious douche-bag version of mozzarella sticks. So yeah, obviously they were amazing. I then ordered the Bucatini all Amatriciana, which the waiter confirmed was an excellent choice. I always love it when my eeny meeny miny moe skills are affirmed. This dish was the best thing I've ever had in my mouth. And I weigh 300 pounds, so there's been a lot of food in this chomper. This thing was THE BEST and I still dream about it. In fact... You know the story Strega Nona? Where the hangry kid uses a magic pasta pot to make unlimited pasta? My idea of ecstasy would be a magic pasta pot that makes unlimited Bucatini all Amatriciana for me. So Gerard Craft, if you come in one day and see that I have broken in and am chanting over one of your pasta cauldrons or something, now you know why. Just make me eat a bunch of pasta and teach me a lesson. After all, the punishment must fit the crime. And I've been a very, very bad girl. I think the easier is it to pronounce the name of a Craft restaurant, the more I like it. And on a really depressing note, no restaurant EVER has made me wish my dad was still alive as much as this place. If I could eat dinner with anyone from history living or dead, it would be with my dad, and it would be at this restaurant.
(5)
Wynn A.

Love the pasta here! It's so fresh and you can taste the authenticity of the pasta. Homemade and cooked to perfection al dente! The service is great and I love the location and the decor. Oh and you have to eat the risotto balls!!
(5)
Mandie M.

I took my bf here for his birthday dinner last month. He had mentioned that he wanted to try it out to see what all the hype was about and so I thought it would be a good idea to go for his bday dinner! When we arrived I checked in with the hostess (they do not have reservations) and she got me on the list for a table. They do this really cool think with their wait list, they send you a text and then you can use this app (No Wait) to check your status and time. It's really cool. They send you a text when your table is ready-how cool is that?!?! Anyway, we were waiting for our table and I began thinking that I picked a bad night for this. That same night there was something going on where a pizza company from Baltimore, MD was in the restaurant selling their menu pizzas well. The place was packed! They did have some good looking pizza from the Baltimore place, but we were there to try the menu items from Pastaria since we had not been before. We waited for about 30 minutes and then were brought back to our seats. I would like to think that we had some of the best seats in the house because we were at the counter looking over into the pizza oven and kitchen area! I could see the entire process of making pizza and other items; it was awesome! Like I said, the place was packer and so I had a guy sitting directly on my left and we were cramped for space, but whatever, we made it work. Our server came over to offer us drinks and went over the menu with us. She explained some of her favorite items and then left us alone to look over the menu. When she came back with our drinks she also told us that she would go find us some bread-I like bread so I was happy to hear that (I was also starving). When she came back to take our orders she did bring bread and explained the dipping sauces in case we wanted to try them. I ordered a wood fired pizza and the bf ordered some pasta dish. I also ordered the Risotto Balls for an appetizer. We chatted and watched the pizzas be made and before I knew it our appetizer was arriving and they looked great! I would say they were perfectly crisp on the outside and cooked just right on the inside, so delicious! Our entrees arrived shortly after we finished our appetizer; perfect timing. For a place that was so packed they did a great job with the service and getting food out quickly. Our server was missing for a while and didn't actually make it over to us until we were done with our meals, but that's okay I guess. My pizza was alright; I wasn't ecstatic about it or anything. It was cheesy and the sauce was delicious, but I didn't enjoy the crust that much. I know it's wood fired and all, but it just didn't taste the way I expected it to...but it was good and I hate a few pieces before packing it up to go. My bf enjoyed his pasta dish and said that he would get it again. I think it was the Garganelli that he ordered. He finished it all. On our way out we had to stop and pick up some gelato. I tried a few of the ones offered, but we both decided on the salted caramel and ordered a pint to go. This was my favorite part of the entire meal! The gelato is where it's at-you should try it. Overall, this was a good visit for dinner and I would probably go back. I'll just have to make sure that I pick a better night where it won't be as crazy!
(4)
Laura H.

Worth the hype. Top-notch service, great setting, incredible food. I've been trying to get out my habit of ordering the same basic dishes wherever I go by asking my server for their favorite and ordering that, no questions asked. I did this here and ended up with Bucatini All' Amatriciana (tomato, red onion, guanciale, chili, Grana Padano), and I NEVER would have ordered such a simple noodle dish without the recommendation, so I'm really, really glad I did. The pasta is so perfect, and the sauce will make you go home and throw all your jars of Ragu away. My husband got the Italian Ramen (spaghettini, soft cooked egg, chicken, basil, Grana Padano), and it was perfectly what we hoped it'd be. The crusty Italian bread was fresh, frequent, and delicious. We were too stuffed for the gelato, but I sampled the salted caramel and was immediately furious I hadn't saved half my pasta for lunch the next day. LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES, PEOPLE. Save room for gelato!
(5)
Daniel A.

Went here on Saturday. Service was a bit slow. I had the bucatini which was fantastic. Fresh, handmade pasta, definitely fresh. Would go back.
(4)
Mai Tran G.

One of the BEST restaurants in Clayton! It's one of our staple restaurants for dinner and brunch! They have fantastic food, including delicious desserts! Not to mention great service. Download the NoWait app to get on their list in advance. They don't take reservations. Must order: Endive and Arugula Salad cherries, pistachios, goat cheese, cilantro, bread crumbs, white wine vinaigrette Bucatini All' Amatriciana tomato, red onion, guanciale, chili, Grana Padano Chitarra with Clams white wine, garlic, lemon, chili, parsley
(5)
Minal G.

I am a fan of Pastaria. It's a lively establishment with good food and great drinks to boot. My favorite dishes are Chitarra al Pomodoro, Salume Beddu Nduja (get it with jalapeÃ±os if you're really daring) and Garganelli, although they skimp on braised beef in that last dish. Although I haven't had it, another popular dish is the Pistachio Ravioli. Pastaria also has a spicy oil at each table for bread and whatever dish you want to use it in. It's delicious. Speaking of tables, Pastaria has communal seating, which isn't for everyone. But the restaurant is so busy on weekend nights that it probably benefits. In summary, it's not a favorite restaurant but I can count on it when in the mood for pasta.
(4)
Rusha S.

I've been here so many times and have never been let down by the food or drinks. Seriously, everything I've had here is great. I prefer going for dinner, but brunch is good as well. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because the last time I went there about a month ago, we had really bad service. Granted it was during the dinner rush, but our initial waitress kept chatting with her friends instead of waiting on her tables. The table behind us cancelled half their order and took everything else to go because they had been waiting so long. Hopefully this was just a one time thing, because I'll still be back for some more great pasta & pizza.
(4)
Ali A.

They don't take reservations but they tell you to download a stupid app and make you go on a waiting list!!!!! Why don't you be like normal restaurants and take reservations like adults! Only lower class establishments like this don't take reservations. Not coming back
(1)
S. W.

The BF and I went here for the 1st time last Thursday at 6pm. We had no problem getting a table for 2. I'd say our wait was 10 minutes or less. The hostess was very friendly and greeted us as soon as we walked through the door. Now I do have to agree with other helpers. It is a very noisy place. Of course I had to start with a chocolate martini. I gotta give a hand to the bartenders, nicely created drink. We began with the crispy risotto balls, chopped salad and shaved kale salad. Next we moved to a pepperoni pizza and the garganelle pasta and I finished with the gelato (1/2 salted caramel and 1/2 buttermilk ginger cookie). I have to say......everything was delicious!!! The risotto balls were cheesy goodness and the two sauces were nice accompaniments. We preferred the red. He enjoyed his chopped salad as I did my kale which was a unique take on my beloved caesar. Our waiter FrEddie suggested I go with the garganelle pasta since I was mulling over the short ribs. Wow.....what an interesting pasta. I enjoyed the best of both worlds, pasta and short ribs. You could taste a hint of lemon in the pasta which gave it this extra spin. The pizza was great. A wonderfully flavored and cooked crust with premium pepperoni slices. Aaanndddd to top off a great meal, you have to have an equally amazing dessert. My gelato choice of 1/2 salted caramel and 1/2 buttermilk with ginger cookies. Ooohhh, shut the front door!!! They knocked it out of the park. The $10.95 price tag is well worth it to get this lovely treat to go.
(4)
Stan S.

This place already has a load of reviews and I'm not sure what I can add. I've taught in Florence, Italy since 1990 and the pasta here is as good as any of the great pasta dishes I've had in Florence. the menu is not extensive, but just about everything is very good to great. The salads are inventive and always worth the investment in table space. I recently had the endive and arugula salad and it was terrific. Prices way below its neighbor Niche next door, and much more casual but a great place for lunch or dinner.
(5)
B W.

The homemade pasta is wonderful, as is the fresh bread and olive oil served with the meal. I think if this restaurant had a different atmosphere, I would absolutely love it. What makes it somewhat overwhelming is that, if you go on a Friday or Saturday, people are simply smashed in to the restaurant and you feel like you're part of everyone's conversation around you... and in turn they are a part of yours. The food, however, is very tasty.
(3)
Brett F.

Being a New York Italian, I'm definitely hard to please. Though I'll try most Italian, few places can hold up to the best. This place gives many a run for their money. Ingredients are fresh. Dishes are great recipes - or great adaptation to recipes - which definitely left me wanting more. Highly recommend and will be back the next time I'm in the area.
(5)
Vicki L.

Order the Pastaria Marinara pizza - fabulous. Nice service, fresh warm slices of bread to start; unique flavors of gelato to finish.
(4)
Ut O.

I absolutely love the atmosphere at Pastaria. They are extremely friendly there from the moment you walk in and then offering a bag to carry my leftovers when walking out. I have been able to sit at the counter where all the food comes out multiple times, which is the best place to sit! The servers are always asking me if I have any questions, which is very nice for me since I am picky. The roasted brussels sprouts are the reason my boyfriend and I keep coming back. We have talked about ordering just the brussels sprouts and that being our dinner since it is amazing and healthy for you!
(5)
Nick L.

The Pastaria Marinara is possibly my favorite pizza that I've ever had. The sauce, and the basil, and the perfect crust. Pair it with their kale salad and you have a delicious quick meal. And the fresh bread they serve when you sit down is so good--I love dipping it in the oil, salt, pepper they that they have at the table.
(5)
Nikki I.

One of my favorite spots. Try the crispy risotto balls for an appetizer and Canestri Cacio e Pepe which is basically adult Mac n cheese with pepper. Their fresh pasta and gelato are amazing!! The only down side is that they don't take reservations so use the no wait app and sign up like an hour before you want to go.
(5)
Brian B.

Have been here many times for lunch and for dinner (and for carryout). Went for lunch recently and tried the roasted-vegetable panini as a change of pace from the pasta and pizza, it was delicious. The mixed greens salad was amazing. Have had both pasta and pizza here in the past, the pasta has been great and the pizza good. There are limited options for vegetarians. What makes the pasta here great is the sauces are consistently top-notch and they make their own pasta right in the front of the restaurant. You can purchase it to carry out (along with a limited number of other items such as pasta sauces, olive oil and gelato). The place is always busy and the decor sparse but the interior dining experience (in one large room) is energetic and exciting.
(5)
Jenny Z.

This restaurant gets so much hype from other students in St. Louis. Yes, the risotto balls are the most amazing appetizer you can imagine (chewy, soft, savory), and that was the highlight of my experience. My friends raved about the pistachio ravioli and the canestri, so we ordered those and also an Italian Ramen. Mine was overwhelmingly salty - I couldn't really taste any of the other flavors because of the salt. I tried each of their dishes too, and every single one was way too salty in my opinion. I've never really had salt content be an issue for me, but I felt parched by the end of dinner. My friends said they didn't remember the food being this salty before, so maybe this was just a one-time thing. I guess I'll have to come back and see if my first experience holds. The gelato however, is amazing. We took home a pint of pina colada and sampled a whole bunch of other unique flavors. They do desserts right. Tip: make reservations! This place is always packed and you'll be waiting for over an hour like us, even on a weekday.
(3)
Wasim Q.

Pizza review: Came here after seeing them on a top pizzas in America list on Thrillist. A little disappointing. Good effort, but the crust was a little limp. Toppings are pretty creative, but a little lacking in taste. Perhaps because most of the pizzas include meat, so if you order them vegetarian style, they lose their main flavor. Beautiful ambiance however. Communal tables, open kitchen, cavernous ceilings, great lighting. And server was super nice too. Dessert menu is a little limited (recommend just going to the gelato case and picking a good flavor instead of ordering off the dessert menu).
(3)
Julie V.

This place is my jam. I can't turn down a night of pizza and gelato and certainly not a brunch and gelato. The pizzas are all fantastic. My fat butt can eat the whole thing in one sitting and still split (okay or go solo) on the gelato. The gelato is kind of a crazy thing here. I've had some straight up options like the salted caramel and I've gone rogue and had some blackened carrot or some crazy parsnip creation. By crazy I of course mean crazy good. I even took my parents here and got their approval. They even ordered the parsnip gelato.
(5)
Tony L.

It's a great place but if you have a large group, I recommend to have everyone to BE ON TIME. This place does not do a good job with large groups and they will remove your reservation if you are late. Our host found out the hard way when everyone was late and waited for an hour plus for a table for 10. Just an FYI.
(4)
Akhilesh R.

Ambience, arrangements, location, hype and italian! So far so good. Fancy names to the menu. Good bar and selections. Well i can stop here but.... After eating pasta similar to auntie annies organic white cheddar shelled or elbow pasta and paying $14.95 and an additional $4.95 for the home raised white chicken meat, i must give an additional star for creating the hype, getting the yelp review and making me come! Oh well, will try the pizza the next time!
(3)
A A.

We came here on a Friday at 6pm without reservations. The expected wait was one hour but there was space in the bar where we can order from the menu and we took advantage. Our bartender/waiter was nice and attentive. We asked for recommendations and we were happy we took his advice. We had caprese for appetizer which was simple and yet so elegant. The tomatoes were sweet, the basil fragrant and the cheese fresh. I had the buccatini all'amatriciana and my husband the garganelli. The pasta were cooked to perfection and the sauces were flavorful. Dessert was cannoli which was sweet without being cloying. This is a well-run place with well-priced satisfying food and friendly and knowledgeable staff.
(5)
Megan Y.

This review is for brunch! Service 5/5 We were seated right away when we got in at 10:30 am on a Saturday. The staff was friendly and attentive. Food: 4/5 I was a wee disappointed by the Wood Oven baked eggs. It comprised of two baked eggs in either an amatriciana or pomodoro sauce and accompanied with bread for dipping. We choose the amatriciana which had a great tartness from the tomatoes, however the portions were SO small- just a tiny little mini skillet. The breakfast pizza more than made up for the baked eggs! This was AUTHENTIC Italian pizza- made fresh with chewy delightful dough, layered with tomato sauce, and topped with fontina cheese, garlic and a nice sunny side egg on top. I can never eat that faux breakfast pizza you expect with scrambled eggs and random bits of sausage. MY LIFE HAS BEEN CHANGED! FYI they still serve gelato even in the morn. And yes we did have gelato for breakfast... (#nojudgement #youknowyouwantit) Tidbit: You can redeem the ticket at the parking garage close by for gratis parking.
(5)
Ravi D.

After eating the splendid but small portions of food at Niche, we decided to head to Pastaria, which is just next to Niche and is owned by the same person. The two places complement each other. Where as Niche is more upscale, fine dining with a peaceful ambiance, Pastaria is hip, casual and full of youngsters. The place has a very simple menu consisting of Pastas and Pizzas. We had both and they were delightfully good. The Holmes Pizza is something worth trying for and the Pasta was surprisingly well. But the dish that ruled them all was the panna cotta dessert. It was refreshing and amazingly well made. The raspberry sauce and the roasted almonds pairing made it rule everything we had that day. I will definitely go there again, may be for my next Sunday brunch to try there baked french toast.
(4)
Diana S.

Pastaria's homemade pasta is the reason I will never give up carbs. I am one lucky girl as my office orders in lunch from Pastaria for staff birthdays and other special occasions. I have never ordered another main dish other than Chitarra al Pomodoro and I see no reason to switch. I could write it a love haiku. My only suggestion would be to serve vegetable sides during lunch. The brussels sprouts are amazing and I want them all day long - not only in the evening hours!
(5)
John D.

What a great meal! From the greeting at the door to Logan being an amazing server, sitting at the chef table watching the magic happen! Chef Ashley was on point professional and makes a great bolognese. The atmosphere was great. The prices were as well for in house made pasta cooked to perfection. Nick and Alex where friendly answered some questions. Jacob who was running expo was awesome too. You can tell how the management runs this place because of how the staff love what they do! Keep it up. I will be back and the salted caramel gelato was tasty!
(5)
Dan M.

Big problems here.... Too many good choices on the menu. Okay, that is a good thing. This place was amazingly perfect. We loved everything we tried, and the waiter was fantastic. We came for a late lunch/early dinner, so we beat the rush on a Sunday afternoon around 4PM, and the place was just starting to get crowded with some people enjoying the sun on the outside patio. We decided to sit indoors so we could watch the fresh culinary arts of the wide open kitchen. We started with the mixed green salad - don't be fooled by the generic name, as this salad has it going on with pears, walnuts and goat cheese. We also shared the Sweet Potato soup which was warm and tasty in a baby food consistency sort of way. We shared the pistachio ravioli as recommended by others and our waiter, and we were glad we did. It was quite tasty. Finally, the highlight was the pizza. We shared the Holmes pizza without shrooms and it was out of sight. This place makes a great example of a neopolitan pizza sorta (close to Italy is their motto, and they are not far off). We were too stuffed for dessert, but we had to have some of the interesting flavor variety gelato made in house. And it was amazing. Oh yeah, they have a great beer selection. - 4 hands and urban chestnut and Schlaflys.... you can't go wrong here.
(5)
Charleen S.

This would have been a four star review had I not eaten at Katie's Pizza and Pasta earlier in the same day. KPP won the homemade pasta restaurant battle (in my mind) hands down! I'll save the rave about KPP for their review and get on with the story... Likes: - Husband had a pizza with squash on it! Whoever thought of that was a genius - it was delicious - Impeccable service even though the place was slammed - Homemade pasta was cooked perfectly - Bread service was delicious with different types of oil and toppings - I remember that dessert was tasty, although I don't remember specifically what it was Dislikes: - This is one of those places that was obviously designed with volume in mind. I get it, places have to make money, but really the bench along the wall thing with several closely spaced tables along it with chairs on the other side doesn't work for me. I have a compulsive need to face the door, and Husband would prefer to look at something other than the wall while he eats. (And before you think it, he looks at me plenty at home so when we go out he likes to look at other things) - Their No Reservation policy. They do use No Wait, but it's just not the same unless you are the master of all things timing. I just see it as one more example of putting the almighty buck ahead of customer comfort. - I didn't really care for the bolognese sauce on my pasta. It had a sour taste to it I thought. I can't hold that against them though, because I didn't say anything at the time. It was so late when we ate I just wanted to go home. Even though I rated it A-OK, I probably won't return here of my own volition. There are just too many other good places around for me to roll the dice on getting in here.
(3)
Ben S.

I'm coming in at 4 stars on this review more as a message to the business than anything else. NO RESERVATIONS MAKES NO SENSE!!! Now that I have that out of my system it is time to rave about their food: My first bite was their bread service. I was given a hearty piece of house-made bread that was just about perfect. The crust was crunchy, the inside was chewy and the taste was spot on with a hint of yeastiness and a hint of saltiness. They have a good but not exceptional olive oil on the table and grated cheese. Their grated cheese is not just some pedestrian parm...nope, they have grated grana padano. I had no idea how this cheese differed from regular parm but the waiter went to surprising lengths to educate me. I had a long day and was tired but I do remember that it was similar to parm but with a fuller taste than regular parm. The bread service was but a harbinger of deliciousness to come as I passed on the house-made fresh pasta (having had pasta for lunch) and instead opted for their butternut squash and sage pizza. I suppose I had never really understood how well squash and sage pair before taking a cooking class at Kitchen Conservatory but I get it now and will probably order that same combination in virtually any incarnation (except gelato - that would be just plain wrong) if I see it on a menu. This incarnation also included fontina, bechamel sauce and that same uppity parm described earlier. Stick all of this on a nice brick-oven fired pizza and you're on your way to flavortown! I especially liked the sweetness that the squash brought to an otherwise savory dish. To me, a really good brick-oven pizza does not involve a pile of toppings and this pie was right there with enough of everything to be enjoyable without concerns about wearing anything that might happen to fall off an overloaded slice. We finished up with their dark chocolate tart. I was dismayed when I saw it heading towards our table smothered in a huge pile of whipped cream. My concerns melted away with the first bite. I generally scrape off whipped cream and leave it on the plate but not this stuff since it had clearly never been in a can and added both sweetness and creaminess to an otherwise delightfully dense, rich dish. Sadly, the wife was not nearly as impressed so I don't know that I will make it back anytime soon.
(4)
Jon T.

We had a busy day with the D's'; Member Morning at the Art Museum, the Lafayette Square House Tour and dinner at Pastaria. All events were good, including dinner. This was our first visit to Pastaria and we did enjoy it. Even though a little windy and threatening rain, pretty much the only way to get a table was to eat outside, but it worked out well. Ms T and I kept it light. Sharing (unofficially) a Shaved Kale Salad and Chittara al Pomodoro. The salad had a creamy anchovy dressing, like Caesar. The chittara pasta was very good, the sauce was light and well flavored, clearly homemade. The D's split (officially, there is a splitting charge) a chopped salad with tons of ingredients and a red wine vinaigrette. They also split Garganelli pasta which had delicious braised, shredded beef in the sauce. Our one experience at Brassierie by the same owners was just OK, so we were pleased that we had a good experience here. Pastaria is fresh and trendy with a homemade touch. This was easily four stars.
(4)
Susan H.

I was here on a Saturday for lunch with a party of 9. Service was great, food was even better! Everyone loved their food, even my 5 year old son, who is a connaisseur of cheese pizza. It was the best cheese pizza I've ever tasted. I had the Pappardelle with smoked pork--absolutely delicious. A couple other people in my party had the lasagna. I thought it was amazing even though I don't even like mushrooms! The shaved kale salad was also delicious. I sampled a few flavors of gelato (basil, goat cheese, twice charred carrot, and salted caramel--all delicious!) before deciding on the carrot. I will definitely return to try some other things on the menu!
(5)
Tsa Y.

Been there several times and I think its one of my favorite spot in STL. Reasonable price for the quality of the food, service and the vibe. I especially love their breakfast pizza. Their italian donuts are great too. I wish they serve them warm!
(4)
Christine M.

A must go type of place. Parking isn't great and it's always busy so you may have to wait but it is worth. The pasta is cooked perfectly.
(4)
Prateek G.

Great food! Great service! I would love to try this place again. The pizza was delicious and the crust.. was like perfect! They serve charcoal heated pizza, which adds that extra taste bud dimension and makes it extra delicious. Also, my taste buds went on a roller coaster ride when the cheese, the sauces, and the toppings started melting. It was spicy, tangy, and crunchy. Overall, a great experience.
(5)
Mona H.

I've been here now three times, because my co-workers insisted I give it another try. I'm just not a fan... As many other people have mentioned Pastaria is super overrated! I've tried their pistachio pasta, and a few others. They all were uninteresting despite their delicious descriptions on the menu. Overall the pastas are OK, but not worth the hype. Their pizzas are very floppy and are also just OK. Even though I'm not a huge fan of the good pi I'd rather go there for pizza. The Service is awful. I was there on a Saturday afternoon where there was probably only two tables full and the hostess wouldn't seat me because I didn't have my entire party with me. I'm pretty sure they weren't going to get a full house before my group arrived, so their attitude was uncalled for. They've also committed one of my least favorite faux pas, which is bringing my appetizer with my entree. Gah!! If you're going to bring my appetizer with my entree I don't think I want it anymore... Overall this place is not worth the price tag and you can certainly find better Italian and service nearby...maybe not as nearby as down the street though.
(2)
Andrew N.

It was a blistery Friday night and I was craving a steaming hot plate of pasta to warm me up. We decided to forgo the Hill, as I had heard good things about this Clayton pasta establishment since it opened. I had also heard it was always crowded, so I called to make a reservation -- no go, they don't take any. However, they are a member of "NoWait," a simple little app that lets you put your name on the wait list regardless of where you are. Made an account, and virtually stepped in line -- 37 minutes and 15 parties ahead of me. A quick change, and we were on our way. We walked in with 8 minutes to spare, past all the suckers ignorant to the advantages of the virtual line and right up to the hostess who sat us immediately at a tiny table right by the kitchen. It was tight. The tables are very close together, barely enough room for the waiters to weave through. It was also loud. Not the best place for a romantic night out. But they do serve dinner with a show if you get a seat facing the kitchen. 8 or so chefs flinging pizza dough into the air, sauteing vegetables and making pasta proves to be pretty entertaining. The service was good and the bread was awesome. I ordered the Pappardelle (smoked pork, marscarpone cheese, apples for $17) and was impressed. The pork was dissolve in your mouth tender, the noodles were homemade and the sauce was perfect. The date got the Roman pizza (tomato, garlic, huge hunks of pancetta, garlic, mozzarella, pecorino cheese for $13). If you like more true Italian style pizza, you'll love it. Thin, baked fast in a wood oven, thin layers of cheese and sauce and delicious. Serving sizes are large -- I only had the pasta and was able to finish it, but I was stuffed. They have gelato for dessert, but we didn't partake. Overall, I would go back, but it was too loud and cramped to be my first choice. Pros: member of NoWait app, great pasta, great pizza, good service Cons: loud, crowded, long wait
(4)
Marilyn A.

The wait staff have been great! This is the first time dealing with" no reservations" and being at the mercy of host/hostess and the NoWait! App here, Ok- So, one and a half hours and three pieces of bread( accompanied by wine and salad) STILL NO PASTA! OMG. On a Wednesday ????? Great server! Ohhh! They comp'd. It was a fluke!
(3)
Anthony F.

My girlfriend and I came here for Valentines Day dinner before the symphony on 14 Feb 2015. Wow...what can I say. First off, the place was packed with a 45 minute wait at 5pm. So, we ate the food prep bar, that was a cool experience...especially in front of the wood fired oven. The waiter was excellent in the wine selection. It was a great Italian Pinot Grigio, although the name escapes me. we then shared the chopped salad...it was not overpowered by the dressing. had a great flavor. At the same time we were serves thick slices of bread with a "dipping station" of olive oil, chili oil, pepper, grated dry cheese (parm or romano). The mix of olive oil, chili oil and cracked pepper tasted awesome on the bread. For the main course I had the Strozzapreti and she had the Pistachio Ravioli...both were amazing, adding the chili oil made it even better. Just amazing food. For dessert, we shared the Tiramisu. OMG the tiramisu, great mild and rich flavor. not over powered by espresso. Great dinner experience, great service, great food...we will definitely be back...especially to try the pizza.
(5)
Christine K.

It's the best! Their homemade pasta has a Wonderful texture that adds a whole dimension to the entrees. The shaved kale salad is excellent, so tasty and good for you. It's my go to take out place as well as a place to have dinner or lunch with friends. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. It's the best.
(5)
Jordan J.

Pastaria is a pasta lovers paradise. Everything I had was just incredible: Fried risotto balls Bruschetta Endive and arugula salad Pistachio ravoli (!!!!!!) The other awesome thing about Pastaria is it's kid and large group friendly! Usually this isn't a big deal but when my family came to town for my birthday, we were a party of 6 adults plus a toddler and a newborn. It took an hour to get in, but for a Saturday night with a party of 6 + kids, that's pretty impressive, especially in Clayton. They utilize the NoWait app, which is great because you can check in on the way to the resturant (unfortunately I didn't know this for our party of 8). From the first bite, to the last, just great hand made pasta.
(4)
Julie N.

Updating to 5 stars for the cacio e pepe and salted caramel gelato. So good.
(5)
Pam C.

The food is very good but the service is subpar. I brought my parents and in-laws here but was disappointed by the service. Our server kept telling us that our food would be coming shortly, specifically in "5 minutes". An hour later, we were still waiting. I understand if the kitchen is busy but I don't appreciate being jerked around. I felt sorry for bringing my parents here.
(2)
clayton l.

Great experience. I had the lunch special with chopped salad and Cacio e pepe. My wife had kale salad and pasta bolognese. We started with the risotto balls. The risotto balls were every bit as good as raved about. Creamy heaven. I thought my chopped salad was perfect and the pasta al dente had great flavor. Wy wife raved about her food too. We finished with gelato that had really nice texture and taste. The service was very friendly and spot on pacing the courses. I don't know what more you could expect. This place is the real deal.
(5)
Blair L.

5 for their gelato and 3 for the food/restaurant portion. The wait is long if you come in during peak hours. I've left a couple times just because I didn't think the place was worth the wait. The food was good, but nothing that special. I'm a bit confused by all the glowing reviews because it's super loud and cramped. You often are sharing a long table with strangers, which is fine for some restaurants, but this place seems like it's supposed to be more intimate. Instead of being close with your party, you're intimate with strangers. I don't find myself wanting to come here on my own; my friends are always the one to initiate it. I don't object either, but I always make sure that we have a reservation beforehand.
(4)
Danny B.

So many good options in Clayton. I hate that we live so far away across the river, though Edwardsville is starting to get some good restaurants. We went for lunch, sat at the pasta cooking station and had a great little chat with the cooks. The pasta here is out of bounds. I had the bolognese, and it was SUPERB! The bread is pretty good, though I'm more of a sourdough fan. The olive oil on the table was very high quality. I also tried the kale salad, which was very tasty, though I'd probably go with the chopped salad next time. Highly, highly recommend this place for an awesome pasta meal!
(5)
Paul K.

My second visit to Pastaria. I really wanted to rip then to shreds tear them down and stomp them into the ground. Whew got that out. My DIL LOVES this place and she wanted her birthday dinner here. OK I know that 4 people are hard to seat and 5 or 6 was going to be a problem. So all day I am funking about going here. High priced noodles that you wait for blah blah blah. Well we walked in son and DIL were at the bar and said we have an hour wait. CRAP! Wait a freaking hour for noodles. Wife and I were standing at the bar and it was crowded. An hour wait weaving and dodging people at the bar was not going to happen. So I found a place under some stairway and pulled out the IPhone and complained to everyone who would listen, or not, about poor pathetic Paul and his wait for noodles. After my 60 min. wait they had a table. I sat down and was looking right at the ice cream freezer. Still in a "mood" as my wife would say. Saw all these people get little scoop after little scoop after little scoop of ice cream. Freeloaders. And most just finished their mini bite and moved on. I really needed an attitude adjustment. The server comes over to do the meet and great but we had stared at the menu for an hour so we were ready to order. He not as ready as we were. But got the food order in. I placed my order and my son Chip K tells me you just ordered what you had the last time you were here. No way. Yes you did. Well he is the one with the IQ not me I believe him. I believed him so much that when I wrote this review I looked up what I had the last time. Yeap still a genius me not so much. Mrs K had the baked chicken I had Minestrone Soup and Garganelli which is braised beef, olives, bread crumbs, gremolata. yelp.com/menu/pastaria-sâ€¦ In my first review I seemed to have not mentioned the Minestrone. It was the freaking best soup I have had ever. The Garganelli is not for the person who does not like clashing flavors. Olives, beef, and pasta all screaming at your palate taste me no taste me no I am better tasting. Taste wise in can be confusing. Not bad. Really I would place it up there is some of the best tasting pasta I have had. Could only eat 1/2 it was so filling and rich. We finished the meal and had no room to go over to the ice cream station and spend the next 5 min. asking for tastes of ice cream with no intention of purchasing any. Once seated our service was good or A-OK which makes this 4 stars.
(4)
Marlee S.

If possible, try to get a seat at the counter overlooking the kitchen. It's a lot of fun watching the chefs prepare your food, and the staff is unbelievably friendly. The expo Michael especially went above and beyond to make our experience as enjoyable as possible. Beyond the great customer service, the food is phenomenal. Every pizza and pasta I've tried has been memorable. The gelato (particularly the salted caramel) is the best I've ever had. Even if you're full from all of the incredible food, don't skip dessert!
(5)
Ted N.

Great place for lunch or dinner. Tried the Italian Ramen. Definitely prefer Asian style, but this did taste good. No chopsticks though! Bread is also very good. Service is fine. I've had three meals here, and they were all great.
(4)
JoAnn H.

Love this place. They are in my top 5 go-tos, as a local. I know I'll enjoy my evening here. I prefer to dine at the bar. Staff is always nice, & the atmosphere is buzzing in a good way, not a too loud you can't talk way. My taste buds recommend trying the following. Appetizers: crispy risotto balls (comes with two dipping sauces) & the mixed greens salad (pears & goat cheese!!), Dinner: wood oven roasted salmon, Canestri Cacio e Pepe, Pistachio Ravioli, Italian Ramen, Pappardelle, Lasagna (I think it changes now and then), & the Gelato and Sorbetto. They also have pizza but I always go for a pasta. Oh and they make their own noodles. In the summer you can dine outside. It's downtown Clayton and next to several new other restaurants in very tall buildings. You can valet if needed. But there's street parking and a ramp nearby.
(5)
Govind R.

First time to pastaria. We got there at 6:30 and waited 90 mins for a table. The staff was very nice and our server was good. Risotto balls were good. The food overall though was pretty underwhelming, as if the pasta were still a bit undercooked and I had to douse it in olio picante and pepper to make it more edible. Small dinner plate portions were noted all around the table and we had to ask for bread after being seated. I guess I expected more given all I had heard about this place. Maybe I will try it out again for lunch some time...
(2)
Lisa B.

mmmm! We came for lunch and ordered pizzas. Brick oven pizzas with creative flavors. Bread was delicious and homemade. I'm sure other places were homemade but the bread is moist and fresh. I had a bellini that was refreshing as well. The pasta looked delicious as well! There's gelato in the front left of the restaurant that I would have liked to try out but I was way too full from the meal. One of my good friends is moving to Clayton area and my soon to be cousin-in-law lives here so I hope I get to come back.
(5)
Marcus M.

The pizza at pastaria is 2nd to none. You cannot go wrong with this place. It is legitimate!
(5)
Susie Q.

Came here for dinner and the food was amazing!!! Be sure to come early or you'll have to wait. Was able to get there by 5:30pm and was seated immediately. Started with the bread. The crust is perfectly crispy and not hard and chewy like other restaurants. Basically the best bread ever, but don't fill up on this! There's also a chili oil on the table which is great with the bread. For an appetizer our table shared the risotto balls. Yum!! I highly suggest these. They were pretty amazing. The star was my pasta. I got the Bucatini and wasn't quite sure what to expect but let me tell you.... It was carb heaven in my mouth! It's perfectly spicy so be careful if you can't take the heat and it doesn't have too much meat that overpowers the star of the show ... The spaghetti. I took home my leftovers and I can't wait to eat it tomorrow. I'll seriously be dreaming of this place when I go back home to CA. I can't wait until I come back to St Louis so I can eat here again! Do yourself a favor and eat here. You won't be sorry.
(5)
Justin M.

Extremely popular, trendy place in downtown Clayton. They have a good amount of seating, but do not take reservations. No wait for lunch during the week, but for lunch on the weekend or dinner during the week or weekend expect at least a 30 minute wait. Very casual. Good, friendly service. Kind of loud inside in prime hours. Drinks are served in jars-a nice touch. Complimentary bread was phenomenal: crusty, warm, and sometimes you can see it being baked as you eat. Each table has a make-your-own dip station, with olive oil, spices, and Parmesan. All salads are sizable, fresh, unique, and worth ordering. However, the chicken addition for salads is 5$, and pretty unremarkable for that price. If you want a salad with some good grilled chicken on top, this is not your place. Entrees range from gourmet dishes for foodies to simple Italian favorites such as pasta bolognese. The pasta noodles themselves are made fresh right in front of you. Did not save enough room for dessert, but the selections looked phenomenal. The goat cheese gelato looked especially attractive. Overall, if you are visiting the St. Louis area, this is definitely a top-10 casual restaurant to try. On prime business days, the earlier you go, the better.
(4)
Emily P.

I am currently on what I will call an "unofficial brunch tour" of St. Louis. A friend recommended we try the brunch, so we did. I had the French toast, which was quite amazing. I actually got a gift card here for Christmas, so I will be back to try dinner.
(4)
Jimmy B.

Decided to come here for lunch with some coworkers recently and it ended up being a great experience. The Classic American Italian cuisine is done just right. The fresh bread served before our meal was a standout as well as the risotto balls and the Brussels pizza. You definitely will get your fill for the price you pay and the ambiance is quite nice. It's a large space but you don't have to shout to talk to your guests. The only set back was service. Everyone was really cold and seemed like they didn't want to be there. Maybe I was in on an off day. Who knows! Still anxious to come back for dinner and try more.
(4)
Kris A.

Stopped by for gelato after dinner at another Clayton restaurant--so worth it. Delicious and creamy, just like gelato should be! We got butter pear and white chocolate, both of which were divine. The ambiance in Pastaria is super cool, and their food looks delicious. Will definitely need to stop by for dinner sometime soon!
(4)
Sandi C.

It was crowded even for a Wednesday evening. The wait wasn't bad, about 20 minutes. They will take down your name and phone number; and text you when your table is ready, very convenient. Menu was one simple page and our focus was the Pasta! Just two girls, so we didn't order a lot. Food was good, but service was bland. Complimentary Freshly Bake Bread, loved their special spicy oil for dipping Fried Risotto Balls - lightly fried, crispy on the outside, cheesy and creamy in the inside! Pappardelle - smoked pork, mascarpone, apples .... pasta was really good, but smoked pork was way too salty! Tiramisu - fluffy and not overly sweet, we liked it! Overall, the food was pretty good. I wouldn't mind to go back and try other items on the menu!
(4)
Florencia G.

I love this place. My favorites: kale salad, risotto balls, canestri caccio e pepe with pork belly (you HAVE to ask them to add pork belly, do yourself a favor), and the sorbetto! Also: Free Wifi! Password: pizzapizza One last thing - word of advice: Order your entire meal at once (appetizer, entree, dessert) and let your server pace it out for you (that's their job!). If you wait until you're done with your appetizer to order your entree, and wait until you finish your entree to order your dessert...you can expect to wait for an indefinite amount of time for each item. If you follow my advice, you'll have a much better experience and will likely not come back here to write an angry post about how long your food took to come out!
(5)
Barb M.

Download the app nowait to get on the wait list early... Love the food here, great home made pasta! The pizza is good, wish I could tell them to keep it in the oven a bit longer to crisp it up. ; ) If u know your pizza and have been to pizza moza in LA this is as close as u will get in STL. Each time I go however I end up ALWAYS getting the Kale salad and a great pasta. The pistachio rav is amazing and the tagliatelle is always a good choice. Leave room for desert because the salted Carmel will not disappoint! Oh yeah, they also let you sample as many flavors as you can. Looking forward to trying the Brunch menu.
(4)
Aimee K.

Pastaria has brunch? Pastaria has brunch! And I suggest you go soon before more people catch on. I was shocked when we went today at 10am and there was hardly anyone there. Maybe a lot of people do know & I'm just late to the party, but it appears that it's still under the radar. We ended up having a gorgeous morning on the patio and I can't wait to go back soon. Their menu is short and sweet for brunch, but it has so many great choices. I wanted a bloody mary but am currently riding the struggle bus after a long weekend, so I settled for coffee instead. The menu was so appealing to me that I had to look it over a few times before being able to make a decision. My suggestion? Order a handful of things and share them. Here's what I tried... -Homemade blackberry doughnut: So good, so wonderfully covered with sugar, and I so shamelessly ate it without a fork and knife. Absolutely incredible filling. -Wood oven-baked eggs with amatriciana: Rich and full of so many great ingredients. -Breakfast pizza: This was my favorite thing on the table. The crust and sauce was everything you love about dinner at Pastaria, but it was topped with tomato, bacon, fontina, egg, garlic, chili, and parsley. I might dream about that pizza tonight. What a cool side to an already great restaurant. I will be back for more very soon, and hopefully alongside a bloody mary.
(5)
Byron P.

Always consistent quality and service no matter the day or time. This is a great place if you want a casual night out with friends or a special occasion with that someone special. Don't skip the Salted Caramel gelato!
(5)
Vik S.

SOOO GOOD!!! Tuesday night, the place was packed but we got seating for 2 right away. Apps: Kale salad ($7) is a must! So fresh and crunchy and flavorful. Easy to eat. You've never had kale quite like this. The squash soup ($6) was pretty bland. Salt and pepper helped somewhat. It was warm and comforting, probably best suited to people who don't like bold flavors. I knew the pistachio ravioli ($15) would be good, but not this good. The flavors were insane!!! The brown butter, the lemon, the mint... SO FREAKING GOOD I CANNOT SAY THIS ENOUGH. Their version of bolognese ($14) was also quite delicious, and a HUGE portion. This alone plus a couple apps and bread could satisfy two people. The cherry-limeade gelato and the toasted coconut gelato were also AWESOME. Great service and background music. I can't wait to come back here and try everything else! Oh yeah, have them validate your ticket so you park for free in the garage right next door.
(5)
Marni P.

What a neat place! In the heart of Clayton this restaurant offers home life pasta and pizzas, with some interesting flavors. All pasta and pizza dough are fresh made daily on site and you can definitely taste the difference. The place is hopping but not too fancy or noisy. Good for groups and couples alike. The serving staff was lots of fun and had some great recommendations. Prices are a bit steep but it is downtown Clayton after all. The restaurant features a gelato stand so you can order some to go or to be brought to your table. Inside and outside seating. Parking is kind of a pain- if you can find street parking take it. There is valet but really, you can do better ;). I would love to come here again so I can try more of their unique pasta selections. Some of the dishes I've never heard of before!
(4)
Jen S.

The first time I ate here, I will admit, I was underwhelmed; I honestly don't even remember what I got. It was meh. The second time? Maybe it was just a good night but I got the Pomodoro and so. so good. a very basic red sauce, i know. I'm one of those who will mostly just eat until i'm not so hungry, but i almost had to be rolled out that night. I recommend the curly, lined noodles (cannot remember the official name) but very good. Highly recommend.
(4)
Ron F.

Got the 6 pm Saturday, no wait. Server was prompt and helpful. Very good food. The shaved kale salad was a wonderful variation on Caesar salad. The pasta with clams was delicious. Free parking in the garage was nice. Had some troubles with the NoWait app. In general, I don't like restaurants that don't take reservations-they seem more concerned with themselves than the customer's convenience.
(4)
Danny T.

Came here for a work team dinner and enjoyed every minute of the experience. The service is exactly what we've come to expect from Gerard Craft and his team. Every single person in our group loved what they got. The attention to detail was just great. I had the Italian Ramen and it's exactly what you'd think it'd be -- a flavorful soup with noodles, an egg, chicken, herbs, and great parmesan. You might be thinking that the broth was a tomato base -- not even close. The broth was full of italian spices and flavors that it could stand on its own. Most everyone in our group got pasta. One person got the pizza and completely enjoyed it. The next time I go, I'm getting the pizza...and the pasta...and the arancini...and whatever else I decide to mass-order offa the menu!!
(5)
Keith R.

5 Star plus! Everything on the menu is delicious! Gerard is the bomb. Sit at the counter for a birds eye view of the cooks in action.
(5)
Zach S.

A group of six friends goes out to eat every month and we headed to Pastaria for our November gathering. There isn't a human on this planet who hates to wait more than I do, but from all the positive things I heard about this place, we decided to weather than 90 minute wait! Good decision. We had several different types of salads, a Sicilian cocktail, recommended red and white wine, a Holmes pizza and margherita pizza, 3 Garganelli pastas, a Pistachio ravioli, a roasted chicken platter, and a seafood pasta. The crispy risotto balls are ridiculous -- we ordered two of those apps! We also had several different types of ice cream and a tiramisu for dessert. Our server Sean was super friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. He was on top of everything, kept our drinks filled, and brought a friendly smile to the table. The only negative was that my wife's ravioli was not very well stuffed; they either skimped on the stuffing, ran out of stuffing, or the chef got lazy. It still tasted good but several of them didn't have any stuffing in them and were completely flat. Other than that, this was a great experience and we will definitely be back. It earns an A+.
(4)
Steve B.

Great lunch spot with a fun atmosphere and nice menu selection. Kind staff and tasty dishes make their way out to you quickly enough, and an awesome gelato bar with neat and unique flavors. Pricey, but that's Clayton.
(4)
Megs M.

Awesome meal all around!
(5)
Alex D.

Visited this restaurant several times. Most recently we visited for a special occasion and had a little bit different experience. We ordered a shared appetizer special as well as our entrees. Our appetizer took some time to arrive, but when it came and we started eating, our main courses showed up and the manager, not our waitress, decided it was appropriate to deliver them to the small table crowding us in about a minute and a half into eating our appetizer. We finished the first course, which was still delicious, cramped into the small table by our main courses. After finishing that, we moved on to main courses. My wife's was excellent, however mine was cold as it had been sitting on the table for some time now as well as not fully cooked. I found it disappointing that the manager would knowing send a main course early to let it sit cooling when it was not even fully cooked. They re-fired my main course and provided us some gelato for the trouble which was nice. The food here is normally excellent, but this round was a bit disappointing. Hopefully they come back up to standards.
(3)
Karelia R.

Best service I've experienced in a long time. The food was delicious and fresh. Use the no wait app! Risotto balls and gelato are a must
(5)
Steph M.

Delicious food but pricey. I would save this spot for a special craving when you're craving quality pasta and gelato. It will not disappoint.
(4)
Kris L.

Ambience is very modern and trendy compared to other places I've seen in St. Louis. The menu was notable for ALL house-made fresh pastas and a classic woodoven pizza. Loved the pastas we tried; the sauces were simple and tasty and the pasta itself was chewy and fresh. The pizza was ok by NYC standards but not amazing. They also have a cute gelato bar in the front for dessert!
(3)
Kate G.

A bunch of friends from work all had the day off, so we decided to grab a late lunch. I suggested Pastaria since none of them had been before. The quality of service that Danielle provided was as excellent as all of the food. One of my friends happened to mention that the pasta was delicious, but more spicy than she expected. Danielle offered to have another plate made. My friend thanked her for offering, but insisted that it wasn't necessary. Before leaving, Danielle still brought out a fresh order of pasta and explained that it was important that my friend enjoyed her meal. I'm so glad we picked Pastaria for our outing and I know that all of my friends can't wait to go back.
(5)
Kelsey K.

In the words of a dear friend, "This is the food that humans were meant to eat." This place is casual-modern, staff is welcoming. The food leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. Simple dishes done right-fresh ingredients, pasta cooked to perfection, and huge portions. This is our go-to place with guests and for a nicer sit down evening. Great selection of beers and wines. OH and how could I forget the risotto balls. DIVINE!
(5)
Jason B.

The Pappardelle with Smoked Pork, Marscapone and Apples is one of the best pasta dishes I have had on my life - and I know my pasta being an Italian-American from Northern NJ! I love their pizza as well - my 2 yr old daughter gets the cheese pizza, and I struggle not stealing from her. Everything is very good - especially the broccoli side dish. Definitely get here early - 5:30 pm to be safe - because they don't take reservations. Great place to eat at the bar or facing the kitchen. Can't miss if you are in St Louis.
(5)
Richard S.

The food is fine; the wait staff is professional; the noise level is intolerable. Go to dinner there in the late afternoon, when no one else is there. Otherwise you can't hear yourself think.
(3)
K B.

This is one of the only places I'll order pasta. It is so incredibly fresh and cooked to perfection. Their pizzas are delicious as well, however the bottom of the crust is sometimes a little limp. The Italian Ramen is to die for - everything about it is perfect. Paired with the complementary bread, finely shredded Grana Padano, and chili oil, it really is to die for. The salsa verde potatoes are also a lovely choice. I'm a big fan of their rotating selection of gelatos, as well. Very creative flavors that work well together. To-Go quarts are available, along with fresh pastas, sauces, and shredded Grana Padano cheese. If they try to seat you at the table directly next to the door to the kitchen, I'd politely ask to let another couple go ahead of you and wait for another spot. It doesn't have the same ambience as the rest of the restaurant, as it is significantly brighter, and the kitchen doors came very close to hitting my boyfriend and I a couple of times.
(4)
Mark P.

Thanks to Sarah S.'s review, I learned some important pointers about eating at Pastaria. When our group of 8 gathered to eat here, 2 of us arrived first. The hostess took our information and told us it would be about 45 minutes. Then she paused and said "Is everyone in your party here?". "Oh yes ma'am!" we replied. I wasn't sure if their strict policy on no reservations and no partial seating would have affected us, but I sure wasn't about to find out. We hid in the corner waiting for the rest of our group to arrive. Once everyone arrived and a table came available, we were seated without a problem. Our waiter was friendly, but didn't seem to have an extensive knowledge about the menu items after being unable to answer a few questions. He did however run back to the kitchen to promptly report the answers to our questions. After placing our order, a delicious plate of warm bread was served. Shortly after, my Endive and Arugula salad came out ($6.95/$11.95). Loaded with crumbled goat cheese, cilantro, bread crumbs, cherries and pistachios, the salad was excellent. I'd order it again and again, but I want to try that kale salad next time. For my main course, I ordered the Pistachio Ravioli for $15.95. The lemon brown butter soaked raviolis topped with a generous portion of toasted pistachios was very good. It wasn't the 5 stars I'd hoped, but it was a solid 4 stars. I sampled another plate of pasta that was also pushing 5 stars. There is one particular thing that stood out on my visit to Pastaria. It was so good; it deserves a paragraph of its own. Worth 6 stars, the basil gelato was orgasmicly mind-blowingly good! Yes, it was that good! Or maybe I'm exaggerating a bit. I only tried a little sample as I was walking out, but I will return just for this alone. Basil gelato sounds a bit strange, but you must try it. Unfortunately it's not a permanent option on the gelato bar just yet, but I might start a campaign to make it one. 4 solid stars for Pastaria; I hope to return soon!
(4)
Heather P.

Highly recommended for a fun, laid-back, but seriously delicious meal. Went out for our anniversary looking for something comfortable and focused on the food versus the 'frills'. 20 min wait at the bar was really pleasant thanks to amazing bar staff and a great beer & wine selection (though the Mr. had a glass of Balvenie). Seated and shared the fresh bread and arancini (I hate saying 'risotto balls). The arancini come with 2 sauces and I thought the fresh tomato was very very good. The other was an aioli which was good too but a little heavy on top of the deep fried cheese & rice. Since this place specializes in pasta we stuck with that for our entrees. He had the Spaccatelli (braised beef w/pappardelle), I had the Strozzapreti (bolognese). Both were so well made. Fresh tender pasta and luscious sauces to coat it. Both dishes were well-balanced but still felt hearty, yum! We boxed up about half the pasta to save room for the gelato. Ordered 2 chocolate-based flavors along with basil and buttermilk/zucchini bread. The last 2 flavors were unforgettable. Perfect end to a summer dinner. Only regret is that we live 2 hours away...otherwise we would be regulars. Loved the experience.
(5)
Yibo J.

This is one of my favorite places in the area and although I have been here multiple times, my experience gets better each time. The ambience is relaxing yet energetic. The service is also super attentive. Your glass of water will never be empty and bread is served right away. Everything I have tried on the menu is out of this world. No complaints whatsoever and I'm already looking forward to my next visit! To go through some of my favorites on the menu (I'm sure I'll add more to this list later) - The kale salad is superb and I've had quite a few in my lifetime. The dressing is on point. I've had it with chicken added as a healthy option that is tasty and filling. The last time I came, I split it with a friend and it was also the perfect amount to get in my share of vegetables for the night. - The pizzas here are also extremely well done. The white pizza with various cheeses was so tasty and the crust was done just right. - All the pasta here is amazing and tastes very fresh. Can't go wrong with any of them! - The last time I was here I was able to try the salted caramel gelato and it was to die for. I've definitely had a lot of gelato in my life and probably ate it twice a day every day I was traveling in Italy this past summer and this gelato here is still probably one of my favorites hands down. We also tried a cinnamon blueberry one that was superb as well. Also shoutout to the restaurant expo, Michael, who provided us with amazing service and an unforgettable restaurant experience the other night! My friend and I had the best meal. It was so enjoyable that we raved about it all night, told all our coworkers the next day and both set aside time in our work day to write our reviews as a thank you for amazing service and just going above and beyond overall.
(5)
Stacy H.

Yes! Finally some St. Louis area gelato that doesn't let me down! But let's get first things first... My fiancÃ© and I parked in the garage attached to the restaurant with the complimentary parking. We entered into a restaurant fresh with aromas and alive with action and hospitality. We opted to be seated at the bar by the kitchen where you can watch the chefs in action. Our waiter thought us for veterans (maybe he was just trying to flatter us) for sitting there, but it ended up being a great decision because we were able to observe the pizza making! The chef was lightly conversational with us, which was perfect! We ordered the recommended risotto balls, and YES, they were wonderfully fantastic! Little appetizers that make a huge impact on you! They come with two sauces to dip, of which we thought the white was superior. I ordered the pasta with pork, apples, and marscapone, forgive me for not remembering what it is called. It was delicious. I love the type of food where each and every bite is so full of flavor that you don't need the huge portions of other restaurants I order to truly fill your desire! We had a mezo litre of the white house wine which reminded me of my time in Italy where ordering wine was a simple as that ( unfortunately where we were sitting you could see the boxes of franzia sitting back there, not sure that this was I fact their white wine or of it was something else, but it slightly reduced the magic). Ahem, to continue...we finished our meal with gelato... In Chicago and Italy, I knew gelato...I Loved gelato! I thought, oh yeah, St. Louis, Italian, the hill, there'll be good gelato. Well, I have been nothing but disappointed...until now. Pastaria has the flavor packed gelato I've been missing! And they'll offer you tastes as you adventure through your gelato choosing dreams. So wow, this is turning into more of a food romance novel...but, if you are captivated at this point, go to Clayton and try it out!
(5)
Rich Y.

Fun fact: "pastaria" is Italian for "I need this in my life." Maybe it's because I'm Asian - actually, it's very likely because I'm Asian - but I love fresh pasta. There's that chewy essence that's like some brilliant child of umami and al dente. Pastaria gets it right. The pasta dishes aren't drenched in sauce, so the actual star of the show gets to shine. I like how some "nontraditional" pastas are used too. Cacio e pepe with canestri? Nice! Rich's recommendation: pasta first, then pizza if you haven't carb'd out yet. Save room for sorbet.
(5)
Marcia P.

I'm sorry, is it impolite to take a bite, exclaim it's splendor, and repeat? If so, I don't want to be right. From the fresh baked bread with accompanying dippers to the handmade pasta (cacio de pepe will give you chills it's so fantastic) make this newer hot spot a great place to gather and dine. The lunch special is wonderful. Be sure you have the chopped salad. Like do it.
(4)
Cory S.

Stopped in for brunch before the STL art fair. Got there right when they opened at 10 and sat at the bar. We had the breakfast pizza and a frittata. Food was really good. Cocktails were average. The decor is nice. Service was average. We will be back for another try for sure P.S. If the fat stinky old lady that had her group of friends at the table by the bar reads this. Go put on some deodorant!
(4)
Nolan Z.

Definitely one of the trendier places to eat in Clayton. Pastaria's pretty crowded each night, even on weekdays. Seating is also somewhat cramped. Nevertheless, it's worth a try, because their pasta is really good. After having most of the items on the list, two items really stand out to me here: the pappardelle and the garganelli. Personally, I'm a bigger fan of the braised beef in the garganelli, as the sliced apple in the pappardelle causes it to run silghtly too sweet and tangy for my taste in a pasta. That's not to say it's bad by any means, but it simply doesn't suit me. The crispy risotto balls are also worth mentioning, as is the shaved kale salad. They also have gelato as well as other decent dessert options. Looks can also be deceiving when it comes to the portion sizes for the entrÃ©es. It may not seem like much when the plates come out, but you'll usually feel at least satiated, if not completely full.
(4)
Shabrina J.

Great food! Really recommend the Bruschetta and Risotto Balls for Appetizer. The lasagne and pappardelle were my fav entrees.
(5)
Leslie S.

The hype is still up, the wait is still long, but we finally got to eat here...and it was good. I'm somewhere between 4 & 5 stars. We arrived around 6pm on a Friday night, and it was going to be a 45-min wait. The place was already jumping, the bar was standing room only, and the atmosphere was dynamic. My husband ordered a Peroni beer, which came in a tall Peroni glass and looked a good value for the price. Talking about value, I LOVED my house white wine in a Litro for $15, which gave me 3 glasses = 1.5 glasses during my wait and 1.5 glasses during my meal...it was PER-FECT! You can also get the same thing with the house red wine. I would sooo get this again! And for a bonus, our bartender was attentive and super-sweet and friendly. And it's time to eat! The 4 of us are seated. With a packed house, tables were a little cramped with the diner behind me regularly bumping into me with his chair. Our server was nice and answered our many questions with a smile. Here's the breakdown: Crispy Risotto Balls $8 (waitress recommended, very tasty, came w/ 2 delicious sauces and we liked the white sauce best, 6 pieces/order) Strozzapretti $14 (freshmade pasta shaped similar to 6s - or 9s - in a tasty but not heavy meat sauce, generous portion). See photo. Garganelli $16 (freshmade pasta w/ braised beef which my friend loved, I had one taste and it was pretty flavorful despite my fear that the olive taste would be overbearing - it WAS NOT). See photo. Italian Ramen $15 (my husband really enjoyed this meal and especially loved that it had an egg in it, the broth was tasty, and the noodles were fresh). See photo. Dark Chocolate Tart $7 (delicious but was too rich for even 2 of us to finish) We truly enjoyed our meal, our drinks, our service, and the variety and uniqueness of the menu. We even enjoyed checking out the pasta/sauce counter on the way out where you could buy fresh pasta/sauce by the pint.
(4)
Katie S.

Had dinner here tonight with my husband and good friend. Everything was fantastic. Our waiter was attentive with great suggestions. The food really was awesome. My husband and I are both vegetarians, and they had a great selection for us, which is not always the case unless you go to a specifically vegetarian restaurant. We had the roasted brussel sprouts, risotto balls, butternut squash pizza, and pistachio ravioli. Each dish was very well done.
(5)
Carmel M.

Great date night place with good service, reasonable prices, and a good selection of food and drinks. Not so trendy that it was off-putting but chic enough that we were glad we dressed up for it. My only complaint: the food wasn't great. I had the pistachio ravioli and found it to be overly oily and bland. My husband had the papparadle (sp? Sorry) and it was too sweet for my taste (like a BBQ sandwich). The risotto balls were ok, nothing really to go back for though. Dessert was a different story. The yogurt panna cotta was delicious and the tiramisu was one of the best I've ever had. We probably won't be back. I liked the atmosphere and the experience but there are too many other places to go in St.Louis.
(3)
Jennifer C.

A friend and I visited on a Saturday afternoon around 2pm and we were seated within minutes of our arrival (Note: They will not seat you without your full party.) The atmosphere is open, you can see clear through the entire restaurant and you can see into the open kitchen where the chefs are preparing the food. This place has a very calming italian country theme. The tables are wood and the chairs don't match, they are mismatched wood chairs which reminds you of an old country home where they never throw out the old chairs... loved it! Now to the food. I ordered the Pappardelle and the Crispy Risotto Balls as an appetizer (see photos). The crispy risotto balls came with 2 dipping sauces, a tomato base and the other was similar to a tartar sauce type taste. I thought the tomato sauce paired better with the creaminess of the risotto and with this being my first time having risotto, it reminded me of creamy hashbrowns. lol. I thought it was very good though, you only get 6, so if you have more than 2 in your party, you will need extra orders. My Pappardelle dish WAS TO DIE FOR! OMG, by far one the best pasta dish I've had in 2013, and I've been alot of places this year. The smoked pulled pork was very tender and the thinly sliced apples in the dish added a nice hint of sweetness. I sprinkled some parm on the dish, of course, and I dove in. I enjoyed every bite. I forced myself to stop eating and take home 1/2, but it would have been very easy to stuff myself. If you are there, please try this dish! I hope they don't change the menu and remove this. I will certainly be there in 2014!
(5)
Stephanie T.

Came for dinner recently. The food was good (but not spectacular) but the service and atmosphere was highly unimpressive. A lot of others have spoken to the lack of reservation system etc so I won't address that. Atmosphere is very noisy and crowded. They have jammed way too many tables into the space so there is barely enough room to walk around. Also it is a little weird that there is no partition between the entry area and the dining area. The waitress was not very attentive and took a long time to take drink orders and food orders. She seemed like she could have cared less if we were there. Once the food arrived we never saw her again until we had all finished eating and been waiting for a while. The food itself was good. We all got pasta dishes and everyone had positive responses to the taste. The portions are a good size for a healthy appetite. All in all I might return or not. It is definitely not somewhere I would fight the crowds to eat at though.
(3)
Jamie R.

I adore this restaurant. Great ambience, great service, great food. The pasta is obviously excellent, as you would guess from the name. The pizza is also top-notch, as are the appetizers (risotto balls!) and dessert (salted caramel gelato!). It gets super busy on weekend nights, but I was here for a late weekday lunch and it was very quiet and laid-back. Also, they validate parking in the garage next door, which is always a plus when it comes to Clayton dining.
(5)
Stephanie B.

I loveddddd the pistachio ravioli. It is to die for. Any of the restaurants owned by this chef are absolutely amazing.
(5)
David C.

Let me start by saying that Pastaria's food is excellent. The service is good and so is the atmosphere (though a bit noisy). However, it is hard to enjoy good food when everyone is grumpy after waiting and waiting and waiting to get a table. Until they start taking reservations, I can't imagine going back. Pastaria is now so popular that there really is no reason to even try. They don't take reservations, so you must just get in line - a long line - and wait for your table in a little space by the front door. Last time, the wait was quoted as 45 minutes and we were seated in about 45 minutes. This time, the wait was quoted as one hour, and we were seated in an hour and a half. After an hour, you find yourself glaring at lingering patrons - those who have already paid but who are just sitting at a table watching iPhones. It isn't really the other customers' fault, but going out to eat with a kid for his birthday at 7 pm, and not actually eating anything until closer to 9 pm produces some negative emotions! If I could post two reviews, I would - 5 stars if you go at an odd time - and this 1 star review for going at any normal time. A word to the management - when your wait times are up to 90 minutes on a Sunday night, it is time to start taking reservations!!!
(1)
Sasha S.

Raise your glasses and make a toast right away because you aren't going to want to wait for one more second to taste the drink you've just been served. We met a friend at Pastaria for brunch and we were pleasantly surprised with the whole experience. We all ordered cocktails: Roman Holiday - Amazingly good. I highly recommend this. Fruity but not too sweet. Mimosa - Fresh OJ and bubbly. Bloody Mary - Not too salty and just the right amount of spice. For our meals we ordered: Wood Oven Baked Eggs with amatriciana (ham, red sauce, herbs) $9.95 Seasonal Fritatta with a mixed green salad $7.95 Pastaria Huevos Rancheros with thick cut toast, white bean, ham, salsa verde $9.95 and an order of crispy potatoes $4.95 The drinks were awesome. I would recommend this place for the cocktails alone. The food was fresh and filling with aromatic herbs. The fritatta had pasta cooked into it. Which sounds odd but was really good. The crispy potatoes were the most popular food item on the table. They were crispy and seasoned perfectly. We had stellar service from a very knowledgeable waitress. The inside of the restaurant is very large and clean. However, we choose to sit outside and enjoy the gorgeous weather. I will say the brunch menu is pretty small and, well, I like options even though I tend to find one amazing thing and stick with it. Cheers!
(3)
Chris M.

The pizza... Delicious as a margherita should. The arugula salad... Awesome! The pasta... Wow! The pomodoro was AMAZING! It is the sauce and the pasta (al dente) that makes it.
(5)
Vaughn K.

LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Food is outstanding - server , Danielle was awesome, hostess, Stephanie, rocks, and manager , John brought it all together!!! Hats off for an AWESOME EVENING!!! A+++++++
(5)
Sarah S.

Why has it been 8 months since I have been to Pastaria? It is not from lack of trying. But the policies here really bother me. For a restaurant trying to be "casual," the policies here are rigid and really turn me off. It is unfortunate because the food here is really good! Policy 1: no reservations- even for groups. They are popular and can get away with it, but unless I want dinner at 5pm on a Sunday, I probably won't take a chance. I wanted to bring my international supper club group here, just 10-14 of us. Was told that in order to have a guaranteed spot, we would need to meet a $750 food minimum. Gulp. We went elsewhere. Policy 2: won't estimate wait time over the phone. I was 5 minutes away and wanted to have a farewell dinner for a friend here. Called to see of the wait was doable, and they wouldn't even estimate it on the phone. Policy 3: won't seat without everyone in the party being there. We arrived in two cars, early on a Sunday (yep, around 5) to avoid the wait. Instead of being seated so we could order drinks and appetizers while waiting for the car that was 10 minutes behind us, we were made to wait while others were seated in front of us. We were not even offered the option to sit at the bar and order drinks. Just abruptly told that they wouldn't seat us. I was so pissed at that last one that I felt in a stormy mood when I decided to check out the gelato. I tried a passion fruit one that helped me calm down while watching even more parties of people get seated ahead of us while our last member of our party parked the car. We finally were seated and enjoyed a good meal with just ok service. They have a newer menu of about 6 different Types of bellinis, and I had the classic one. It was not as sweet as I had hoped it would be, but it was okay. I started with the vegetable salad. It had mostly green beans, with some cauliflower and summer squash. I would have liked a bigger variety of vegetables, though the flavors were good. The bread here is delicious and we all got seconds. I then ordered the Canestri cacio e pepe For my meal. The noodles were like large thick macaroni noodles, and the sauce was cheesy. It did not have too much pepper, and I'm not a big fan of pepper. It tasted really good, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. I ended my meal with some of that passion fruit gelato, which was delicious. By the end of the meal, I had almost forgotten the policies that make me mad. Almost. That being said, please change them. I really want to come back. But not enough to raise my blood pressure because of the policies. 5 star food plus 1 star policies = 3 stars.
(3)
Lydia L.

Great place if you can show up when they open and not have to wait in a crazy line to eat! Luckily we had an early dinner and were seated immediately. By the time we got our meal, there were 10-15 people in line. Delicious al dente pasta- Bucatini All'Amatriciana was just spicy enough. Margherita pizza- great, but I might be partial to 'The Good Pie' for Neopolitan style pizzas. Will be back!
(4)
Diana J.

I love their anchovy kale salad! The risotto balls are a great app and I loveeeee the bread they give you! It's dangerous... The 4 stars are really based on the salad and the bread. Otherwise it'd be a 3.5 Unfortunately, I've tried 3 different pasta dishes (pappardelle, beef garganelli, and chitarra pomodoro) and I'm not that blown away with any of them. The texture of the pasta has always been off for me. Their gelato flavors are very unique and changes daily, my favorite is the jasmine rice. I'm a big fan of subtle floral flavors and not overly sweet. I've also had the creme fraise, the salted caramel (which was too salty!) and orange pistachio, all of which were just okay.
(4)
Lauren V.

I love this place. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and unique. The food is absolutely delicious. The risotto balls are fantastic, and even better with the white dipping sauce. The parpadelli is delicious. The gelato is a must have and I recommend the salted caramel, even though all the flavors are interesting. Also, it's sorta close to Italy.
(5)
Molly H.

I love this place - if I could eat here every night, I definitely would. Their Garganelle and Canestri Cacio e Pepe will change your life! Not only is the pasta super fresh and delicious, but the pizza and appetizers are as well. I have had conversations with multiple managers, and they're all very personable; seeing as we're new in town, one of them even gave us a list of the best restaurants to try in Saint Louis. Pastaria never fails to impress me, and I love that their dishes always have enough to take some home for later!
(5)
Liz K.

The food was delicious. From NJ and am used to really good Italian and this is definitely up there with the best.
(5)
Julie I.

Food was amazing. I'll post pictures but service was mediocre when I dined but food was excellent so it made up for it. Started off with my favorite bottle of saracco moscato wine, got Caesar kale salad and risotto balls, Papperdale pasta for my main entree and chocolate tart w/ hazelnut and 2 different kind of gelato! I got salted caramel and Coney Island gelato! Best meal of my life.
(4)
R L.

First and foremost I would like to say the food, wine, and atmosphere is absolutely spectacular. The wood oven roasted chicken breast literally melted in my mouth, it was as if it was made for a king. The wine menu actually blew me away with a very diverse selection for every kind of taste and situation. A very up and coming progressive place with a wonderful twist of pasta and atmosphere. I only detract the 5th and greatest star because the place is freaking expensive!
(4)
Amrita R.

This is clearly one for the carb-lovers and although I am not one, I still enjoyed myself. For my early birthday celebration I chose this place last-minute, and I was a bit worried about showing up on a Friday night after reading all the reviews. But I ate some snacks beforehand and came prepared to wait. We were told about 35 minutes so the 4 of us took a walk around downtown Clayton for 20 minutes and when we got back, they told us they had a table ready, yessss. We started with the risotto balls since we had had them at Saucy Soiree. They're good, but the herb-y sauce is the best part. I also had The Classic cocktail which was rather tasty. The waiter was a bit strange but nice. He seated a couple after we had been sitting there a while, and we noticed everyone else getting bread at their tables. We patiently waited (my hangry bf was doing his best to keep his hanger at a minimum) but we were all dismayed when the waiter brought fresh bread over to the table of two, before us! I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he also at one point asked the couple how their meal was going and completely bypassed us, which was doubly strange. The bf was seething a bit but once the bread arrived, he decided it was too tasty and as his tummy filled up, his anger dissolved (typical). We all ordered different pastas and they were all delicious. My favorite was Garganelli--despite not liking olives, the shredded beef was flavored so perfectly. I had the Cacio e Pepe and it was my second favorite. Actually, I'm not sure which one wins... I kept alternating bites and enjoying them so, so much. The Pappardelle and Chitarra Pomodoro was just as delicious, although I was smitten with the first two. At first you think, it's just pasta, but the flavor lingers in your mouth and each bite leaves you wanting more. The peppery finish on the Cacio is amazing. I knew we couldn't leave without tasting the gelato. And I was right. That was the best damn gelato I've OM NOM NOMed in a long time. Strawberry rhubarb was simply perfect, goat cheese with raspberry swirl reminded me of something from my childhood, and the orange/pistachio nougat was delightful. Salty caramel, is, of course always good. I like that you can get two different scoops in a bowl. I have heard good things about the gelato sandwiches but they're not really conducive to sharing so we skipped it. Let's just say, I'm really, really, really looking forward to eating my leftovers tonight.
(5)
Derek T.

Too many great choices to make an easy decision. This places rocks pasta and pizza, and server's suggested wine pairing was right on, for me. Need to return here a few times to try out everything I didn't get this trip!
(5)
Justin T.

Had an incredible experience. Great table right next to the kitchen. Started with the bread along with a standard olive oil and a chili-infused olive oil, before moving along to the incredible risotto balls. For the entree, I went with a dish that consisted of noodles together with pulled pork and apples that was beyond words. Closed out with a scoop of salted caramel gelato. Every item came out of the kitchen with amazing presentation and taste. I really liked the modern decor, and found the service to be impeccable. I got to meet the owner, Gerard Craft, at the end of the meal, which was a pleasure as well. From this one visit alone, Pastaria pretty much became my favorite restaurant in Clayton/St. Louis. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Michael T.

A - OK. I agree with Yelp. I think they are much closer to four (or five) stars than one or two. But combing food, service, cost, and experience of Pastaria and I think it's safe to say a 3 is spot on. Food == Great. Absolutely delicious and fresh. I love that they make the noodles in front of you at the window. It's good business and adds that "I don't have an Italian mom, but if I did I feel like she would have a huge noodle making machine that doubled as the flavor of Love in every home cooked meal." The bread. Wow. But how come it does not come around more often. Is there not enough service? Are there not enough ovens? I know it isn't because they are being stingy. Come on Pastaria, do us a solid. Cost. It's Clayton - It's a nice Italian restaurant. The price point is fine. I think my review goes from 4 to 3 stars mainly because of the service and layout of the restaurant. As for service, the two times I have been there I have noticed a lack of awareness. Nothing they did terribly wrong or unprofessional, but they miss on the little things. Will I be excited to go back to Pastaria? Absolutely. Will I choose to go there? Probably not.
(3)
Patt C.

Birthday lunch with many officemates, and the Birthday Girl made the restaurant selection. They don't take reservations so when we arrived, they said when 7 of our 8 in the party arrived, they would seat us. We did not have to wait too long. This is a quite industrial atmosphere: concrete floors, very high ceilings with exposed ceiling joists. It's hard and cold. But it's attractive in a rustic, factory sort of way. Considering winter-weight coats and purses that have their own ZIP codes, accommodations between the tables were tight. And I mean TIGHT! We drank water from Mason Jars or some equivalent, and I kept getting my lips caught on the threading around the jar. That does make for a spill here and there. Most around the table ordered a soup and salad, and a couple ordered pizza. There were numerous pastas on the menu in the $11-$17 range. The two soups were minestrone and roasted winter squash (aka butternut squash). I got the roasted winter squash soup ($6.95) -- with pickled red onion, sage and croutons; and a small chopped salad ($7.95) -- maytag blue cheese, red onion, avocado, bacon, chickpeas, "ranch" dressing. The soup was quite thick, about like a puree. The onions and sage were a lovely addition to the taste and the presentation. The croutons got soggy fast, and I missed any additional flavor they added. The salad was very good. I've never had a chopped salad that included chickpeas. They added a nice texture. And I don't know what "ranch" dressing is. It was tasty, but I don't get the quotation marks, unless it's because this wasn't what's normally thought of as Ranch dressing. Maytag bleu cheese has a taste all its own, and if you are accustomed to "lesser" bleu cheeses, you're in for a pungent taste extravaganza. One of our group, who got a large chopped salad, took more than half of her maytag off the salad and put it aside in a napkin. I also noticed our two pizza-eaters (one was the pepperoni at $11.95 and the other was the pizza of the day -- which included lardo at $12.95) were not overly enthusiastic. One left all her crust, and the other took more than half the pizza home. On our way out, a couple of us stopped at the gelato area and got a little taste spoon -- she got salted caramel, I got goat cheese. They were both fantastic! If you get a cup, it's $6.95. I took half my salad home in a recyclable to-go vessel, and it served as another meal . . . and it kept well, despite being dressed in "ranch" dressing.
(3)
E. B.

I've recently moved to the area, and Pastaria is definitely my favorite St. Louis restaurant--so far. I've been twice, and had a great meal both times. My first visit was for lunch. My group and I shared the arancini, which were pretty good, but my chilled zucchini soup (I think that's what I ordered) was better. The second time I was with my partner for dinner. It was, as always, a very busy night at Pastaria. But we didn't mind the wait, because we huddled up to the bar and had a glass of really good Montepulciano. We were able to remain at the bar to eat (which I would recommend--you can talk to the bartender, and be closer to your significant other). To start, we tried the cauliflower soup and arancini (again). Both were good, but not amazing. I think that Pastaria really does do pasta best. We decided to order family style, sharing the pistachio ravioli and the cacio e pepe. While the cacio e pepe was good--it was a bit dry, and it might benefit from a sharper cheese-- the ravioli was amazing. It was creative, and yes, rich. You might not want to eat it every day, but it's a worthwhile indulgence. Dining at Pastaria is an amazing experience--warm, cozy (despite it's size), and flavorful. I will be back very soon.
(4)
William H.

Great food and drinks. Party of four for dinner and grabbed a quick drink at bar while awaiting some laggards. Bartender was very friendly and informative and not overly clingy. That i like. We had checked in when we arrived and were told that when partied filled out we would be seated. And that promise was kept even as the restaurant began to fill up. No reservations here. Starter of fried risotto balls was delicious and our server was very friendly and knowledgeable on the entire menu, including desert options. Pasta servings allowed for leftovers to be taken home and the regeated pasta has held up nicely! All in all a fun evening so why not five stars...I am just plain picky..one - can I get a place to hang my jacket besides the back of my chair? two - hey Mr. Valet when I give you a $10 for my $4 service I dont expect you to leave my car at curb and disappear...I love tipping for good service but 150% is a bit steep... So come in summer and don't valet..or don't expect change at least.. UPDATE: Much to my surprise and happiness Clayton Valet reached out to me with two free passes after my comments above. So, they do hold true for my experience that evening, they should not be considered a reflection on the service level of the company.
(4)
Wallace G.

The decor and vibe of the restaurant is great, we sat outside by choice as the weather was amazing, but we did spend a bit of time inside. We didn't have the experience as most based on the average rating. Our server was nice, but this job isn't a great fit for this person. They didn't go over specials (we had to ask), they abruptly asked if we were ready to order, and failed to bring bread to the table for quite a while. Couple that with the long wait for the food (we waited 45 minutes from time of order to delivery of food), and it was just an OK experience. I found the food to be good, but not great.
(3)
Diane M.

I came here on two separate occasions. The first time, I came here for lunch with a buddy on a weekday. Having heard so many good things about their handmade pastas and gelato, I was super excited to try it myself. Walking in, I was enamored by the rustic decor and the openness of the restaurant, and any restaurant that serves food/drinks in mason jars gets an extra star in my book. I had the Shaved Kale Salad and Strozzapreti, both of which I somewhat enjoyed. I'm not sure if a bunch of kale leaves and dressing was worth $12, and the pasta tasted like something I could make at home with some sauce from Trader Joe's. The bread they served was nice and warm, along with the condiments (EVOO, chili sauce, s/p, parmesan) that were already on the table. Though it was a nice lunch overall, my wallet surely suffered...I think it would be nice if they had a lunch menu with smaller portions and lower prices. The second time, I came here for a birthday dinner with 8 people on a Saturday night, without a reservation...it was bad ideas bears. The wait ended up being TWO HOURS long, but while we waited, we had their pistachio gelato (and another flavor that I can't remember) which was amazing. After we were seated, we ordered a round of Crispy Risotto Balls, which were quite tasty with the marinara sauce. I ordered the Pappardelle which had smoked pork, mascarpone, and apples. The three ingredients sounded amazing in my head, but when the pasta came out, it was fairly underwhelming. The noodles were kind of huge and awkward to eat, and the apples might have also made the dish more acidic than I had liked. At the end of dinner, the waitress brought out a cute piece of cake for the birthday girl, which I thought was nice. On taste and monies alone, I probably would not eat here too often. The place is beautiful, but the food is just okay : /
(3)
Angela W.

"Welcoming, lively atmosphere...GREAT food!" In town for a girl weekend, we made the easy 5 minute walk here from the Ritz Carlton hotel. Great space, fun atmosphere, kind & sincere service. The 5 of us shared several dishes, all of which were a hit. The risotto ball appetizer were so good we ordered a second. Our favorites were the lasagna and the butternut squash pizza. Don't worry, they have cheese and pepperoni for the non-adventurous or the kiddos. Great bar with a wonderful variety, we tried two of the Italian themed drinks, both were scrumptious. Of course, head to end the night with gelato. When in "Rome", right? The goat cheese and salted caramel were phenomenal. Prices were fair, pizza is big enough for 2-3 depending on your appetite if that's all you're ordering.
(5)
Clarice W.

REVIEW FOR THE TO-GO GELATO ONLY: Who would've thought: stellar gelato in a small, midwestern suburb? This is honestly some of the best gelato I've had in the states. The dark chocolate and pistachio were both dense and flavorful while not overly sweet. You can order 2 flavors and they pack it in a cheery red and white pint container to go for convenience. Tip: if you take it to go and freeze it for later, be sure to defrost for just a tad at room temp to achieve that velvety texture. The only reason I'm detracting 1 star is for the relatively steep price ($6.95), but I'm not sure that alone would keep me from returning (my lactose intolerance certainly didn't!) Molto delizioso!!
(4)
Ambriah B.

NOM NOM NOM NOM! This place is everything! I love to risotto balls and the kale salad! The gelatto is EVIL! I always seem to leave with a pint :(. My only wish was that they took reservations.
(4)
Andy C.

First the good: The service was great and the staff overall was super friendly. More than once we had different managers stop by and ask how everything was. You can tell that they definitely care about making you feel welcome. The overall atmosphere was fantastic and even though it was packed it never felt too noisy or out of control. I had the kale salad to start and my date had the orange salad. Both were beautifully prepared and quite tasty. For dessert I had the salted caramel gelato and my date had the Sump Coffee sorbet. Both were super tasty as well. My date ordered the Canestri Cacio E Pepe and she enjoyed it. Now the bad: I ordered the Bucatini All Amatriciana and I have to say I was disappointed as it was incredibly salty. I will probably go back there someday but I will not order that dish again.
(3)
Christie S.

The food at Pastaria is inventive and delicious, unfortunately the service was so overbearing that I thought we needed to add a chair for our waitress - bumping them down to an A-OK three stars. Let's start with that fantastic food. We started with the risotto balls. These are not your typical arancini, but rather small breaded balls of risotto and a good amount of cheese. They come with two dipping sauces. We preferred the white one, although I can't remember what it was. Choosing an entrÃ©e is hard because you narrow it down to three or four that sound so incredibly enticing, it's hard to pick just one. I went with the pistachio ravioli. It was incredibly good. The raviolis were stuffed with ground pistachios and mascarpone cheese, topped with a brown butter sauce with lemon, mint and roasted pistachios on top. My friend tried the garganelli, which came in a red sauce with very flavorful braised beef, olives and gremolata (an orange zest type accompaniment). This dish was a little more hearty then the ravioli. All very, very good! On to the service. Yikes - go away, lady! The meal started with, I kid you not, a run down of what they do with the fresh made noodles, local ingredients, etc., then on to a verbal run down of each of their specialty drinks and all the ingredients in these drinks. This went on to be near 10 minutes of the server talking AT us, to the point that you stop paying attention and start willing with all of your might that the server will just go away. Seriously, put some of this information on a menu and you won't have to bombard your guests with information overload that, ultimately, take away from their time to enjoy time with their dining partner. Once Pastaria realizes that dining is an experience, not based solely on the food but also on the ability to socialize, they'll do much better for themselves.
(3)
Jacqueline C.

Went back for round two, tried the pistachio ravioli (pistachio, mint, lemon brown butter). I truly love a good brown butter it adds a richness without being heavy. The mint in this dish made it fresh and vibrant, nice compliment to the sauce. The lemon I would have rather had a zesting over top, but instead it tasted a little sour in the sauce. I did enjoy the pizza on my first visit and looking back what I do recall is the crust. It was chewy and delicate, but not over cooked and still added a little crisp bite. I like the idea of housemade pastas and I do really adore the rustic feel the interior brings. Side note: Flying to Kansas City today I see in Spirit Mag Pastaria's Roasted Radish Bruschetta. I think I need to try it. :)
(3)
John M.

This is what happens when big ego chefs run riot. A great looking space that does not work well. Cold (in the winter) with an unsheltered front door freezing out the nearest twenty diners, an indifferent staff that is better than their guests (because Pastaria is so tragically hip), but the bottom line is that the food is barely average. Chef attempts "simple food, done well". He got half right - the menu is simple, but it's not very good. Pizza, while the only place in St. Louis that produces it Italian style, is undercooked as the pizza oven is too small. Salad's are clever in concept, lacking in execution. Pasta is not much better than fresh pasta and sauce from a supermarket. Gelato is not gelato, though they do use the smaller gelato scoop to make it look like gelato. Finally, a poorly managed, undersized kitchen causes long waits at the table for simple food, and the front of the house is unable to determine when tables will turn. When you're told thirty minutes, multiply by Pi to determine real wait time. While very pretty, there are at least 25 better choices in St. Louis for Italian. It is more important to be good than to look good. So far the only St. Louis kitchen that does "simple Italian, well" is Sugo's.
(1)
Samantha A.

I don't go to Pastaria nearly as much as I want to. I cannot recommend the Pistachio Ravioli enough. It will change your worldview of pasta! The Pappardelle is also to die for, just really delicious. You can tell everything is fresh and homemade. Homemade noodles make a world of difference.The drinks are also delicious. The atmosphere is wonderful. Eat here and be happy.
(4)
Susan S.

I liked it. I didn't go ga-ga over it, but I liked it. The portions of pasta are large, and should be for the price, so consider sharing. I thoroughly enjoyed my Bucatini All'Amatriciana---very spicy in the best possible way. I enjoyed the hollowed-noodle bucatini for a change of pace. Loved the mixed greens salad, a fairly common (these days) combo of pears, walnut and goat cheese. Friend C ordered teh Strozzzpreti---Pastaria's Bolognese. It was a little weird---too rich and bacony for my taste. My friend enjoyed hers, with leftovers to spare that she gobbled up in the car after an evening at the Thaxton Speakeasy (apparently moonshine stimulates the appetitie!) Friend L ordered the Bucatini and concurred with my opinion. She also tried the Shaved Kale salad. She liked---I thought it was a bit wet. I wouldn't be tempted to order it. Friend J love, love, loved her pistachio ravioli---which is probably the thing to order since it's not so comon. We shared some Risotto Balls----everyone enjoyed, some to a great degree than others. The wait staff was friendly and attentive. I loved the decor and will probably go to the restaurant again, as I think it's right up my husband's alley. However, I wish there were a few more non-pasta choices (I know, I know, it's called Pastaria). I just felt that 22 bucks for pasta and salad was a little off balance. I'll keep ya posted.
(3)
Max S.

Sliding downhill. Couldn't get enough of this place when it opened. But every time I go it seems to have fallen off a bit more. I always order the Strozzapreti Bolognese, and have probably gotten the dish upwards of 15 times. I don't want to give up on Pastaria, so I went again this weekend. When the place first opened, the pasta was always perfectly al dente. This weekend? Overcooked and just a little too soft. The sauce? Seems to be getting more watery each time. Used to be very little liquid, and this time it was like the pasta was sitting in soup. The service really irked me this weekend too. We came in and were quoted 20 minutes for the wait. Went to the bar to get a drink and wait, not a problem. But 5 minutes later a large table opened up and it was clear that nobody else was waiting for it. I approached the hostess and asked if I had missed our buzzer or something, and she replied curtly "I"m going to sit you there in a few minutes, your waiter needs a little bit of a break right now." At 7 p.m...in the middle of a shift. She didn't even offer to let us sit at the already cleaned and set table to wait for him to finish his "break." Just bizarre. Once we sat, the waiter refused to let my friend substitute the meat topping on one of the pizzas and told him to order another one. Also bizarre--they've had no problem substituting in the past. All in all, it just seems like something is up here. There's no doubt that Gerard Craft is the best chef in STL, and one of the best in all the Midwest. I have never had anything but great experiences at his other restaurants here in town, and I'm sure with a little love and care Pastaria can get back on track. I just hope it's sooner rather than later.
(3)
Nick M.

amazing! went there for brunch the other day and they had some good options. it's a great atmosphere, and they played good music. the cups were super hipster. great ambience, good servers. their lunch/dinner is good too! this was my first time trying brunch there.
(5)
Nicole T.

To be honest, I was a bit skeptical of going to brunch at an Italian restaurant, but even more so skeptical that the name of the restaurant sounds like diarrhea... But, I must say I was very surprised with the brunch menu, as well as the lunch and dinner options. I had the breakfast pizza and absolutely loved it! The bacon on the pizza was delicious and I loved the egg on top- such a cute presentation of pizza and it tasted amazing! The homemade sodas were also really pretty and delicious. I was pleased with the reasonable prices on the menu, especially considering the restaurant is in Clayton. The free parking in the garage is also a plus as parking in Clayton can be horrendous most of the time. The restaurant was very clean and aesthetically pleasing, and all of the employees were very nice and friendly. I had a great experience at this restaurant and would gladly return!
(5)
Glo K.

Pastaria was a real treat from beginning to end. You get a little taste of Italy from the hint of rustic, refined decor to the straight-forward Italian menu. Gerald Craft really knows how to create good food that doesn't feel pretentious or insincere. Not only is the space inviting, but the great culinary experience can be acquired at a friendly price - no entree is over $25! I love the calm atmosphere throughout the restaurant. You don't feel rushed to eat, and you feel like you're there to just enjoy the time with your dining-companion(s). Start your dinner with a nice glass of wine and share the crispy risotto balls ($7.95) with your group. They give you two dipping options for the risotto balls. I couldn't get enough of the aioli-like sauce. One thing about dining with me in a group of four, tasting each others' dishes is a MUST. I ordered the pistachio ravioli ($15.95) which was a bit too lemony for my liking. I think the pistachio was kinda competing with the lemony flavor, but I didn't hate it. I was obsessed with my bestie's Canestri Cacio e Pepe ($14.95) which can be described as an adult mac-n-cheese. It was ridiculously delicious and I love how thick the noodles are. The Pappardelle ($16.95) was a very different dish in taste. It was a bit on the smokier side. More importantly, the pasta dishes were cooked to perfection. One thing my table regretted doing at the end of the night was not making room for a cup of gelato. However, our server made sure we walked over to the gelato freezer case to get a complimentary taste. He was nice enough to let us taste several, and I'm still figuring out which gelato was my ultimate favorite. In conclusion, Clayton seriously got a little cooler, thanks to Pastaria. Also, I will be making several trips to Pastaria. One devoted to tasting all their gelatos and more than one trips to try everything on the menu. My next order will definitely be the shaved kale for starters. I LOVE Kale.
(4)
Son V.

The good - The service is very nice and I have no complaint about this. 3/4 dishes of the table next to us were complained to salty. They took them back and replaced with the new dishes, making sure that the customers satisfied with the dishes. That is very nice of them. - The pasta noodle itself is very fresh and tasty. I ordered Pappardelle with smoked pork, mascarpone, and apples. It was a little bit salty for me. I just ate the left over for lunch today, the saltiness faded away so the dish turned out better this afternoon than it was served last night. But overall, it was a good dish. - Tiramisu was fluffy and not sweet at all, which I like that way. The cannoli was good. with crunchy shell and creamery filling. The average - We ordered crispy risotto balls (mozzarella, Grana Padano, herb aioli, marinara). The sauces were good but the balls themselves were ok. I saw a lot of people ordered kale salad. Maybe I will try it next time. - As I said, I think they tend to make their dish a bit salty. My company ordered pistachio ravioli, which was just average. It was not bad, but not like amazing. I will try it again sometime. But I am not a really big fan.
(3)
Kathryn R.

Went here based on Yelp reviews, it did not disappoint. I had pizza, it was excellent. Ingredients were fresh and delicious. They also serve fresh, warm bread which was very good too. My brother had pasta, and it was delicious as well, it's homemade. They also have a gelato bar so you can walk in and just get some gelato or but some homemade pasta to take home with you. Gelato was delicious as well. I highly recommend Pastaria and will go back.
(5)
Divya V.

Such a cute place! Love the pictures on the wall especially the re-purposed window pane used for pictures (what a great idea!). They have Peroni on draft.... in a Peroni glass... my dining companion recommended this as I normally opt for wine at Italian restaurants. I was not disappointed. I love the chilli olive oil and fresh bread they bring out. Our server was so sweet! We took forever to order our main course as we were yapping away about work and life.... We got the risotto balls and small kale salad. I liked the dipping sauces the risotto balls came with. It was pretty good. The kale salad was OK. For our main course we got, Canestri Cacio e Pepe (they describe it as a grown up mac n cheese but it isn't all that cheesy) and the Pizza of the day (olives, goat cheese, onions). I loved the mac n cheese it had lots of crushed black pepper and the peppery pasta was really simple and delicious! I was too full for dessert but my dining companions got the salted caramel gelato and thought it was heavenly. You can buy their pasta and we were told it lasts for 2 months in the pantry before it gets all moldy.
(4)
Matt T.

My third meal there the other day was mixed...but likely a result of my own issues. The server was exceptional, friendly, knowledgeable, and funny. I ordered the pork loin salad for lunch (trying to behave) and what I got was essentially a pork carpaccio (albeit cooked). thinly sliced pork loin with a sprinkling of arugula. The dish was not bad, but if I had known that it was such a small portion of food that I'd eat 5 slices of bread, I would have selected another dish. My guests both had pasta, and both dishes looked wonderful. I'll continue to try different things here, and settle on a few go-to items. I wish they had a few more "lunch" appropriate items on their list other than heavy pasta and pizza. That would be nice, but I'll survive. Try this place for pizza or pasta in the evening, its fun and the food is great.
(3)
Melissa K.

I work in Clayton, and it was our Intern's last day on the job and we wanted to take her out to lunch.. (We only get one hour for our lunch break). It honestly looked like we were bothering the wait staff to acknowledge us. We were seated nearly immediately during the Clayton lunch rush on a Thursday, but once seated, it was like all of the servers wouldn't even make eye contact. After waiting 15 minutes or more, my coworker flagged down someone who looked like a manager and we were served quickly. The problem seemed to be 3 servers not knowing who is covering our particular table. My coworker requires Gluten Free, so this place has limited options for her. And the pizza was blah....over hyped and over priced. But you can get away with this in Clayton, right?! I will not be returning if I can help it.
(2)
Tommy T.

Pastaria is top notch. The pappardelle is one of the best things I have ever eaten. The margherita pizza is the best I have eaten in St Louis. My daughter has celiac disease, the servers and kitchen are outstanding in accommodating any gluten free diet requirements. My only complaint is that the kids meals are a little high priced at $10, other wise it is a great value.
(5)
Bec P.

A full belly is a happy belly. And I just fÃ®nished my pastaria meal so you do the math. I ordered to go and it took about 25 mins--so don't order expecting a Chinese-restaurant cook time. Based on the reviews and the hostess' suggestion, I got the garganelle since it had brisket. Um, talk about tender. I at first thought the olives would be a strange combo but no. And there weren't a ton anyway. The shaved kale salad was pretty good, basic but tasty. I ordered the dressing on side and tossed maybe a tablespoon and it was the perfect coverage. The best part was hands down the chocolate tart. Full fat whipped cream, toasted hazelnuts, and chocolate. I mean, what else could you want? Out the door with a $3 takeout tip was $37. Good place. Owned by niche in case you didn't know...like me.
(4)
Keith D.

Were do I start? Pastaria is fresh! Pastaria is flavorful! Pastaria is fun! Pastaria is full (of people). The four "F's"...maybe a new rating scale? If so, Pastaria deserves it to separate themselves from other restaurants. I have eaten there twice and enjoyed every bite...every bite. Salads...side dishes...entrees...all good. Oh..did I mention the gelato yet? I might need to write another review just on the gelato. The service experience has also been very good. Although if they ever get short staffed it would become a problem quickly as this restaurant is always busy. All-in: I expect this restaurant to be collecting four and five-star reviews for years to come. Add it to your restaurant bucket list and enjoy!
(5)
Charis R.

One of the best restaurants in St. Louis, without question. Truly outstanding pasta (I haven't tried the pizza yet but it looks incredible), and great appetizers as well. Also, the gelato is out of this world- so incredibly flavorful. The Canestri Cacio e Pepe and Bucatini All' Amatriciana are two of my favorite pastas- I highly recommend both. The portions are a good size and the prices are really reasonable, especially for Clayton. The only downside to this place is that there's usually quite a long wait for a table (even on weeknights), and they don't take reservations. Honestly though, it's worth the wait! I always recommend Pastaria to out-of-towners because it's a good demonstration of the fact that STL restaurants can absolutely compete with the best in NYC and elsewhere.
(5)
Jeff F.

The place is superb! Had dinner twice this week , and the opening week shake out seems complete. The vibe will please families with kids if they get in early and are not in a huge hurry. The pizzas and pastas stand out and reflect local ingredients and made from scratch Care. I am afraid the home run combo of Kraft's talent, the very affordable prices, and a very hip space, will cause long waits. The reservation policy is likely for groups of 4 or more I was told. There is a private dining room above the bar for up to 50 or so I think. The bar us fun but cramped . The staff is great and do save room for gelato and tiramisu . Sources say lunch Will happen in a month or so. The Only part I would improve is the valet parking. The drop off zone was clogged and they will need a strong manager out there to keep it flowing.
(5)
Elliot D.

Pastaria is overhyped. The food is overpriced. The place is a goat rodeo. There is a much better option in the loop for Neapolitan pizza : The Good Pie. It tastes a lot better there. The pasta is OK, but inferior to what I've enjoyed at I Fratellini, Stellina and, heck, Tony's for the price.. I've tried the kale salad, endive salad, pistachio ravioli, chitarra, squash soup, roasted vegetables, salmon, chicken and pizzas. Nothing reminded me of the food in Italy. There is a smugness about the staff that is bearable until they bring the check.
(3)
Christina O.

yes, it is all it's hyped up to be. the ambiance is trendy but family friendly. my dinner party loved everything starting from the complimentary bread to their inhouse-made gelatos. we tried the risotto balls (ok), brussels sprouts (good but a little too oily) and various pasta dishes and gelato (the real winners). the menu is daunting at first glance. our server was great and gave us a description of each of their homemade pastas. i chose the bucatini all amatriciana which was amazing! it has a bit of a kick to it and comes in a generous portion size. the rest of my party loved the lasagna and the canestri cacao e pepe-otherwise known as the grown man's mac and cheese. to finish off the meal we tried several of their gelatos and settled on the salted caramel and cookie chunk. some gelatos are staples and others are on rotation. best part is you can always come just for some gelato and fresh pasta/sauces to take home! the gelato counter also has a great view of the chefs making pasta. it was a fun dinning experience. can't wait to go back!
(5)
Katie F.

I'm a little behind on my review...it was a cold wall from the parking garage! I do remember it was a Monday night and the place was packed. We did have a bit of a wait, so we grabbed a drink and hung out by the windows for a while. It was worth the wait. My Pistachio Ravioli was delicious, I would have taken an order to go. I had a bite of the boyfriend's Chitarra w/Clams and the sauce was light and lemony. He loved it and was very satisfied. The complimentary bread and OO was the perfect addition to the meal. I liked the table setting and rest of the decor. Plenty of things to check out on the walls. As for our server, he wasn't bad just a tad rude. I'd like to try the pizza next time around.
(4)
Justin G.

We love this place! Great food. All fresh ingredients & homemade noodles. Also they have gelado!
(5)
Ed E.

Great place! I have been here a few times and have pretty much eaten through the menu. I wish the menu changed more often. It is a bit pricey for pasta, by the the location and Chef make that understandable. Save room for dessert! The homemade gelato in all types of crazy flavors is to die for. when my GF had a sweet tooth and wanted ice cream one evening I thought of Pasteria and took her. She was ecstatic!!! I think my favorites have been the watermelon and salted caramel.
(4)
Aram B.

Let's start off by saying I go to Italy a few times a year on business. I've eaten all over Italy. North South East West. I've had the best meals of my life there, and some shitty food as well. The first thing I do when I arrive at the airport is get a macchiato. It's also the last thing I do when leaving. The macchiatos at the airport in Rome are unreal. I'm also from NYC, so I'm a bit of a snob. Pastaria's motto is "Sorta close to Italy" which is a really respectful thing to admit. I'd say it's really really really close to Italy. The service was great. Waitstaff was very attentive. The food was great as well. Not fancy or innovative, just really good, like italy. Pizza was really great, I'd say on par with some of the better pies I've had in Italy. My only complaint is that I ordered a macchiato and got a cappuccino. I don't like cappuccino in the afternoon. Also, they should include an option on the menu for buffalo mozzarella for the pizzas, just like in Italy. Why is it not just like Italy? Let's just say food in italy has a certain earthiness, and a certain wildness to it. It's tough to explain. I've also spent a lot of time in Italian grocery stores and cooking on my own there, and the food I cooked also had this earthiness. Must have something to do with the soil or something. Regardless, I highly recommend this place and will be back for lunch tomorrow.
(5)
Laura K.

I've been to this restaurant 5+ times and am always very pleased with the service and eats. This place is consistently amazing. Park in the garage for free! Wine. garganelle. gelato. repeat.
(5)
Daniel D.

Amazing risotto balls and best pizza in STL. The crest is chewing and flavorful and the ingredients are beyond fresh.
(5)
Beth C.

Salami Pizza- Good Pistachio Ravioli- Good That's about all we could say about this place. It was good. Was it great? Did it knock or socks off? Was it the bees knees? No. Was the atmosphere very hip, city, trendy, hot? Yes. It's loud and bustling, like a packed city restaurant, which is a great thing for a person like myself with a boisterous laugh. Maybe a great first date place. Romantic? No. Casual? Yes. If you are really wanting great Italian food though, this just isn't it. We live in a city with an entire Italian neighborhood. Trot over there and get the Italian food which you will from then on judge all Italian food by. We had a great time at dinner, and I'm glad we checked it out- But in a city with so much Italian food competition, I can say we will likely not be back.
(3)
Amanda L.

SO delicious. I've been there two times already and each time it's just as stellar! I've gotten: the pasta bolognese (which is definitely my favorite), the pistachio ravioli (so delicate and flavorful), the kale salad (completely changed my opinion of kale), the fried risotto balls (one letter.. mmmmmmmmm), and tried one of the pizzas (the roman I think? yum!), the "adult mac and cheese" (soo cheesyy), and the pappardelle (not my favorite, but I am not the biggest fan of sweet-ish pasta). All of it was fresh, flavorful.. totally worth the price. Also! The bread was deliciously crusty, really good with the olive oils and salt and pepper, and oh man the gelato... you have to try the basil. Too good. Though the snickers is good too... Make time in your schedule to wait the wait for this place!
(5)
Ahmed A.

It's my first time to be in here and I enjoyed it. My wife and I sat inside and we both like the open area. We like the high sealing. We ordered "Cacio E Pepe" pasta which is close to Mac'n'Cheese but little bit spicy in a good way. Also, we ordered Margarita Pizza which was fantastic. We tried Chocolate tart for desert and was too sweet and our server "Stephanie" was too sweet to take it out from the check coz we didn't like it.
(5)
Laine S.

We went for brunch and everything was really exceptional. We tried the butternut squash cinnamon roll, baked eggs, with amatriciana sauce, huevos rancheros, breakfast pizza, and bloody marys. Probably the best crafted brunch dishes I've ever had in St. Louis. The amatriciana sauce really stood out, perfectly balanced flavors layered on top of one another. It's a great example of a simple component done extremely well that makes a great chef stand out from all the noise.
(5)
Saskia S.

Spent four days in STL, and managed to fit in two visits to Pastaria! Great food, delicious drinks, fun and relaxed family atmosphere. Kale salad was delicious--even without the breadcrumb topping (gluten allergy). Tried the *pappardelle w/ smoked pork, mascarpone & apples. Incredibly rich and delicious, although next time I might actually go for something a little lighter. Although I think this would be PERFECT in late winter. Maybe not as seasonal, but a perfect warm and hearty dish. Husband seemed to really enjoy the pistachio ravioli, and friends/family raved about the bolognese. We also tried quite a few of the gelato flavors, all of which I thought were excellent! My favorite this time around involved goat cheese & raspberry (I think. Maybe it was cherry?), but I'm assuming that the flavors rotate on a semi-regular basis. So, I think the best bet is just to go as regularly as humanly possible and test them all out. A little pricey for STL, but generally well worth it for the inventive options and quality! --- *Gluten allergy and had to order the gluten free pasta. My only real complaint (enough so that I can't quite give that 5th star) is the supplement price! I'm just not sure I understand a $6 supplement on an already not particularly cheap pasta dish. I don't think they made the gluten free pasta themselves. And you can get a multi-serving box of the dry gluten free pasta for around $4. So the mark up seems pretty high. And if they are making it in-house, it wasn't any better tasting than the supermarket stuff. So something just seems a little off/frustrating with the pricing.
(4)
Jamie R.

closest to italy that i've had in the USA. it's consistent, creative, and the flavors are familiar but exciting and delicious. we go at least twice a month. one of our favorites! love the roman pizza, strozzapreti, pappardelle and the passionfruit sorbet (UNREAL!)
(5)
Matt S.

The food is a solid three and a half stars. You can definitely taste the love and care they put into the fresh pasta. What they do with the pasta is a different story. I've been here twice. Service is good, oftentimes worthy of four stars, but a tad bipolar. Yes, I did not read Yelp beforehand, and yes, I, too, got to talk to the snooty "we don't take reservations" person when I called to ask for one. But--I don't know if that's something to complain about because they did have a cocktail waitress taking drink orders, and people waiting are welcome to sit and socialize at the bar. Our server the first night we went was very, very nice and made some great recommendations. My second experience included a waiter that came off as weirdly pushy. After ordering two appetizers: "You SURE you don't want salad too?" To which I felt like awkwardly responding, "No sir, I'm too poor." But that could've been me completely misinterpreting his suggestion for the kale salad, which I've heard is to die for. Definitely try the crispy risotto balls (aracini) and ask for two herb aioli sauces instead of one herb aioli and one marinara. I don't know if that'd fly with your server, but the marinara is utterly forgettable. My first time around, I had the garganelli, which I found to be kind of disappointingly one-note and bland, despite the promise of melty braised beef, and complexity of olives. The next time I came, I ordered the pistachio ravioli, which was good, but also forgettable because of all the lemon. I can't really put it in words, but you can tell the pasta was carefully made in-house, but in terms of flavor development...I was kind of left wanting something more. Twice. Why is Grana Padano cheese on every menu item? Pastaria has a fascinating, gorgeous layout. Servers get water and bread from the center of the restaurant...which makes for an interesting communal experience. Next time I might request to sit at the raised area by the kitchen...if I can, this place is always so packed. It feels like a beautiful dining hall of sorts. They have a $4 valet, but why bother--garage parking is validated! Just make sure you let your server know at the end of the meal!
(3)
Muriel C.

After researching where to eat in St. Louis, I stumbled across St. Louis magazine's article best new restaurants. After seeing the reviews and the "best in class" highlight we had to try it. Pasta and gelato reign supreme. The lasagna, clam pasta, and spicy pork pasta (bucatini) were delicious. We also tried the risotto balls and they were crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside. The restaurant has a display counter with at least eight different gelatos to try. We tasted goat cheese, chocolate cherry chip, salted caramel, buttermilk with gingersnap cookie bits, and strawberry Rhubarb blood orange - they were creamy and smooth. The gelato is worth coming back for just as a $3.95 snack. Call the restaurant to get information about putting your name on the list before you get there, because it is a very popular place and this will help minimize wait times.
(4)
Dahna S.

Touched down in St. Louis, where oh where to go? "Pasteria," everyone said. "We promise." So we show up to this spot with its high ceilings and modern decor, feeling like everyone was right. I decided to start off the night with a negroni as we waited for our table. Alas, our table was ready. We immediately asked for two orders of Risotto Balls, or rather crispy, cheesy, creamy bites of heaven as I like to call them. These were served with tomato sauce and some sort of thyme aioli that I could have eaten with just my finger. The chopped salad was another belly-pleaser, doused with their version of "ranch" (some homemade deliciousness). Appetizers hit me with a 5-stars across the board. I established a splitting buddy at the table (necessary) and we shared the Pistachio Ravioli and the Lasagna Verde Bolognese. The pasta itself on these things was divine. I mean, we could see the guys making it as we sat at our table... does it get anymore fresh?! The ravioli was an interesting flavor combo: a creamy pistachio filling with mint and lemon brown butter. My one knock is that the lemon flavor was too much.. don't think I've ever said that before, but in this case it was distracting from the richness of the pasta. Next: the lasagna. Now this is not your gma's secret saucy pasta lower; this is some classy stuff. Between the layers there's spinach, meat, and cheese, but what was missing for me was a sauce to bring it all together. Don't just graze past the vegetable sides... believe me when I say you want them! Brussels sprouts, I have been dreaming of you ever since my first bite. Broccoli, I love you too. Dessert at this place isn't a question of yes or no, but a question of what flavor! Their homemade gelato is the real deal.. my favorite was the vanilla (it's next level, not that throw-away kind) and the dark dark chocolate. But really you can't go wrong with any flavor. St. Louis, who knew your Pasteria would leave me weak at the knees for your Italian feasts??
(4)
Laura S.

My husband and I have been dying to try Pastaria. It lived up to our expectations. I had the Chittara al Pomodoro and I had the Canestri Cacio e Pepe and we shared Roasted Brussel Sprouts. We both felt that the quality of the food was at the level of the finest restaurants we have eaten in. The portions are perfect. Substantial, but not silly. The prices are reasonable. The atmosphere is casual but busy and fun. Our waiter was extremely knowledgable. We just LOVED this place and will get there as often as possible. We did go at an early time having heard that there are long waits after about 6:00.
(5)
Paul C.

First time there today. Great food, ok service. They jam customers in every space so they have trouble keeping up. Will go back but allow more time for lunch. Not cheap ($50 lunch for two with tip) but worth the experience.
(3)
Dan C.

Above average food but horrible service. Probably wont go back. 45 min wait for salads and another 45 in for entree. No bread offered, drinks not refilled.
(2)
Briana S.

This is any carb-lovers dream come true. Pastaria is a perfect blend of chic and industrial--exposed black piping makes this open space even more modernized, while the crowd, service, and table settings are urbanized and low-key cool. I got to experience Pastaria, finally, on Friday night and it was even more than I had expected. We walked in to a lively open floor plan where hardly a seat was open, but when we asked for a table for two we were seated promptly. The wall sitting can get a little tight next to other diners at different tables but if you're comfortable with close(r) quarters, it's nothing to complain over! Of course I was smitten with the mason jar water glasses, the peels on the wall wishing "La Bocca Del Lupo" and other best wishes to the Craft team upon their opening--that's a great touch, it shows what a community not only Gerard Craft, but the St. Louis dining scene has created. Our waitress brought water, and my Chianti-like red wine over immediately, with fresh, warm bread to boot. My friend and I "oohed" over the warm crust and fluffy middle but hit cloud nine when we drizzled it in what I can only call "Real deal" olive oil. It was exactly like what I brought home with me from living abroad, green and full of flavor. My friend decided to order the Holmes pizza while I was fixated on the pistachio ravioli and while we waited for our meals we people watched, noticing a younger crowd--like us, families, couples, you name it--this is a dining spot for every group. There is seating up by the kitchen, bar-style so you can watch the chefs work their magic which I love. This concept is terrific. A Maitre D' came over to check on a few moments after our meals were delivered--surprisingly fast! Not only was my pistachio ravioli outstanding, but the portions were perfect; with pasta, my eyes are always too big for my stomach and I wind up overeating and feeling like I need a Violet Beauregarde style roll-out. But that was not the case, the pistachio, fresh mint, olive oil, lemon and Grana Padano made the $15 entree the most heavenly combination I have tried to date. I love rich, flavorful foods and this hit the mark extremely well. Once we had paid our bills--their cardholders are great, I adore anything vintage inspired, we headed towards the door...where we saw gelato. Nice try, you can never ever pass up gelato. And although it still isn't straight off the streets of Italy flavor, this is pretty freakin' good. My friend got the Salted Caramel and I had classic Vanilla Bean...what a nice way to cleanse the palate after a perfect meal! Everyone go to Pastaria for an excellent dining-and people watching- scene!
(5)
Colleen D.

My husband and I had dinner at Pastaria before catching a show at the Muny. It confirmed the hype of a new delicious and refreshing restaurant in Clayton. When we arrived it was busy with a few tables open. We chose to sit at the kitchen bar and watch them cook (as opposed to the traditional bar). My husband ordered a pizza and I ordered the Garganelli with a house salad. Both entrees were delicious, the pizza was crispy and flavorful. My pasta was indulgent and very filling. Fresh bread was also provided, very good. Don't make the same mistake I did and not leave room for dessert, the gelato looked delicious! Our waitress was very attentive and the cooks were fun to watch. They were extremely busy and did not seem distracted in the least that a row of people were watching them. We will definitely eat there again!
(4)
Lindsey H.

For some reason when I walk into Pastaria, I feel like I am in a completely different city! The kitchen-esque and trendy atmosphere creates a New York kind of feeling like you are one-with-the-chefs. The Chitarra al Pomodoro was such an authentic Italian dish with very flat but thick noodles. I added chicken to this entree and it was perfect! The noodles alone would've been a little plain, but the garlic and chicken helped a lot. The bar setting blends in well with the place, not too extravagant. Our bartender, Megan was superb. She was so attentive to our group, even taking photos for us! The wait time was not bad, and unfortunately they do not take reservations. So an earlier dinner would probably be best. But the large servings of gelato, if you so desire, at the end of the meal (Pastaria changes flavors every-so-often, even Goat Cheese Gelato!?) will make sure your palate is more than satisfied!
(4)
Amber K.

YUM! This place was really cute, although small, so I hope they expand since the wait was kind of long. I ordered the garlic and olive oil pasta, it was so good. The pasta was really fresh flavorful. I had the margarita rosso which I wasn't a big fan of. The bread was also just ok. My daughters had the pizza which was huge for their little selves, so I had a bite which was also good. My husband had the salmon, it was just ok, the portion was also a bit small. The salted caramel gelato was amazing! My little ones had the vanilla bean gelato which was also delicious. My husband ordered the gelato sandwich, it was huge, but also great. Really no complaints!
(4)
Ed A.

One of my favorites in Clayton. Here on business from NJ and is NY quality restaurant. Sit at the chefs bar for a great experience. Pizza is fantastic - great cocktails and save room for the gelato!
(5)
In Stl ..

The risotto balls are sooo good! I had the pizza and it was mostly bread very little cheese. The appetizer was better. The manager /owner told us he accidentally charged our card for another tables bill but it should be voided in the next day or so and there should only be one charge. I should check my billing statement... I also went for a meeting dinner in their upstairs and it was really excellent service. There was a dark chocolate pie . Know that it's bitter dark not semi sweet .
(4)
Alexandra K.

Ambiance is fantastic. The decor is beautiful........ What you just read is the only positive thing I have to say about this over-rated restaurant. I'm aware of the chef's reputation and his other notable restaurants but this one falls well below par for Italian restaurants. If I'm in the mood to throw away $18 for a plate of bland spaghetti I know where to come.
(2)
Amy W.

Great food and great service. There are few places that are both kid friendly and have great food for adults!
(5)
Marlo S.

My nominee for the most overrated restaurant in St. Louis. I love Gerard Craft's other places, especially Brasserie, but perhaps this is a case of a slamdunk master being incapable of sinking a short, wide-open jumper. (How hard can it be to serve up decent macaroni and cheese?) More likely: Mr. Craft isn't paying attention to the quality of the food over here, and there's some hack with no taste buds overseeing the joint. In any case, here's the scoop. * minestrone soup where the tomatoes were raw and acidic * papparedelle with smoked pork that was way too salty, vinegary, and in every way cloying * mac and cheese (for the kids) that was way way way too salty (is anyone paying attention) * salad that was fresh but not particularly inspiring and with an amateurish, subpar vinaigritte * lasagna that was so forgettable that I've forgotten what I wanted to say about it * pizza that was largely unobjectionable except for a sauce that was too sweet Plus side: excellent house wines, very attentive and ueber-friendly staff. The bread (once we got it) was good. But: given the long wait and the still (relative to other Italian restaurants) inflated prices, I can't imagine why I'd ever go back here. I'd take Tavalo or Trattoria Marcello over this any day.
(2)
Abby K.

There is really only one word that I can use to accurately use to describe my visit to the Pastaria and it is unimpressed. Nothing was bad by any means but nothing was particularly outstanding, either. My friend and I went on a Friday night later in the evening so we were seated right away. The menu surprised me with how small it was. We had gone out for appetizers beforehand, thank goodness, because there only a couple on the menu that could be shared. I didn't expect a ton, but I would like more options than just bruschetta or risotto balls. For dinner I ordered the Pastaria Marinara pizza and it was fine, but that's all it was. There just wasn't anything particularly memorable about it. For wood fired pizza I would definitely choose the Good Pie or Peel before the Pastaria. My friend got the Canestri Cacio e Pepe which was also just 'meh'. It would have been a pretty good dish but the pasta was chewy, and not in a good way. We both agreed that it might have been sitting out for a while and that's why it had a kind of staleness to it. Granted we did go at 9 o'clock on a Friday so I'm sure their reserves were running a little low, because they were still busy. We finished off the mean with their gelato, which was the most impressive part of the meal. It was pretty delicious... All in all I have to say that I am not disappointed in my visit at all, just unimpressed. I am sure I'll be back eventually because I have some friends that love it, it's just not a restaurant that I will ever suggest.
(2)
Mary H.

This has to be my favorite place to take out of towners in St Louis! The food is amazing - for the price, I give it a solid 5 stars. Their house wine - served by the half carafe - is also great. I would go here for any outing, and it's crazy kid friendly. It's loud - be prepared! That's the point of this restaurant - family friendly, delicious, Italian food. Get the Kale Salad and Chitarra Pomodoro! Also, salted caramel gelato. Every. single. time.
(5)
Christal V.

Absolutely Amazing! Went on a Saturday evening, a bit busy, but the vibe was the easy, cool buzzing of a very hip and happening, but unpretentious, uber cool dining experience! Whew, that was a mouth full, but boy let me tell you, every bite of food I had was exquisite! My dining partner and I were seated at the counter overlooking that kitchen...I was there for a business meeting and being seated right in front of the kitchen was a huge, but welcomed distraction! Luckily the "business" we were trying to discuss, totally revolves around food! Every item that came out of the kitchen seemed more interesting...so what do I do...I order the first thing that I saw come out of the kitchen...oh, yeah...I might not be a cheap date, but I'm easy! I started with the Shaved Kale Salad with creamy anchovy dressing, pecorino, bread crumbs. I could eat that everyday for the rest of my life! That salad will change your life, no lie! For my entree I had the Garganelli with braised beef, olives, bread crumbs, gremolata! Holy Pasta Mama! It smelled just as divine as it tasted! The portions are huge, I literally had a an entire meal to take home. The next day I couldn't wait to polish off the leftovers. My goodness...the pasta was good cold, but I somehow got a grip of my inner glutton and warmed the rest up...of which my four year old devoured! The staff was awesome, so helpful and attentive. Even the kitchen staff interacted with us, making suggestions and such. Although the place was packed and there was a wait, never did we feel rushed...dinner was perfect and truly enjoyable! Bravo Mr. Craft and Pastaria Staff, Bravo!!! I will be back for the pistachio ravioli! It looked and smelled phenomenal!
(5)
C. H.

I just went for the first time and WILL be back! We had the risotto balls which were amazing to start things off. My wife and I then split a pasta and pizza which both were AMAZING. My parents split a salad and pizza and loved both. The atmosphere was busy with the family style seating but we didn't have trouble hearing and really enjoyed ourselves. It's not a cheap place to eat but the quality is fantastic. We finished things on with desert, they make gellato in house which was amazing. I highly recommend eating here, I'm a huge fan!
(5)
Max M.

I enjoyed this little pasta joint in the heart of the Clayton business district. Pastaria is the Italian offshoot of Niche. Both are owned and operated by noted Chef Girard Craft. It is a nice hip place in a brand new office building. We were a two top without a reservation on a busy Friday might during graduation weekend. We were happily ushered to a table immediately. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable. We enjoyed their terrific house salad to start. Loved the pasta cabinarra immensely with a nice Italian wine by the glass. Topped it off with a delicious and authentic vanilla and chocolate galati . A very nice dining experience. Casual. Easy. Enjoyable. Tasty. What I'd expect from a Craft owned establishment.
(4)
Laura L.

Just stopped my Pastaria for the first time with my husband on a Saturday night. It was the first time I've ever encountered a restaurant that didn't answer a phone and instead had a recording of their hours and no reservation policy. When we got there at 8pm, our wait was 50 minutes so we sat at the bar for drinks. We loved the atmosphere and nice, lively bartender. When we were finally seated at our table, our server was a little rushed and cold, but it didn't bother us too much. He gave us great food recommendations and everything came out fast and hot. We were served warm bread as a starter and it was absolutely delicious. We later found out that it was brought in from Companion. My husband ordered The Roman pizza and repeatedly commented how it was the best pizza he has had in years. I had a few bites and definitely agreed with that bold statement. I had the Bucattini and it was excellent. I wish I was warned of the spice since I am pretty sensitive to it, but it was still delicious. We had to end with a dessert since the gelato case looked so tempting. The special that night was a peanut butter gelato and banana cookie sandwich that was out of this world. Our server said it was a Valentine's Day special. We were a little irked when he said he hopefully wasn't still working at the restaurant when it debuted again next Valentine's Day, but we were so overwhelmingly satisfied with the meal that we could care less about our cynical server. I would recommend Pastaria to everyone. What a great experience and so reasonably priced!
(5)
Matt A.

Miserably long wait - told it would be 20 min and it has now been over an hour. Would not recommend.
(1)
Susan L.

Two main things that really bothered me about this restaurant was the noise. It is very very loud and hard to hear a conversation. I also don't like how over crowded it is. The Kale salad is really really good. Probably the best salad I have ever had. Strozzapreti was also delicious. It is not so much a place for fancy, but for casual tendy italian dining.
(4)
ShungHeon C.

Before my family left from Washington University in St. Louis orientation, we ate here since it was cheaper than Niche which was right next door. Even though the place was flocking with people, the waiters and waitress were very friendly. Pasta dishes we ordered (lemon clam and giralleo, or something like that) have very refreshing or sharp taste. However, the pizza... Oh the pizza... Order sweet corn & Chantelle, you won't regret it. 4.5 but I'll round up from this good experience.
(5)
Zach M.

This place deserves more than three stars. We just got stricken with below-average service. We got a table quickly, but after that, it took 5-7 minutes to see our first server (we ordered immediately since we had plenty of time to look at the menu). About 25-30 minutes for the food to get there. Once the food got there, it was great. Pepperoni Pizza was good. Little greasy for my taste, but still pretty good. Wife got the French Toast. FANTASTIC. So good. I wish I had her dish. Got the check fast, but then another 8-10 minutes for the server to come back and pick up my credit card so he could run it. It wasn't bad enough not to come back and give it one more try. Maybe it was just a bad day. The food will bring us back.
(3)
Craig B.

First off, is it called Pasta-ria or Past-air-ee-a? I have heard both. Pastaria is in a nice space in the newish development built for Centene in Clayton. Its halfway between Hanley and Bemiston on the south side of Forsyth. There is garage parking that is validated by the restaurant. There is also valet parking (or at least there was on the Sunday I visited). The restaurant is well lit by the full wall of windows on the front of the building. Prior to entering, one can watch pasta being made in the window. One can also stop by and buy fresh pasta as well as sauces for dinner or some of the many gelato flavors sold. We had a table of ten which was handled expertly by two awesome servers. I had an end seat which felt very cramped due to the number of tabled piled into the restaurant like tetris pieces. All the chairs are different in an attempt to make the place look rustic which is impossible given the modern look of the building. I found the seating and number of tables to be very uncomfortable and make it impossible to navigate the restaurant to get to the bathroom. The bar at the front of the house also made it hard to move due to its many patrons standing waiting for a table. The food is good. I was a bit shocked how few pasta choices there were on the menu. The children's menu: pizza, mac and cheese, spaghetti, butter noodles, all come with gelato. I was a bit shocked that the kids cheese pizza is the same size as the adult pizzas. Too much for small eaters. The same was true for the mac and cheese. I would call Pastaria a decent restaurant, but not one that I would gush over to friends and family.
(3)
Butch H.

We went to try out Pastaria tonight and it was fantastic. The mixed green salad was perfectly dressed and highlighted with walnuts, goat cheese and pears. The house made bread was warm and soft with a perfect crust. My entrÃ©e, Lasagna Verde Bolognese actually made me say, oh my god. It was a perfect mix of spinach pasta, bÃ©chamel, Bolognese and cheese. Each mouthful was a silky bite of excellence. My dinner partner had the Canestri Cocio e Pepe, a pasta cheese and pepper dish. If you like pepper you will love this. For dessert we had a combo bowl of chocolate and vanilla gelato. This was a perfect meal and I highly recommend it. The prices are very reasonable for being in downtown Clayton.
(5)
Erika D.

I love this place. They have a wonderful variety of authentic-Italian-style pasta (cooked perfectly al dente every time). They don't overwhelm their pasta dishes with too many ingredients and instead stick to simple, but delicious recipes. They have a great variety for people that don't eat pasta/pizza and offer gluten-free pasta (although it's definitely an overpriced substitute). The service is always great, friendly, and prompt.
(5)
Dan B.

I am sitting at the seats at the prep counter which was a great view until I saw the line cook manhandle the Parmesan cheese for a minute while waiting for the next dish. If your pasta tastes a little sweaty, now you know why.
(2)
sara m.

Please cook the pizza at a temperature that produces a crispy crust all the way to the middle! Too high a temperature with the oven produces a soggy crust!
(3)
Jennifer W.

Although food was decent, thought this was overrated. Waited nearly 2 hours (!) and then service was spotty- our server seemed ill, and actually dashed away from the table at one point, mid-sentence. I paid an extra SIX DOLLARS for gluten-free pasta. I get that it's a specialty item, but they don't make it in house, and it's made of corn. Trader Joe's sells it for $2/lb. My already expensive $12 pasta dish (just a creamy tomato sauce) came in at $18- you've got to be kidding me. Atmosphere was *very* loud- it was hard to talk to our friends at the same table. We had brussels sprouts, which were good, and my pasta was ok, but just ok. Husband had pistachio ravioli which looked great and he enjoyed. Gelato was good, but gelato usually is. I'm always glad when a place offers GF options, but this felt like punishment- the 50% upcharge really left a bad taste in my mouth. I was really excited to go there, because we love Niche, but it was a disappointment. Won't be going back.
(2)
Cheryl K.

The reason for the A-Ok is that my visit was during lunch service and we were relegated to a tiny table for 2 between other diners and I was facing the wall - so didn't get to soak up the vibe of the restaurant. Also, I ordered a small mixed salad and I have to say I thought it was lackluster. But, my companion ordered one of the wood fired pizzas and I sampled it and it was very good! I will have to go back - skip the blah salad and try something else, and oh yeah not find myself looking a a wall in the back of the restaurant.
(3)
Lily S.

What a disappointment. I selected this restaurant because it was listed in the Post Dispatch as one of the best in St Louis. The salads were really nice, prepared with a light touch. But the pasta was unbelievably awful. There is a la dente, and then there is raw, which is how the Canestri Cacio e Pepe was served. We ordered the Roman pizza, which had to be sent back to the kitchen. It was served without being sliced through. Once we tried the pizza, there were pockets of chili flakes that made portions of the pizza inedible, it was so hot. It was as if no one stirred the sauce to incorporate the ingredients. The long pasta served from the children's menu came in one large clump, you had to fight with it to be able to eat it. Pasta sauces should be silky and flavorful, not the texture of glue. After all the press I've read about this restaurant, I must tell you, the emperor has no clothes.
(2)
Monica T.

Great butternut squash soup, great pistachio ravioli, decent pizza, great cocktails. Oh and get the risotto balls!
(4)
Georges G.

We were looking for an independent good Italian restaurant in the St. Louis area trying to carb up for the Go St. Louis marathon and I think we found it. The Pastaria restaurant delivered. We waited approximately 20 minutes for our table ( which for a Friday evening) was not bad at all. The staff was super friendly. I guess that is a mid west thing I have noticed, which I Love! When they sat us our waiter John came by introduced himself, took our drink order and we were ready to order. He brought warm bread and the food followed a few minutes later. Overall 5 stars for sure. I will come back...
(5)
Jean P.

I had the pleasure of dining at Pastaria with my husband, infant, and 4 friends (including Cara B. and Kelly R.) for my birthday in early February. I was concerned about getting a table and still getting home at a decent hour for baby's bedtime, given that they don't take reservations and don't seat partial parties, but we got lucky. Perhaps it was because our night out occurred on a Tuesday, but a phone call a couple days previous led me to believe they had a lengthy wait every night, so don't necessarily count on it being so quick on a weeknight! A side note: that preceding phone call was probably the only low point of my experience at Pastaria. The gentleman that answered the phone was a little short and snooty when I called about a reservation. I get it - you don't take reservations. You don't have to be a snob about it. It's not like you've been open long enough for that to be common knowledge, or perhaps I'm just THAT out of the loop. I digress! As I mentioned, we were lucky and were seated within 10 minutes of our entire party's arrival, tucked into the back corner which I was grateful for with a 7.5 month old (even if he is wonderfully well-behaved) in tow! Eating out with a small child is never really something you pay much attention to until you're there, and now it's one of my main focuses. We were going to return to Basso after a great experience at the Elite event, but once I received a "no" to the magic question ("Do you have high chairs?"), that was out. I saw that Pastaria had a kids menu and thought it was worth a try, though I was still hesitant given that the restaurant is something of a current hot spot and on the nice side of casual. Resting my fear, the staff was wonderful, and I never felt as though having my son there was a nuisance. My one suggestion would be that if you're going to have high chairs and a kids menu, be prepared with a diaper changing spot as well. I used a little side table that surely is not meant for such an activity and would have been impossible with a larger or squirmier toddler. On top of being a welcoming location, Pastaria has some great food. At my table, we ordered the Risotto balls (heaven - I could eat them all night!), and i was able to sample from the Garganelle, Italian Ramen, Bucatini, Four Cheese pizza and "The Roman" pizza. I ordered the Pappardelle. Everything was really good, though I'd recommend ordering a side of red sauce for the Four Cheese pizza! I was extremely happy with my entree choice and thought it was the best at the table. I liken it to a fancy pulled pork pasta - tender meat and a creamy, dreamy sauce over beautiful fresh, tender pasta. I would definitely order it again! I was plenty full after dinner, but hey, it was my birthday! I ordered the Dark Chocolate Tart. Such a good but oh so bad idea. It was deliciously smooth and decadent, but I left STUFFED! Perhaps sampling some of the best gelato on top of it threw me overboard.... Pricing on the food I would say is fair - pretty standard pasta prices for great quality and service. However, I found the champagne cocktail/mimosa prices to be a little high. Tip: Park in the garage next to Niche and get validated! Parking made easy! I waffled between 4 and 5 stars, but eventually settled on 5 for the outstanding food. The addition of a diaper changing station in the bathroom would seal the deal for me!
(5)
Stephanie H.

Pastaria: please start taking reservations. I went here for a birthday party (large party) and we did call to give them a heads up that we would be arriving around 7:30. We waited an hour for a table. The staff was extremely friendly and actually brought out free risotto balls while we waited. Delicious! Once seated I ordered the kale salad... Perfectly done and quite filling! My fiancÃ© and I both ordered pasta. Unfortunately the pasta was too salty to eat. I sent mine back. I never send food back. The manager was super friendly and accommodating. The "new" pasta was good and I did enjoy the home-made pasta noodles! Everyone agreed the service was great. Salads were delicious. BUT-the food was way too salty:/ My fiancÃ© toughed through his as he was too embarrassed to send it back. He said he could still taste salt hours after leaving!
(3)
Beth K.

Sooo good! I ordered the Bucatini and it was perfect. Pasta perfectly cooked, sauce amazing! Sauce had a bit of a kick but it was not overpowering. Service was good too. Not over the top and not terrible. Just enough attention to serve what we needed and our water was always filled. Not sure about you, but i hate an overbearing waiter. Great atmosphere, not too loud. We really enjoyed our meal here! It was the first time in a long time that on the way home I declared "that was some seriously good food!" I get so tired of the mediocre crap that every other restaurant serves, this was a welcome change. I thought it was very reasonable priced as well. I will pay $2 more for my pasta plate if it has the flavor of Pastaria!!! We will definitely be back!
(4)
Chris Z.

Hmmm... Maybe he blew his load at Taste? I ordered the Italian Ramen for 14.95. The menu description was: spaghettini, hard poached egg, chicken, parmesan broth, chili, basil. It came out looking a little pho-like. But the flavor was just bland. It tasted like below average chicken noodle soup. And the broth was thin and weak. Something that boasts chills, basil, and parm should have a little taste bud punch. If Sriracha sauce was available. I'd have loaded up on it. One saving grace is that my girlfriend ordered a pepperoni pizza. Her pie easily trumped my pasta dish. Simple, flavorful, and the meat was extremely high quality. Also, steer clear of this place if you're on a date, or looking for an intimate setting. This is a family atmosphere. Bright light, tables right next to each other. You have no choice but to absorb some of the conversation from your table neighbors.
(2)
Sam Y.

Great Gelato every time! The staff is super friendly and helpful with getting you exactly what you are in the mood for! The pizza is killer, and the atmosphere is vibrant. A definite must-have in Clayton.
(4)
Gerard F.

I am never one to get Italian food outside of NY, NJ, or Italy, but I am tipping my hat to Pastaria. My wife and I ate at the bar and had great beers and drinks. Rigatoni Amatriciana and the Proscuitto Pizza were too much for 2 to share, without apps, the night before a marathon...can't wait to eat the leftovers after I run. Thanks to the Find Eat Drink app for the great suggestion !!!
(5)
Terry G.

So I find my self in clayton once again, and of course, hungry and what are a few of gluten free vegan and hydrophobic drag queens to do? (You know the fab five? We've been places) Well we go to Pastaria to get treated like the QUEENS we are. So me and the girls sashayed right on in just watch to watch the magic of pastaria. Shotzee, Raspberry Dolphins, Rufio, Pambalam Jam and me (Your host Hurricane Sandy) wanted a thousand stars of fabulous for this place and it truly delivered. Shotzee got us girls a round of fireball and mimosas to start the party. Our waitress Lindsay was sweet and quiet but we could tell that she had a fierce side ready for action at any time. When we explained our particular dietary restrictions she was a bit confused. Hydrophobic? Yeah girls no water for us, that shits nasty. So Lindsay was right on it. Not an ounce near us at any time. What a doll SO me and the ladies give her five sequins of lovely. GET IT GURL. So lets get to the food: Shotzee got Papardelle gluten free pecorino soy sauce and meatballs. Tell you what, she was in Rassy ordered Gluten free spaghetti marmelade fritters and some soy calimari for the table. What a doll. Old Rassy loved it all and who could blame a girl who knows what she wants Rufio doesn't eat. But she would have been very pleased with this if she did. Just margaritas and mentos HEYO. Pambalam Jam's chinese heritage makes her really want the rice cake sliced brioche with tempeh stir fry. So she got it duh! Whats a queen to do if a queen don't get what she deserves? And your host Hurricane Sandy finished 7 or 8 mimosas and fashioned a small pirate hat out of some of the bread they gave us and put it on Lindsay our darling server before eating the hell out of (heh) some barbecued celery shortribs (vegan friendly) and I would give it two fabulous thumbs up. Garlic and glitter babies garlic and glitter. So us queens finished up what could only be described as the most memorable mothers day brunch in ages. We moved up to the bar and let 'em have like the old days. The bartendress was cute like a kitten but strong like big kitten. WE loved her but can't recall her name. We'll say for the sake of this review its "Madonna Hotel Rwanda" So fabulous girl, she was on it, making drinks and taking names. We each downed 5 vodkas or so before we had to call it. It was 9 pm at this point and I think they were closing down. Way to show them girls GET IT. So we bid farewell to our fabulous brunch spot and Madonna Hotel Rwanda and we drove off. Only downside was that this was Rufio's five dwi and they don't take it easy on us foxy dames in drag when its go time. But oh well when we get out of the hospital we're going back for more WATCH OUT PASTARIA THE FAB FIVE ARE COMMIN FOR YA!!!!!!!!
(5)
Julie H.

I have been to Pastaria a couple of times and I like it better every visit! Although, a little frustrating because they don't take reservations, it is easy to wait at the bar. We had an amazing pizza, and several people in our party, had pasta, which they raved about. I do like the atmosphere, but it can be quite loud in there during peak dinner hours.
(4)
Margaret L.

I loved everything about my experience at Pastaria. I came here last night, and my expectations were pretty high. I called in advance to inquire as to the wait times (it was a Sunday night, and Easter, so I figured it could go either way) and we ended up sitting down around 6:30 with no wait at all. I probably wouldn't try to show up with more than 4 people during a weekend night's peak hours and expect a table promptly, though. Luckily for me, it was just me and the boyfriend, as usual. So, we're seated by a super nice hostess (she gets extra points for complimenting my outfit), and since we're starving, we waste no time ordering the fried risotto balls. The 6 balls come with two dipping sauces, and they were gone faster than I could exclaim "those were pretty damn good!". Next came our main couses: the Roman pizza for the bf, pappardelle for me. HOLY COW (or pig, as both our dishes were super pork-y), so killer. The pizza was good, but the noodles were THE BOMB DOT COM. OM NOM NOM. TELL YOUR MOM. Even if my food wasn't something out of a dream (or a Muslim's nightmare), I would still come back here because the vibe is so perfect: it's not trying to be too hardcore italian, but the modified, approachable, family atmosphere makes the top-of-the-line food very unpretentious. This, my friends, is what it's all about: great food, served humbly.
(5)
Walker H.

My significant other and I decided to try out Gerard Craft's new restaurant for my birthday. We were seated quickly at a nice table when we walked in. The water guy filled our glasses twice before any of the multitudinous milling staff came over to get our drink order. When our waitress did take our drink order, she kept touching my elbow which sent the GF's face into "don't fuck with my man" mode. We split the kale salad. It was very heavy on the dressing. Distressingly so. The dressing itself was very fishy (anchovy dressing on kale salad's being a bit the rage right now), but there was nothing to cut the fish taste. No citrus of any kind. I ordered the Italian Ramen dish and the GF got a cup of minestrone soup and a side of brussel sprouts. The soup tasted nice and was quite light. The brussel sprouts were nicely charred. I love them that way...and so does she! My italian ramen was disappointing. The chicken tasted old and the basil overode everything else in the broth. A manager came over to ask how our meal was and we told him it was just "ok". Our waitress came back and we explained the above to her. She apologized and said that her most regular customers usually order the kale salad with light dressing. Also, she said that while all the dishes were excellent, we should order the Wood Oven Roasted Chicken Breast and/or the Pistachio Ravioli, next time. Too bad we didn't order either of those. They apologized and comped my dish. It was an...interesting birthday meal. Despite the fact that they did a really nice job apologizing and that we got some really amazing salt & caramel gellato to go, I'm not certain I want to go back. I mean, it's in Clayton. A pretty boring place to drive out to. We'll see.
(2)
Dena G.

I love, love, love their chitarra pasta and haven't received anything but the best service here. I highly recommend you go and don't forget to order the chocolate tart for dessert.
(5)
Bill K.

First impressions: noisy, the crowd seems to be mostly young which is often a good sign, the bartender treated us as if she knew us, and the general decor is fun and interesting. It's not overly "hipster", which, IMO, is a good thing... but there are various cool people who know what a good place this is. The server was highly capable, patient, and easily friendly as if she knew us, and yet, quite distractingly so, model-pretty. These are sometimes contradictory traits, but not this time. After a couple rounds of delicious coarse bread with high-quality olive oil, salt, pepper, and chili oil, followed by a round of appetizers highlighted by the kale salad and luxurious Brussels sprouts, we got down to business. I ordered the salmon, Dave ordered some sort of pasta Bolognese, and the two wives ordered something that came loaded with butter and cheese. All of us were well satisfied with the results. Being a Grinchy sort, and trying to reclaim the right to wear the pants in my closet I've recently discovered I've "outgrown", I skipped the pasta even though pasta is what this place is all about. My belly was telling me to order a big ol' dish of noodles. But the carbs, the horrible, horrible carbs.... So in spite of the tasty pasta being crafted within a short distance, I buckled down and did the wrong thing. I could see several trays of glorious fresh pasta in the making just a few feet away. I've always loved fresh pasta so it was a huge struggle not to order a hog bucket full of it and dig right in. The best I could do was sneak a few bites of my wife's utterly delicious entree. Trying lately to get back into my 32 inch waist jeans has meant an absence from noodles - tasting the delicious, al dente masterpiece that Pastaria serves makes me wonder why can't I just buy new pants in a size that fits? The salmon was great, but c'mon... handmade fresh pasta. My dear wife just about dived head first into the buttery, cheese-flecked shells on her plate. It always delights me to see her enjoy her dinner like that. This morning, right out of bed, she made a beeline to the refrigerator to grab the carry out box and finish it off! This restaurant is good enough to cut it in downtown NYC or Chicago. It was a completely pleasant and satisfying experience.
(5)
Chenlin W.

crowded at Saturday noon. Tried bolognese, the Holmes pizza and kale salad. Love the pasta.
(4)
C P.

Tonight was our third time there, and the first on a weeknight. The food is great, tonight the service seemed insensitive if not totally inflexible. We ordered cocktails and some risotto balls for a nice leisurely start (we thought) then salads and pastas. The risotto balls were totally forgotten, the salads arrived thirty seconds after the cocktails, the salads were whisked away because the pastas came out. My companion had salad left in his bowl and he wasn't even asked if he was finished. Because obviously their process trumps our experience. Underwhelmed.
(2)
Stacy H.

Went for our anniversary. Had to sit outside in the wind. The food was just ok. We were a little disappointed that no salad, or side came with our meals. The braised beef was just basically pot roast. The waiter definitely (obviously) tried to up-sale us every chance she got. Probably won't be back.
(3)
Katrina S.

The only better pasta that I've had was in Italy. This is as good as it gets in the US. (sorry mom!) We had to wait over an hour for a table at 6pm on a Saturday but they brought around free garlic bread knots, which were heaven, and had a really good and inexpensive beer selection at the bar. Everyone was incredibly nice and apologized for the wait, the bartender was very attentive. When we finally sat down at our table we quickly ordered a pizza for an appetizer and it came out ready about five minutes later. The homemade pepperoni was amazing and the pizza was a mix of Neapolitan and Roman style pizzas. SO GOOD! I ordered the Calcio and Pepe, my favorite pasta I ever ate in Rome, so I was nervous it wouldn't live up to what I remembered. Thankfully it did, it's almost like a sophisticated mac and cheese. My sister had pasta with pork which was amazing as well. I'm getting that next time! The gelato for dessert is as good as any I've had in Italy. Not a ton of flavors but the basil was a perfect end to our amazing meal.
(5)
Suzanne D.

I have been to Pastaria for breakfast, lunch and dinner and each meal has been fantastic. The food is always delicious and the service is wonderful. To make it even better, they are extremely kid friendly as well. If you go for dinner on the weekend, be prepared to wait. It's definitely worth it though. And make sure to save room for gelato!
(5)
Erin G.

Wow, so this place has been open a month, and they already made Esquire Magazines Most Life Changing Pizza list? Whoever Geno is in Chicago is rolling in his grave, if hes dead that is. I mean seriously? I know good PR people, but somehow that just seems shady to me, it really does. Moving on, we came here pretty close to opening and it was a typical excited we are open atmosphere, everyone is on staff and really happy and and we prob had 14 table touches,not including our server. I am sure the spastic enthusiasm has since passed. I basically got all the wrong things since I wasn't aware this had the most life changing pizza in the country at the time, I went for the toasted spaghetti and was not impressed, it needed something to carry it over the edge and it just did not deliver. I wanted to add cream or mushrooms or lemon, SOMETHING, but it was just blah and I dont like hard chewy pasta. For dessert we got a few scoops of gelato and the Tiramisu. The gelato was good, thats always safe, so is Tiramisu, usually, but this here was lackluster, I cant even remember how it tasted, thats how good it was. I would possibly go back and the quest for the best Italian in STL is still ongoing. I have yet to be wowed in the land of Provel.
(2)
Vincenzo E.

Very, very good fresh pasta dishes. It's a little pricey but it's worth it. The gelato is also really good. It's a noisy place, but as long as you know that going in it's not a big deal. Also in the spring and summer you can sit outside and it's really pleasant.
(5)
Danielle W.

YUM! So worth the wait if you are in a pizza and pasta mood. My friend and I started with a delicious glass of red wine to wait for our table. We were seated about 20-25 minutes after we put our names in, and we were sat at the food bar. It was a little toasty from the pizza oven but really fun watching them make the pizzas all night long. We split a Kale salad and it was delicious. The greens were very fresh and the dressing was really rich and creamy. YUM- the large is HUGE, but we split it so it was the perfect size. I ordered the cheeseless pizza, the only one on the menu. The pizza crust was to die for. I could have eaten just crust all night long dunked in my extra leftover salad dressing. My friend had the Gluten Free pasta with the bolognese sauce and it was also really delicious. We shared the brussel sprouts as well and those were probably the best thing we had all night. WOW, they were cooked just right. We ended the night with a dairy free, gluten free grape sorbet that surprised us both by tasting absolutely delightful. It was a light but refreshing sorbet that was not too much like grape syrup. All around I will be back to try more of the pastas and salads and pizzas. Everything was pretty darn good- definitely recommend the pizza or pasta over a main entree though. Pastaria!
(4)
L S.

Excellent restaurant. We just moved to the area, and I absolutely loved the service and atmosphere at this place. The bread and pizza were amazing, and I'll definitely return to try their famous gelato!
(5)
Emily K.

I'll start off with my dad is an executive chef and had a restaurant that specialized in wood fire pizza. The staff was so accommodating and friendly when I was unhappy with my pizza. The turn around time on the food is great but the first time they brought me out my pizza it was thoroughly charred on the bottom and top so they made me a new one and the top was fine but the bottom was still black. The dough is super thin so there wasn't much pizza to begin with. All they need to do is change the dough and put cornmeal down in the wood fire oven and the pizza would be much better. I also wasn't impressed with the tiny menu, I was in the mood for pasta and craving a standard dish and they didn't have anything close to it on the menu. On a positive note the wine and taramisu were both delicious. I won't be going back.
(2)
Joshua T.

Quickly becoming one of our favorites. Been there 3-4 times so far and the last was the best. Went fairly early on a fri night (6:30ish), got a seat at the chef's counter where they were making the pizzas. Great conversation with the chef and got to see chef craft come by and interact with the staff for awhile. On to the food - pizza of the day with the egg was wonderful. My wife had the pappardelle which was fabulous as well. Perhaps our two favorite dishes there. Risotto balls are always hard to pass up and love that the offer a good house wine by the liter or half liter. Didn't have room for desert this time but love their tiramisu and gelato
(4)
Clint G.

I was excited to try this restaurant given the atmosphere and buzz that had been created around it. I put in for reservations for two at 8pm on a Thursday night and was seated about 40 minutes later. Not bad. I order the Mafalda made with gluten free pasta. The up-charge for gf was $6.00. This is ridiculous and obviously a way to gouge people that need to eat gluten free for dietary reasons. You'd think I was ordering pasta spun from gold. While it's nice they accommodate my needs, with that price point why bother when other places make better dishes for a lesser price. Anyways, the pasta came out chewy and undercooked and the dish lacked something that I can't pinpoint. The dish was served with chicken but it was hard to tell given the amount in the dish. The flavors were just ordinary. My dinner companion and I tried some samples of gelato and ordered the panna cotta, both of which were divine. We both agreed if we came back it would be to stop in for some gelato only.
(2)
Kristy W.

Wanted to like this place more but service was rough when we went a few weeks ago and my food underwhelmed. Was seated and then waited a long time to be acknowledged by server / receive water. Seemed like their process for getting bread and water to tables was not yet refined. Ordered a vegetable salad only to find out it was carrots and celery and caulifower coated in a cream-based sauce, no lettuce...not what I expected and not noteworthy either. Have heard wonderful things about this place from others, however Would like to try again and order pasta. Will likely wait several months hoping service glitches improve.
(2)
Danielle H.

After my first visit, I'd recommend - - The Kale Salad. Sort of like a caeser, salty and delicious. - The fennel sausage pizza. Really good, a little more special than your typical sausage pizza. Kids or picky eaters will like it too. - Bolognese. I didn't have it, but it was a favorite at our table. Everyone was sampling! - Salted Caramel Gelato. Everyone was stealing it from me! I should have gotten the pint size! - Beer - small, but solid selection of local beer! Also want to mention how casual and carefree this environment is. Not what people expect from 'Gerard Craft' restaurant. It's definitely family friendly. And affordable! BUT also have to say we got there at 5:30pm on a Friday night and the wait was an hour and 45 minutes for our table of 9. Be warned. You'll probably have to wait. But it is so worth it. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Michael F.

This is our new favorite place. The pistachio ravioli is ridiculous. Just amazing. The good old pepperoni pizza is a revelation, a little different than any other pizza I've had; each bite was better than the last. We've also had the Chitarra al Pomodoro pasta, it's simple but fresh and will not disappoint. Seafood pasta (not on current menu) was solid as well. Great salads and bread round out the flavorgasm that will occur in your mouth. Go, expect a long wait, and be impressed.
(5)
Lucy R.

The food was great, the service was prompt. One complaint though, I over heard the manager speaking to a bus girl (who is also a very wonderful hostess) in a very condescending tone. You could tell she was embarrassed and upset. It made me uncomfortable to hear/see that happen. Very unprofessional
(2)
Tricia R.

Depending on who you ask in our party, this place could be a 3 or 4 star restaurant. Luckily for me, I ordered something tasty and am going to rate this place a 4. :) I'm not sure if this place will always be so crowded or if people are just excited about a new restaurant and are piling in, but be prepared to wait as they do not accept reservations. Although the hostess originally told us the wait would be 50 minutes, we ended up waiting about 20. There aren't a large number of tables and the bar can be quite packed, plus the "industrial" decor doesn't help with all the noise. Food: 1) Crispy risotto balls - tasty. Comes with 6 bite-szed portions and 2 sauces. The hubby was not impressed. These are similar to a mini arancini. 2) Minestrone soup - the hubby thought it was bland, but I thought it was pretty good (maybe bc I got a spoonful towards the bottom where all the stuff was?). Has a little bit of melted cheese which was a nice touch. 3) Shrimp salad/Mixed greens - I didn't order a salad, but no one at our table finished theirs. Guess it wasn't too great. 4) Chitarra - this pasta is a spaghetti with olive oil, garlic and chili oil. I thought it was the best thing at the table, and it comes highly recommended according to all the reviews we've seen. 5) Canestri Cacio e Pepe - this pasta was basically like a mac & cheese with GIANT macaroni noodles. Delicious. 6) Chitarra al Pomodoro - I thought this was good as well, although my SiL and MiL complained the some of the noodles were clumped together. 7) Pappardelle - the hubby ordered this and was disappointed. The pork was pretty good, but this dish was just OK. 8) Margherita pizza - good flavor but the dough was not crispy. 9) side of broccoli - cooked like the Chitarra, so I loved the flavor although some of it was slightly burnt. Dessert: 1) Gelato - there are 3 "standard" flavors and several seasonal flavors. The table ordered salted caramel, vanilla, and dark chocolate. The salted caramel had rave reviews from the table. The portions were larger than expected, so plan accordingly! 2) Dark chocolate tarte - pretty good, very rich. I'm still partial to Sugo's bc I'm obsessed with garlic, but I think we'll come back and give this a try again. Would have liked to see an option to add meat to the pasta dishes!
(4)
Carolyn D.

We were so excited to eat at Gerard Craft's newest restaurant because we are the biggest fans of Niche. This restaurant definitely lived up to the Craft name! The space is very open and casual, with a large kitchen counter and open brick oven. The walls are filled with pictures of Italy, which I'm assuming are from Gerard's travels. The service was very friendly and quick and the food was fantastic. The fried risotto cheese balls were excellent and the black pepper pasta, described as adult mac 'n cheese, was ridiculously tasty! They have gelato and allow you walk up and sample the flavors. We decided on salted caramel and dark chocolate and both were really good. It was fun to see Gerard making pizzas in the kitchen and you can even sit at the kitchen counter to eat. We were very impressed with the quality of the service and food, especially since Pastaria was only it's second night of dinner service. It's wonderful to have a casual, fun Italian place to go to and I can't wait to go back. Congrats Gerard and crew for another success!
(5)
Tess A.

Like many others, I was also eagerly waiting the opening of this restaurant. Let me get to the details: Day: Saturday night, 7:30 p.m. - table for 2 had a 30-45 minute wait. The place was crowded but we were happy to wait. The Yelp tips listed this place as "casual". I'm inclined to say that at least on a Saturday night, the dress is more "casual-trendy". Orders: (Course 1) Kale salad - the other reviews had me at "anchovy" and I had to have it! I'm an anchovy fan and this did not disappoint. If you're curious about it, imagine it tastes like a "stronger" Cesar salad dressing. Don't fear the anchovy! :) Mixed green salad - looked like a run of the mill mixed greens to me. Fruit, blue cheese and dark greens. (Course 2) Toasted spaghetti & Strozzapreti (bolognese) Truth? I gave this place 4 stars because of how perfectly al dente they cooked the pasta! It had that great "bite" without being raw and chewy enough without being limp and lifeless like the way most other places serve it. I can't say it enough, the way they cook their pasta is simply perfect! It's also so fresh and flavourful! We enjoyed both of our dishes. It's pretty clear that the intent was for the pasta to shine and be the star of the dish, my only wish is that I had a little more clams with my toasted spaghetti and a little more meat sauce with the strozzapreti just to balance out all of the elements and textures. (Course 3) Gelato! Must try the gelato! It's never going to be exactly like the kind you'll find in Italy, but the gelato they make here is made with so much thought and care. It's in the taste! We had the chocolate--which tasted like, um, "real" (for lack of a better word) chocolate. There was a nice cocoa depth and essence to it. We paired that with the salted caramel which was lovely. Couldn't get enough!! I'm hoping to eventually make my way through all of the flavours. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Steve C.

Went with several neighbors last night to Pastaria by Niche in Clayton - the hottest place in St. Louis right now. I ordered the pepperoni pizza . . . looked good, but the taste. . . just blah. $11.95 for pizza (SUPER THIN) that had 7 pepperonis on top and very little sauce/cheese. JUST NO TASTE. Others at the table had the "mac and cheese" pasta - which I would get next time. Just wanted to let you know that I would not order pizza again at Pastaria . . . you can get better pizza at the food court at the Galleria! I'm just sayin'.
(2)
Brian W.

Best pasta in St. Louis hands down. completely homemade from scratch. Incredibly fresh and delicious ingredients. Everything tastes AMAZING and the service is superb! Also, homemade gelato. Way above most anything you can get to eat in St. Louis, tastes like a great meal in NYC, or Boston. Do yourself a favor and go there! Takes reservations for 6 or more, and at least right now they get pretty busy at peak times (7PM), but we arrived at 8 and had no wait.
(5)
Kelly R.

I have to say, I'm a little surprised at all the luke-warm reviews. I visited last night with a group of friends, Cara B. and Jean P. included, and we all loved our experience! They don't seat incomplete parties (which I think is a stupid rule, but whatever) so we had to wait a bit before getting a table. I admit. It was my husband and I who were late. Whoops! Luckily, it only took about 10 minutes and they gave us a table tucked away in the back. We had a 7 month old in tow, but we never felt out of place, or like kids weren't welcome. The atmosphere is very open and loud enough that a child's babble isn't noticed, but not too loud that you can't talk to those at your own table. Our whole table ordered a combo of pizza and pasta and everything was excellent! We started out with the risotto balls which were awesome. I had the 4-cheese pizza which was great, but not the best I'd ever had. Still, I loved the meal. I think my favorite, though, was the Papperdelle pasta. The pasta was fresh, soft, and perfectly seasoned. The standout was absolutely our dessert. Someone ordered the chocolate tart which was very tasty, but my gelato couldn't have been better. In fact, the only comparable gelato I've ever had has been from Venice, Italy, so kudos, Pastaria! My combo was goat cheese and toasted hazelnut. Heaven. Seriously. After my husband had 2 beers, we ordered a drink for a friend, 2 meals, 1 appetizer, and dessert, we walked away spending a little over $70 after tip. It's more than we usually spend on dinner, but well worth it for a special occasion. Just a tip, parking is a bitch in Clayton, but if you park in the garage next to the restaurant, they validate for free.
(5)
Cara B.

Wow. Love this place! I had dinner there with 5 friends last night and we were all really impressed and happy. We each sampled what the other person ordered, which included the Bucatini, Italian Ramen, Roman Pizza, 4 Cheese Pizza, Garganelle, and Pork Pappardelle. All were fantastic and everyone agreed on how great the flavors were. The pasta was so fresh, and the pizza dough was chewy and delicious. My husband practically inhaled the Garganelle. But the star of the evening was, for me, the gelato. IT WAS INCREDIBLE! Those of us that got gelato, agreed that it was the best we'd ever tasted. We also got to sample some before ordering, and luckily, you can order two different kinds, so that makes the decision a little easier at least! We found two great flavor combos - salted caramel & dark chocolate, and goat cheese & toasted hazelnut. HEAVENLY. I can't wait to come back to Pastaria, not only for dinner, but definitely for dessert! Also, if you park in the garage, the restaurant will comp it. Win!
(5)
Lacey H.

I am a fan of this place. Came here for the first time with out of town guests and were very impressed by the food. Once we sat down, service was fast and efficient. Started with the radish bruschetta. I had their version of bolognese and it was fantastic. My boyfriend had their spaghetti and was very impressed as well. For dessert I had the pumpkin/ bacon gelato. So unique! Down side: our 20 minute wait turned into 1 hour. They are new and still working out the kinks so it is understandable. Just allow yourself a little extra time and get a drink at the bar!
(4)
Kim B.

This place was incredibly tasty and met all my expectations! Friend and I stopped in a few Fridays ago and we're told that all of the tables were full but they had some kitchen bar seating if we were ok with that...and honestly, I think that made our trip to pastaria even more enjoyable! We had a great server who was very friendly and helpful, as my friend is a vegetarian and he made sure to inform us that the bruschetta we planned to order was unfortunately not vegetarian. We got the arancini instead and it was delicious! Plus the house made breads and olive oil/chili oil = yum. Decent beer selection to choose from as well. We tried out a half margherita half special of the day pizza (sausage, peppers, jalapeÃ±o) and both were great. The crust was a perfect mix of crunchy and chewy and we ate it all. Then of course, we had to try out the gelato. You're able to sample their flavors before you decide, and I highly recommend trying out the sweet basil gelato if it's available. Odd concept, but a delicious result. I would absolutely recommend this place and hope to be back soon to try out their house made pastas!
(5)
Erica B.

Wow, my husband and I absolutely loved this place! New STL favorite. Sitting at the Chef Corner made the dining experience. The homemade pasta dish and pizza of the day was fantastic. However lets not forget about the Brussels sprouts. Definitely recommend!!!
(5)
Jennifer B.

consistently tasty food and good libations. Always a great place to bring kids too, they have a "kid's club" where the children receive a free t shirt and membership card. Might be a sucker for this, but we'll always love pastaria.
(4)
Stephanie B.

Yum! Granted everything Gerard Craft does is freaking magical. Even pizza!! The wait was ridiculous so we ate at the bar where service was seriously lacking. Enough so that I got up and got my own gelato from the stand across the room. Speaking off, with delectable flavors like salted caramel, basil, and toasted coconut who could resist. This is a menu I look forward to eating my way through.
(4)
Jim L.

Went here for the first time tonight and was completely blown away. Parked in the parking garage had no problem finding a spot, usually tough for Clayton - validated ticket when we left too. Walked in, put our reservation in, and had a couple of great house coxktails at the bar. Also sampled some gelato while enduring our 20 minute wait. Our server was attentive, knowledgable about the wines, and non-invasive. Cacio e pepe and pappardelle were better than the rave reviews I read. Received risotto balls and gelato on the house. Minestrone and even the bread and olive oil were excellent. Laid back, family friendly, non-pretentious atmosphere. Every detail of our experience was superb.
(5)
Justin C.

I say two thumbs up for Pastaria. Service was very quick and attentive, food super delicious, atmosphere so-so. Kale salad was to die for, seriously.
(4)
Kel Vin W.

Went there on a Monday night for a birthday dinner at 7pm. Fortunately we were only a group of 2 otherwise there would be a wait (even on a Monday night!). First off, the decor and ambience was splendid, we called it "rustic chic". We started with the fried risotto balls which had a good crunch on the crust and instead of being densely packed with risotto, it was surprisingly light and amply filled with cheese, the two accompanying sauces were unfortunately somewhat underwhelming. We ordered the "Bucatini All'Amatriciana", it has housemade bucatini pasta with tomato, red onion, guanciale and chili. The pasta was perfectly al dente and very fresh. I would have liked it if the sauce could have been made with a stronger flavor, but it was still delicious. . We also ordered the pizza of the day which had arugula, mushrooms, tomato sauce and an egg. The combination was rustic and the crust was a thin and light neapolitan style. It works. I ordered the Dark Chocolate and Pomegranate-Pear gelato which were great finishers to the meal. It was a good experience overall, the service was great and I love the ambience.I will definitely return again.
(3)
Kirsten E.

Loved this place! The garlic knots and risotto balls were great starters and the house red was extremely smooth! You have to get there early if you don't want to wait, but if you're not in a hurry this is a great spot!
(5)
Alan L.

The perfect place for having dinner with friends you haven't seen in 4 months. Pastaria reminds me of everything that I miss about the St. Louis dining scene--familiar, comfortable, unhurried, and just plain good food. We started off with two appetizers--the risotto balls and the bruschetta. The risotto balls were delicious. I'm a big sauce person so I probably would have stuffed myself with risotto balls if I hadn't had to share with my tablemates. The bruschetta was a little more... interesting. I was expecting a more traditional bruschetta, but the way that Pastaria makes their bruschetta is with a big slice of bread and then they put these pickled (?) tomatoes on top. The pickled tomatoes were just a little too sour for me. All throughout dinner, the waiter/waitress brings out these enormous loaves of bread that they slice up and then bring around to the table. On the table, there is both olive oil and a spicy chili oil that has quite a bit of kick to it. I ordered the pasta bolognese. I probably didn't eat half of it (due to the aforementioned risotto balls and bread), but it wasn't due to a lack of trying. Good stuff. And then--then, there was the gelato. We probably spent 10 minutes just trying their different flavors. They have some common flavors like banana and chocolate. But then, they have flavors like basil and goat cheese. The basil was by far the standout. I actually ended up choosing the pistachio, dark chocolate, and basil but I would have been perfectly content with just the basil. The gelato part of the restaurant is also open to walk-ins. Shame I don't live in St. Louis now or I would make so many drive-by gelato stops.
(5)
Karen F.

Fantastic meal of fresh, homemade pasta. We had quite a variety of pizzas and pastas at our table and the excellence came through with every dish. I ended the meal with the goat cheese gelato. Awesome!
(5)
Chris X M.

Great Restaurant! (but not quite perfect). We had a fantastic meal in Nov. 2012 at Pastaria. The place was PACKED and they do not take reservations, so be sure to allow time if you go on a weekend. The bar was crowded, but the bartender was friendly and fast. They said a 45 minute wait for a table, but it really took 20 minutes. The pasta and pizza heavy menu was great and VERY reasonable. (Pizzas starting at $9.95, Pastas at $10, house wines were $5 a glass.) Our server was fast and friendly. The tables are a bit close together and it has the feel of a busy bistro and is a unique dressy-casual crowd. From one of the Best Chefs in the US, Pastaria is next to the new Niche--which promises to remain one of the best restaurants in the Midwest. Pastaria is fast, fun, casual and not expensive. Location is great... downtown Clayton, new building, giant picture windows, street parking or valet. Our only complaint was that one of our pasta dishes was not as flavorful as expected. For authentic spicy Red Sauce Italian, consider the Hill or Paul Manno's. But for a fun, hip, tasty meal and wine--Pastaria is perfect. NOTE: Some reviews complain that pasta is to firm... that is Al Dente, not under-cooked. NICE: Niche and Pastara are connected, so if one is too crowded--you can try the other. Food and wine prices were very reasonable. You may wait a bit for the table, but they prepare the food pretty fast.
(5)
Joseph J M.

Wow! Great ravioli. Excellent gelato. Busy atmosphere. Good for kids too.
(5)
Jason S.

Awesome food, and great atmosphere. Fantastic service. If you can get a seat by the pizza oven, do it -- watching the cooks prepare food is very entertaining, and you get a good idea of the different dishes available.
(5)
Stephen C.

Having a craving for Italian food, this place satisfied on every level. The Chopped Salad was tasty but a tad over-drenched in sauce, but the Lasagna Verde was perfect - flavors were great, portions were just right. Tried the Cannoli and the Pistachio gelato for dessert. Two scoops was just right. The Cannoli was great. Finished it off by taking a Margherita pizza to go, which I saved for later and was every bit as delicious as I was hoping. I sat by the kitchen, so I was able to watch the cooks bake my pizza in the stone oven. Overall, with great decor, an intimate setting, and tasty food, this is one of my favorite places that I've tried in St. Louis thus far. A tad pricey, but worth at least one trip.
(5)
Andrea B.

A wonderful experience. Great kale salad. I had the pistachio ravioli - a little apprehensive but so glad I got it. We ordered pasta with meat sauce for my son and it was just as amazing. Great atmosphere, great for families and uh-mazing food/service.
(5)
Chris L.

First time, great experience, will be back. You are taken care of from the moment you walk in the door until the moment you leave (A+ for service). Food is very good with selections you are familiar with but also options you won't typically whip up in your own kitchen like risotto balls, garganelli, pistachio ravioli, & butternut squash and sage pizza. Pastaria is worthy of a look when you're thinking of your next dining option.
(4)
Vance H.

I'm definitely part of the "meh" crowd here and find most of the criticism dead on. There's a saying, "To whom much is given, much is expected." So, I think Mr. Craft deserves some of the lumps here. I don't begrudge him his current success, but as someone who has eaten all over the world, it's utterly absurd to call the pizza here extraordinary or anything special. Go to Rome if you want a tutorial. Baking bread like the Europeans do is a real challenge. Esquire is a great magazine but they can't fact check subjective reviews. Like others here, our service was impersonal, the wait was absurd, the flavors were either boring or bland and we were given free gelato (that was decent) for the flaws we pointed out. We went soon after opening and I was hoping for some improvement. Unfortunately, it looks like what I've experienced at other Craft establishments: lots of buzz, lots of presentation, trendy descriptions but literally nothing to make me say "Wow!" The problem with goosing expectations and charging a premium is that....well, people naturally expect something special. Guess I'll just keep going to Chicago and San Francisco for real culinary thrills....or to my local Vietnamese restaurant where they NEVER disappoint.
(2)
Skye H.

The food here was delicious. The salmon was prepared perfectly. I mean really, seasoned & grilled perfectly. The salmon was so moist and not dry like most places. Also most places over salt their salmon, but not here. The pastas were amazing also. The best part was able to sit up at the kitchen and watch them cook. The cooks are amazing and work really good under the pressure of having the whole restaurant super packed with a line waiting out the door. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Dan A.

Food was meh. Atmosphere was way too crowded and hectic. I just felt like people were crawling over me all night. It was way too expensive for what I got. $7 beers? This is America! Snooty, too expensive, and too dressy for the food and atmosphere. With a silly name like Pastaria, I don't expect to have to dress up. Keep your $7 beers and keep your snooty attitude. Definitely won't be back.
(2)
Barry B.

My wife and I and another couple went there on a Sunday night. We had wait about 10 minutes for a table. The other couple and my wife got the fish and loved it. I got the roast beef and all I can say is oh my God was it great. It reminded me of what my mother made when I was a child. Everything here was first rate; I am sure we will be back many many times in the future.
(5)
Melissa M.

The parpadelle is the best! I dream about it!!!
(5)
Bob M.

This place has become a favorite for me and wife. We live in Clayton and frequent Pastaria at least once every few weeks. We love the Kale salad, roasted carrots with mint and lemon, Margarita Pizza, and salted caramel/ dark chocolate gelato. Everything is fresh, unique, and delicious. We love sitting at the chef bar watching the cooking in action. We definitely recommend Pastaria.
(5)
Dean B.

At this point, Gerard Craft could take a dump in a box and it would make a top 10 list somewhere. His legion of foodie hipster fans with their undying love (and bottomless wallets) will follow him virtually anywhere, no matter what whimsy crosses his mind, and deem whatever food he prepares to be the best of whatever they've eaten. And if they don't, he'll pay a magazine to declare it as such. I'm not here to attempt to tear down the cult of Craft. The guy obviously knows what he's doing on some level, and in general I think his restaurants are pretty alright, if not habitually overpriced. I'm all about good food, so I understand that sometimes you have to pay more for stuff that hasn't been lifted off the back of a Sysco truck. So when I heard that Craft was opening a new restaurant that was more affordable and appealed to the unwashed masses, I was intrigued. The press leading up to the opening of Pastaria was full of the typical holier-than-thou prose which is apparantly now required every time someone has a Beard award attached to their name, or in some cases, simply has a beard. Craft visited some remote village deep in the heart of villa country in Italy somewhere and fell in love with their cooking and oh so desperately wanted to bless the poor ignorant people of St. Louis with this bountiful gift that he will bestow upon us. Barf. It's pasta, guys. Pasta. Regardless, I try to go into every new restaurant with an open mind. Hey, even judgemental fussy slugs like myself are wrong from time to time. I was wrong about Brasserie, and about Bogart's, so I'm not immune to the incessant hype that's built around a new establishment. There's really no getting around the physical presence of Pastaria. It's a big room with cramped spacing. It was built for the masses alright, to get them in and out and cram as many people in as possible. It shows. If you're not the type to embrace physical contact, you might want to go elsewhere...there's about an 80% chance that you'll bump into someone just walking to your seat. And when you're seated, please look both ways before moving your chair, since at any given time there's a never-ending stream of people probably walking around behind you. This isn't the type of place to have a private conversation with a friend, and hopefully you have a good set of pipes to be able to yell above the omnipresent crowd noise that seems to permeate every Craft restaurant. I'm not exactly the type of person who demands peace and quiet when I eat, but isn't it reasonable to not feel like I'm eating on an airport runway? So the experience is alright, if not hurried. I realize I'm not a marquee Craft restaurant like Niche or Taste, but I'm still paying $17 for a bowl of pasta, which puts them on the level of The Hill restaurants. And for that, I generally expect a few more smiles, a more thorough explanation of the menu, and the feeling like the waiter actually wants to serve you, rather than go through the motions and cross you off his list. Not to say I've had poor service, but I'd describe it as impersonal. So anyway, how is that $15 bowl of pasta? Well, pretty alright. If you've visited any of Craft's restaurants, you know that the ingredients listed on the menu are programmed to make you feel as stupid as possible, and serve as only a suggestion to what's actually in the dish. If you can make it through the menu without having to google what in the world "gremolata" or "guanciale" are, hats off to you. There's also the annoying tendency to not use common pasta names that ya know, people actually KNOW. So you either have to buck up and admit to the waiter that you have no idea what Strozzapreti or Garganelli are, or spend half the pre-ordering process figuring out that they're just fancy names for Cavatelli and Ziti. So I order the Pappardelle, which is one of the only pastas on the menu that I didn't have to look up. According to the menu, it comes with smoked pork, marscapone, and apples. The only reason I know marscapone is a cheese is because Cooking Light magazine has turned me into a culinary genius to the point where I can almost understand 25% of what appears on your typical foodie menu. I'm assuming that somewhere along the way, someone stole my cheese and apples out of my dish, because by the time it got to me, I could barely detect a hint of cheese and all that remained were 5 lonely slivers of green apple. Nonetheless, I can't deny that it was pretty damned good. And for $17, blows the Hill restaurants out of the water. It was nice to see a plate of pasta set in front of me without the whole thing drowning in a watery mess of diarrhea-inducing sauce, which I hear is grandpa's favorite dish at Zia's. So the pasta is pretty decent. How about the BEST PIZZA IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE according to some artisinal food magazine where the writers grow their own everything from dirt imported from the land of their forefathers? Part 2, coming up!
(3)
Jason L.

I enjoyed everything that I had at this restaurant. Service was friendly and helpful. When splitting two pastas three ways, instead of immediately applying a split charge, she offered to simply allow us to save the charge and more easily distribute it among ourselves. The homemade pastas were delicious. I had the Strozzapreti and the Pappardelle. Both were wonderful. The pappardelle could be a bit too tart, but combination of the smoky flavors and the creamy sauce make a memorable experience. The homemade bread is of soft crumb and crisp crust. No complaints there. The olive oils and salts provided are tasty, but you'll find yourself quickly asking for more bread to use for your pasta sauce. All in all a great dining experience. I'll be back for sure; they've made a fan out of me.
(5)
Dale W.

Was in St. Louis on business and had dinner here. I was by myself so sat at the kitchen bar. Enjoyed watching the kitchen in action. Had a pizza...very good...but,surprisingly the highlight was the pan roasted Brussel sprouts. Good service, nice atmosphere. I'm going to try to hit the place again before I leave.
(4)
Kerry B.

I really enjoy my visits to Pastaria. They have a great local craft beer list and an affordable by the glass wine list. I'm a huge fan of their Bolognese but my boyfriend can't get enough of their pizzas. Since I don't eat cheese I can't vouch for those myself. My friends rave about the crispy risotto balls as well. We've always had great service and good experiences here. However, it does get crowded so I recommend arriving early in the evening.
(5)
Melisa L.

I will definitely be back! It was so difficult deciding what to order! Started with wine at the bar, was told the wait would be 40 minutes (they don't take reservations) but I don't believe it was that long! Our server was Peter, very knowledgable and attentive without being overbearing, two important qualities! We started with the risotto balls, small but yummy! My friend ordered the pistachio ravioli, she didn't care for the sauce that much but thought it was still good and the fresh warm bread helped sop up the extra sauce. I ordered the pork and apple pasta dish! It was delish! I was too full to finish since we had the app and a little bread, plus I was dying to try the homemade gelato! The small gelato, only $3.99, is two scoops and you can mix and match! I tried their classic salted caramel and the balsamic maple something, both were excellent. Again, too full to finish but reasonable enough that only a couple of bites was perfect! Can't wait to come back and try more! Not giving 5 stars yet...will update after having more ;)
(4)
Jill M.

Went here on a Monday night so didn't have to wait for a table. That was a plus! I ordered the kale salad, and my friends and I shared the margarita pizza and another pizza (I forgot the name). The pizza was ok.....but I'm giving this experience 4 stars because I feel like I would've liked this restaurant a lot more if I ordered the pasta. My bad! I thought it was cool how you could watch them hand-make the pasta, and how they had so many choices of gelato! I also really liked the way they decorated the space, and how they served the drinks out of mason jars. I would definitely be willing to try Pastaria again!
(4)
Elizabeth R.

Maybe it's because I had an awesome evening with my friend at Pastaria, but this place made such an impression on me that before my meal was even over, I was texting my other friends that they needed to try this place. My friend and I shared the risotto balls (fried balls of risotto and cheesy goodness), and each got a plate of pasta for dinner. Here's what really impressed me, the dishes were interesting without being complicated. I think a lot of times in the quest to be inventive, chefs loose sight of the idea that less is more, and that classic flavor combinations are classic for a reason. Luckily, the people over at Pastaria have not fallen prey to this trap. Also, I have to give a shout-out to their gelato, particularly their GOAT CHEESE GELATO WITH RASPBERRY SWIRL. I had no idea what I was in for when I ordered it, but it's basically cheesecake in gelato form. I have no earthly idea how they do it, but it's mind blowingly awesome, and better yet, you can buy a pint of it and take it home with you. What's not to love?
(5)
Bonny P.

I went for book club and the service was great! The food was delicious but the gelato was really fantastic! There are so many flavors. It was nice to have after a delicious lunch.
(3)
Sarah S.

It's been awhile since I've written a review and Pastaria was the perfect visit to lure me back in . . . This is a SOLID four. The food was the BEST I've had in a long time. I had their pizza of the day (cauliflower, garlic, and red onions) which was delicious and reasonable at $12.95. It's a VERY thin crust base with minimal toppings so the flavors blend well. My dining buddy had pistachio ravioli she raved about. We finished it off with gelato. The Smoked Chocolate was amazing. My friend enjoyed her Dark Chocolate/Basil combo. This place was likened to Momofuku in a recent NYT write-up. Unlike my experience at Momofuku, this place lives up to the hype! So why only four stars? The place is super-busy, tables are very close together, and there's a sense that they want to move people through their dinners and clear tables (though they allowed us to linger). While we didn't opt for gluten-free, I'm not sure the exorbitant $6 up-charge is justifiable. All the same, definitely worth a visit, or two, or more . . .
(4)
Maria B.

Just ok in my book. Some items are good, like the gelato, and the arancini. Some others just ok, like the pastas and the pizza (if you want a tastier one, go to The Good Pie!). Some others really sloppy (the salads and the cocktails). Not worth the hype or the long waits. There is better in town.
(2)
Patrick N.

pastaria lives up to the hype. tried the risotto balls, margherita pizza, pork pappardelle, pistachio ravioli, and several types of gelato. all were excellent and the prices were quite low given the chef's reputation, the restaurants location, and the quality of the dishes. i can see myself at pastaria quite often. see pics of what we ate in my blog.
(5)
Aj B.

The food here is quite good. The service: Mediocre. The host stand: awful and rude. I have been here many times and must say I've never been treated very well. Waitstaff is hit and miss...but the host stand will definitely be rude to you. And they lie too. Take the wait time they give you and divide it by three maybe even four. The last time I went here they were so rude my party decided to walk out. I won't be back. I decided on one star because...quite honestly...the rudeness outweighs the quality of the food. I've traveled all over the world and eaten in many restaurants....the Midwest is supposed to be friendly....this place is clearly an outlier. The atmosphere is also extremely loud. I once brought a friend, the waiter asked her "Do you want a box for that?" She said "No, I'm still eating." Since you can't actually hear anything in this place the waiter whisked her plate away. Once I realised what happened I got up and tried to get the waiters attention, but because the place is so packed with tables I wasn't able to catch him. She finished her meal out of a takeaway box. The chefs here clearly are very good (excellent by Missouri standards). The rest of the operation: a real shambles. Stay away for now. Maybe in a few years they'll get their act together.
(1)
MyongHi S.

if it wasn't for the two friendly bartenders and the quality of the food, I would probably have given this place 3-stars. The atmosphere is cool and resonates the look and feel of a big city restaurant. However, the server seemed a bit pretentious which dampened the experience. The wait to be seated and the wait for our drinks and food to be served was also horrendously long. There was a 1.5-hour long wait for a table (which was a correct quote time) but once seated, I can honestly say that my friends and I were there for an additional 2 hours. They don't take reservations which sucks for the guest but I can understand why from a business standpoint. I must say the bartenders were awesome though--they were 2 girls who were very sweet explaining the menu and helping me with my beer selection and appetizer while we waited for our table. I would go back but would probably sit at the bar or at the bar where you can watch the chefs prepare food by the open kitchen (very cool!). My friends and I split 4 pastas and a pizza and the food was all delicious.
(4)
Jay D.

So i ordered the lasagna and thinking it had meat, and it did not . It was veggie lasagna, and it was AWESOME!! Jeez.. portion of it was small. not cause im greedy small either. Or at least i don' think so. My friends pizza was so so thought. But i am not reviewing for her. Need to go back. Soon.
(4)
Curtis L.

Awesome housemade pasta! Fun casual vibe, great variety for dietary needs. Definitely recommend the kale salad and the pistachio ravioli.
(5)
Mohamed M.

I waited for over 2 hours to get a table, and the best thing I had all night where the garlic knots that I got while I was waiting. They where so damn good and the sad part is they are not on the menu. Besides the wait they food was exceptional and the service was excellent I really enjoyed myself
(4)
M L.

This is a review for Pastaria in Clayton, MO. I would like to preface that this was a dinner for my dad's 65th birthday, my parents came in from out of town and my husband was running in the Rock n Roll Marathon the next morning at 6AM. I was also really excited about eating there. At 6:50PM we walked in Pastaria and put our name in. At that time we were told the wait would be an hour. Not a bad wait for a restaurant near 7PM on a Saturday night. So we decided to stay. We ordered drinks at the bar - and while they didn't get them right the first time, did correct and get them right the second time. At an hour into the wait we checked on our status. The hostess told us we should "get another drink." So we got more drinks and ordered some of the crispy risotto balls...which were very good by the way. At an hour and a half into our wait, the bartender gave us free champagne for waiting so long, we weren't complaining, we actually didn't mind, we were hanging out and chatting, at this point it was no big deal. The hostess told us there were only two tables of four ahead of us, so we weren't worried. At an hour and 45 minutes we were told we were the next table, at this time a table of 6-8 walked in off the street and talked to the manager and immediately received a table - we believe this was our table. We went up to the hostess, and told her we didn't mean to be rude but we'd been waiting for two hours, and we understand that there are very important people, but it seemed ridiculous to us that we would be ignored like that. She didn't say a word, she just said, "Uhhhhhh." She then offered us a table at the bar in the back up against their kitchen where you can watch the cooks. We would be sitting in a straight line. At other restaurants in the St. Louis area - that is where you would sit people who did NOT want to wait two hours for a table. I've sat at tables like this at Brio in Frontenac. But they seat your right away, not after two hours of waiting. I told her we didn't wait two hours to sit in a line at a bar in front of the oven. She smiled and said, "So you want to wait for a table then?" I replied, "I guess so." At 2 hours, we were told a table was being made ready for us. At 2 hours and 15 minutes , another 6 top who came in after us received a table. Now to me that could be a table where you could sit a table of four and a table of two. At 2 1/2 hours (this is 9:20PM for those keeping track) we followed up again with the hostess, a little more hostile at this point. In fact, my father, who I've never heard curse in my entire life (not a bit, not once - and he was my basketball coach - he probably should have cursed at me a lot), told the manager that this was "crap." He said it twice too. So in 30 years, I've heard my father curse twice, in the same night, at the same guy. Finally we received some traction and were actually shown a table that was being cleaned for us. We sat down but at this point, I'd actually lost my appetite, as had my father, and we actually decided to cut our losses and go home. None of us ate anything except those delicious crispy risotto balls. I understand new places have to find their own, but I guess I expect more from a place owned and run by people with such experience. I won't be going back to Pastaria (I'm sure the food is delicious), but I haven't written off other established restaurants such as Niche.
(2)
todd e.

Great service, mood, beer selection (Schlafly IPA) and pasta.
(5)
m w.

It was great. Lots of gluten free options. We had pasta, it was great. The salmon portion was very small. Would not order it again. Chop salad was great. Wine was good. Go, you will like it.
(5)
Chris L.

The reviews were promising but the execution was disappointing. My girlfriend started with the 'Mixed Greens' salad with goat cheese. She loved it, but the wait was a bit much. I ordered the 'Pappardelle,' which promised to be pork with pasta and apple slices. My lady friend ordered the 'Pistachio Ravioli.' The Pappardelle was simply lasagna pasta with pulled pork from a container and fresh sliced apples. It was ok, but greasy and not worth the $17 I paid. The pistachio ravioli was ok but nothing exciting. We ordered desert, dark chocolate tart for her and cannoli for myself. The tart was rich, with excellent whipped cream, but the cannoli was nothing to write home about. For $60 before tip, it was definitely not worth the money.
(2)
Erin G.

Fun family-friendly restaurant. I had the pizza and it was delicious! It gets really busy around dinner time, so I'd either go for the early bird dinner or after 7.
(4)
Louise P.

We appreciated that we were able to be seated fairly quickly for a week night without reservations. The menu is wonderful, lots of choices, just shy of too many choices. We tried several items and found them all of be delicious --- but the noise levels, slow and disinterested service and cramped quarters -- over shadow the food. I would consider take out - but if I am getting together with friends, it is important to me to be able to converse with them and to have enough space to be reasonably comfortable. Also, the length of time from bringing the tab to closing the bill was ridiculous. We watched the frustrated folks at the next table wait an enoromous time to pay, and later realized that was the norm.
(3)
Rebecca D.

Love this place. I like the loud atmosphere and the whole vibe of the place. The food is great and the service is great.
(5)
Timothy A.

Was pretty excited to come here for dinner, well, don't bother! Someone has a heavy hand for salt, the pasta bolognese was almost too salty to eat, you definitely need a drink between each bite, the broccoli side, also, was salty. Too salty to eat, and looks like they scraped it from the bottom of their pan, all stems! The risotto balls seemed frozen. After we declined dessert, our server dropped the check off very quickly, but didn't come back to take it until almost 10 minutes later! Niche should be ashamed that they have connection to this restaurant nightmare!
(2)
Howard G.

High prices, small portions.
(2)
Rachel T.

My family of 3 dined here today around noon We were starving. We had been looking forward to trying this place since we had a very delicious and memorable meal at Niche. Back to Pastaria. The bread was decent. My pasta dish which was supposed to consist of mascarpone, pork, and apples was very lacking. The pasta had 2 tiny slivers of apples and the pork was horrible. The cheese pizza was decent and my husbands dish was edible. Now for the infamous gelato. I know Gelato. This place does not offer the creamy decadent gelato that I'm accustomed to. Their version is no creamier than a gallon of ice cream from your local grocer. Server was pretentious and the wine I ordered smelled and tasted of Tupperware. I couldn't drink it. We will not be back.
(3)
S. Anjali D.

Go early because it gets very crowded and they do not take reservations. On the plus side they bring around appetizers for those waiting for tables! The pizza crust is incredible. It is super thin and melts in your mouth while still being crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Out of all of the pizzas we ordered my favorite is the margarita and I would definitely go back for it. BUT I would most likely take it go because this place gets ridiculously crowded and even at your table you are being hovered over by those waiting for a table. Also, they have more of a family style seating area where you are sharing one long table with other people. The actual layout of the place and how you're rubbing elbows with strangers was something I did not like at all. One of the people at our table had just been to Italy and said Pastaria's gelato was creamier. I tried the basil gelato and thought the texture was perfect, however, it tasted like sweet pesto to me (which I suppose being basil flavored it should!)- interesting taste for sure! The tiramisu is made in-house and deliciously light and creamy, Oh, and the crispy risotta balls are a must-try!
(4)
Christina C.

Good beer list, nice rustic yet modern decor, and authentic Italian food. The pasta is made fresh, served al dente. I ordered the Bucatini All'Amatriciana. Great flavor but be prepared for the heat of chilies. Next time I'll have to try the gelato. The space is open and the room can get very loud, felt a bit cafeteria-like. So it's not going to be your quiet, intimate Italian dining room setting, which was fine for our large group (just speak up if you want your friends to hear you).
(4)
Kyle K.

This is some of the best pasta I've had, and there are so many unique options that I had never heard of and never would have thought of in my life. And no, we're not talking about whether you want meat in your spaghetti sauce! The restarant itself is really fun and charming, and the staff was very friendly and helpful. The only complaint I would have is just that they have packed people into the restaurant, using every available inch of space. I could definitely hear the neighbors' conversations, and I am sure they could hear mine. Overall, though, just a great place to have a nice pasta dinner. And...don't forget the gelato for dessert!!!
(4)
Will G.

Great open layout at Pastaria. Pie was Awesome and the other dishes our table had were very well prepared. Excellent food and great for lunch or dinner. Great for a date night or for a big group of people. I highly doubt you will be disappointed. Take care!
(4)
Mary J.

Nice addition to the Clayton restaurant scene. Casual dining. Pizzas pastas and nice apps. Spacious dining room with high ceilings pleasantly decorated and appointed. Pleasant ambiance and good low noise level along the wall where we sat. Four of us: we ordered the minestroni (v. good!) pasta with hazelnut, nice but a bit too rich, sliced pork salad with arugula (v. good), orange and olive salad (not great. mandarins don't have enough acid: I thought they were canned) Veggie lasagna w. beschamel (sp?) (v nice). Super great gelato! homemade pasta are laid out nearby and make a great display. Pizzas looked v. good. Nothing super but a nice new place.
(3)
lena d.

The atmosphere is open and comfortable. The food is amazing. We were there during their first week and service was at its best. They were all open to hearing what was good, needed improvement (nothing at this time) and what wasn't good (nothing) I think Gerard is a smart business owner and an excellent chef with great restaurant concepts. I started with the shaved kale salad, think of a classic ceaser, only with kale. It was delicious. We split a bottle of Pinot and I finished with a glass of Sangiovese, which was so jammy and yummy, I'll be getting a bottle next time. My entree was the pepper and cheese pasta. It was super flavorful and the pepper was just right. Our server, Boen, described it as adult mac and cheese and I immediately thought if Kraft Mac and Chz, which i haven't had in decades, this was NOTHING like that. THe cheese sauce was so light it didn't take away from the homemade pasta, which I am sure was intentional. I took home basil gelato and goat cheese gelato, both amazingly delicious Clearly, I am tired because I cannot think of another descriptive word besides "delicious". I will definitley come back to Pastaria. I think this will be a regular place for me. I can't wait to try the pizza and to be able to come in for lunch!
(4)
Raya K.

Yum, yum, oh and yum! After much anticipation and waiting, I made it to Pastaria last week to celebrate the BF's birthday. We arrived a little before 6pm on a Saturday and were told there would be a 45 minute wait. We made it to the crowded bar to order drinks and an appetizer because we were famished. By the time our crispy risotto balls arrived, two seats at the bar opened up. Shortly after finishing our drinks and had eaten our balls (hehe), our buzzer went off to let us know that our table was ready. I think the total wait ended up being less than 30 minutes instead of the estimated 45. We were seated in a corner of the restaurant. The tables are closely situated so be prepared to make friends with your neighbors. Our waitress brought us bread and we ordered salads to start: the shaved kale for me and the vegetable salad for him. I loved my kale salad and ate it all! My boyfriend was iffy about his and didn't finish it all. I don't think it was what he was expecting. For our entrees, I got the canestri (the peppery mac n cheese) and he got the strozzapreti (bolognese). Seriously? SO DAMN good! Pasta perfectly cooked and very balanced flavors. The pepper on the canestri was just the little kick the creamy pasta needed. We tried each others dishes and oo-ed and ah-ed for quite a while. We also ordered a side of broccoli to share, which was delicious but a little too oily for my liking. Since we ordered way too much food, we ended up taking a ton of pasta home. They made stellar left overs! Although we were stuffed beyond belief, we had to try the house made gelato. We got the orange pistachio nougat and the salted caramel (you can get two flavors in one order). They were both exceptional, but the orange pistachio was the star of the night! Can't wait for my next visit so I can experience all the goodness all over again!
(5)
Whitney P.

Our experience at Pastaria was perfect. We arrived on a Saturday night at 7 pm and were quoted a 45 min wait. Our wait ended up being about an hour, but we were pleasantly surprised to find that the hosts were passing out orders of garlic knots to people waiting. The garlic knots were warm and delicious (they look like plain bread but actually have so much flavor), and the atmosphere was lively enough that we really didn't mind the wait. The hallway that connects Pastaria to Niche provides a nice area to stand and enjoy a glass of wine. Once seated, my husband and I split the mixed green salad, which was very good though not particularly unique or memorable. But the ingredients were fresh, and it had a nice flavor. The tables are stocked with both regular and thai chili infused olive oil for dipping the complimentary bread. I tried the thai chili olive oil, and it was absolutely delicious when paired with the bread. Just the right level of spiciness. I then had the lasagna, which was amazing. The vegetables were flavorful and perfectly cooked, and the cheese was divine. My husband tried the pistachio ravioli, which was equally delicious. We initially passed on dessert due to having eaten so much already, but when walking by the gelato stand on the way out, we spotted birthday cake gelato. Along with "birthday cake," there were quite a few other nontraditional flavors that I don't remember off the top of my head, but they all sounded appetizing. It was as delicious as I expected. Overall, I couldn't be more pleased. The food was perfect, and the prices were very affordable. Our waiter was very personable, and the wait for our food was minimal. Based on the service, I would have never guessed that this was a new restaurant. Finally, I really think Gerard Craft did an amazing job of making the food both reminiscent of authentic Italian cuisine while still mixing in more innovative flavors that you wouldn't find in Italy. I'm already looking forward to my next trip!
(5)
John B.

Amazing atmosphere and food. Chefs are amazing. Sit at the pasta bar and enjoy the cooking. Cheers!!
(5)
Alyssa G.

Amazing food and service. The pistachio ravioli is the best pasta dish I've eaten... Ever! The gelato was super yummy too. Highly recommend.
(5)
Alicia S.

Community seating was a bit weird, but the food was worth it. The pizza looked good, I liked my pasta, and loved the bread. You can sample as much gelato as you want before ordering, which by the way-very yummy. I also liked the decor-very fun.
(4)
Amy G.

Gelato is fantastic. I recommend the salted Carmel. Risotto balls are a fulfilling appetizer. I'm more fan of their pizza than there pasta.
(4)
M. W.

Seriously, I didn't know Pastaria offered "brunch" on Sunday. A friend recommended the French toast so another friend and I went there....horrible choice. My fault for expecting brunch-like food. I almost ordered the frittata until the server advised us that pasta is added for texture - weird. Isn't that what the egg is for...texture. Okay, so we skipped that and went with the wood oven baked eggs. They came out in a small skillet - bread is the first layer then their tomato sauce with fresh basil and they crack two eggs over the top and bake it. Mine was cooked way too long. The eggs were partially green..yeah, green and the yolk was so hard it wasn't edible, along with half the bread in the bottom of the skillet. I left there hungry. If it hadn't been for the fabulous bloodys made by Megan, the brunch would have been a total loss. Yes, I've been to Pastaria for lunch - didn't care much for the pasta, pizza or salad. I've given this place enough of my time and money.
(1)
Jacklyn M.

I really enjoyed my experience at Pastaria, I would love to come here again. From other reviews I've read, this place is always packed, and the night I went was no different. We were seated at the bar (fastest seating possible for a table for 2). It was really cool though, we were seated at the bar where they make all the food, and we got to see all the dishes come out and and pizzas being put in the oven, which I thought was really cool. I also really liked the atmosphere, and the waitress was very nice and attentive. We had the risotto balls, which were awesome. And I had the pistachio ravioli, and I loved it. My boyfriend order the gluten free pasta, which was a $6.00 upcharge, which is kind of pricey, but he said it was the best gluten free pasta he's had.
(5)
J K.

Not only is this place the new toast of the town, it has several vegan options (including dessert), which made for a very happy birthday dinner!
(5)
Amy G.

The best meal I've had in a long while. This place has only been open a week, and it already seems to be running like a well-oiled machine. The service was great and the staff all had the knowing smiles of those that genuinely enjoy what they do, taking pleasure in the expressions of the diners as they devoured forkfuls of Craft's delicious concoctions. My husband and I couldn't settle the debate of whose plate was better, my Pappardelle with smoked pork, mascarpone and apples, or his Garganelle with beef ragout, gremolata and olives. Both were perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, perfectly balanced. This meal was truly a joy to eat! The atmosphere is comfortable and unpretentious, and you find yourself serenaded with the dulcet strains of Jack White, rather than some cheesy Muzak. We also enjoyed the "cheesy risotto balls" (just call them arancini, and give your diners a little credit. ;) ). There's no cocktail menu yet, but I put my drinking experience in the bartender's more than capable hands and was delivered a tasty elixir of gin, St. Germain and fresh lemon and lime juices, a better-rounded cocktail than graces the composed menus of many establishments. The only part of our meal that failed to enamour me was the tiramisu, and it wasn't bad, it just lacked the punch of cheese, booze or espresso that I was hoping for. The hazelnut gelato, however, was excellent, made from a real paste of roasted nuts and packed with flavor. The pasta was downright craveable, and if Pastaria were open today, I would be back to try more menu offerings tonight!
(5)
Aiyana B.

I waited 2 hours for Pastaria and it was worth it and I plan on going back again. The food was very tasty, it's probably one of the best italian restaurants that I've been to. I had the ravioli which was good but the portion was very skimp, I left hungry. I waited 2 hours to be seated which is the longest I have ever waited in my entire life to be seated at a restaurant. While I waited they passed out garlic knots which was great because they know people are hungry and they were free. The garlic knots were the best thing at the restaurant they were crispy, salty, hot, and sweet! They were amazing, I could have ordered a plate of them but they weren't on the menu. I was very disappointed about that. Put garlic knots on the menu please, we requested some garlic knots but never got them :-(
(4)
David L.

Stellar, fresh, simple fare. The housemade pasta was simply perfect. The braised meat with the garganelle was succulent. The restaurant was loud, and crowded, and the inability to make a reservation kept us at the bar for nearly an hour. It was worth the wait. Thankfully food is also available at the bar. Service was friendly, and the staff behind the open kitchen all wore smiles. Don't hesitate to eat here!
(5)
Whittney D.

Not much to say about this casual Gerard Craft hot spot that hasn't been said already, but I'll try to say it anyway. This place is truly fantastic. We sat at the kitchen bar. The seating there is a little tight, but seeing all the dishes come out of the kitchen was a blast and definitely got my mouth watering. We didn't see a single salad, appetizer, pasta, or pizza go by that we didn't want to try...good sign. We had arancini with two unexpectedly delicate dipping sauces to start. I had the pistachio ravioli, which was even better than it sounded to a pistachio-loving person like me. Dining partner had the roman pizza and went gaga over it as well. We tried a couple different gelatos to end the night - salted caramel and pumpkin. Both spectacular. My fiance's parents also went recently and they said their dishes were so good, they each refused to even give the other a bite. That's saying something. There were a few negatives. As I already mentioned, the kitchen bar seating was a very tight squeeze, but that's easily solved in the future by just not sitting there. More upsetting, though, was the fact that our appetizer came out maybe 2-3 minutes before our entrees. The kitchen definitely needs to work on their timing. That said, they still get 5 stars from me because the food is out of this world.
(5)
Jake H.

Solid Italian food, but no better than Sugo/Tavolo, and not even close to Napoli. It was supper annoying that they would not seat us before our whole party arrived despite having multiple open tables.
(3)
Erika K.

We went to Pasteria for the coveted "date night" . I had high expectations of this restaurant and experience. Tiramisu, appetizer and salad were amazing. Service was terrific. Pastas were ok and overpriced. If we go back, we will stick to appetizers and dessert.
(3)
William H.

I went there last night (Halloween) for the first time. I've been anxiously awaiting their opening. I wanted to give them 5 stars but just couldn't for one simple reason. The pizza wasn't quite done when it came to my table. Granted it was 5:10 so they had just opened, but either the oven was not hot enough, or they were rushing and took it out too soon the crust was just too blond with no crunch to it. Great flavor, but it just fell short. The pasta, Cacio de pepe was freaking amazing. The best restaurant pasta I've ever had. Cooked perfectly with still a remainder of firmness to the pasta. It was coveredin a wonderful blend of cheese and black pepper. Out of this world good. So of course I'll go back, and next time I hope the pizza is cooked properly.
(4)
Kyle M.

The food was amazing! If you like pasta you will love this place. I had the Pork jawl pasta, I can't remember the fancy name, which was very good. It was spicy and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The gelato was a nice way to finish the meal. Our waitress LeLe was great at explaining the dishes. I strongly recommend this restaurant to everybody.
(5)
Angela S.

I was taken here by a couple grad students and a professor as part of my interview at Wash U, and it certainly boosted my opinion of St. Louis. As packed as the restaurant was, we were quickly seated at the bar area where you could watch the cooks prepare the food, which was pretty interesting, even if it made talking between the whole 4 person group a little difficult (for more than just a couple people, it may be worth your wait to try and get a table). The bread brought out before the meal was warm and tasty. I ordered a kale salad to eat before my pasta, but I had to remind the staff later to bring it out, which was worth it - the salad was delicious and the kale was pretty refreshing (it was quite nice to eat a heaping bowl of veggies after airport food!). I ordered garganelli, which came absolutely loaded with beef (a little on the salty side) and very tangy olives, and all the pastas came out fairly quickly. Dessert was a definitely highlight - good gelato (nothing amazing, but good quality) and a variety of flavors to choose from - the staff was super friendly about letting me try almost all of them :P. I highly recommend Pastaria to anyone looking for pasta with a little twist and for a good time - I loved the lively atmosphere and had a good time there. Went here this past Friday and had to update the review - the food was amazing and my mom, who was visiting from out of town, and I were thoroughly satisfied. I got the pistachio ravioli with a flavorful and well made kale salad and she had salmon that she raved about. The gelato flavors we got were unusual but made use of very clever flavor combos - I had burnt honey and star anise. Go! You won't regret it!
(5)
Kevin M.

My girlfriend and I went to try Pastaria for lunch. We ordered two waters, risotto balls as an appetizer (very good), split a small kale salad (good but plain, kale and dressing only), and split the braised beef pasta (average). Though our waiter was very nice and the atmosphere was good, our total bill with tip was $41... So for lunch we each had three small risotto balls, half a small salad, and half a pasta dish. A little pricey for my taste.
(2)
Emily P.

Great food. Great experience. Pastaria handled dietary restrictions with ease. Favorites from the menu last night with our group were the Pappardelle pasta (smoked pork, mascarpone, apples, yum!), the margherita pizza, and the brussel sprouts. I must point out that I usually take part of any dish of pasta home. The Pappardelle was so good, that I ate my whole dish even though I was full before I was finished. I could not stop myself. Bar staff was very accommodating during our wait. Pastaria does not take reservations, and they will not seat a group until all arrive. They were pleasant about this and worked with us because we arrived crazy early. The room was rather noisy, but we were fortunate to be seated in a corner. Although the kitchen is open to the dining room, I was pleased that I did not leave smelling like the kitchen, as I have had occur in other places with similar layouts. The mismatch of old chairs was nice to see recycled and lent to the causal yet trendy atmosphere.
(4)
Jeremy A.

Look, for what you pay in this place, you cannot do better. I thought I'd give them four stars, but then I asked myself: Why? Is it because people aren't wearing black tie? Quick summary: Service excellent, no salesmanship, just honest concern for my satisfaction. Food excellent, conception and delivery were perfect on the shaved kale salad and braised beef. House wine, what can I say? I'd love to be able to order a Tenuta la Fuga every time out, but I can't. In fact I have to watch what I spend, so getting a carafe of really good food wine for fifteen bucks is perfect. I'll be back.
(5)
Mark T.

I'm not a big fan of Italian food, but had to give this a try. The wait was long on opening weekend, about an hour, but we were prepared for that. The food and service were super. Kale salad was terrific, entrees also. Salt caramel gelato for dessert. Well worth the wait.
(5)
Jim K.

Went for lunch at Pastaria this past week. Nice Atmosphere. Our server was knowledgable and helpful. Bread served with the meal was also very good as well as the olive oil on the table. Had the shaved Kale salad. It was simple but very good. A nice creamy anchovy dressing with Pecorino and flavored bread crumbs. Our Entrees came out about 20 seconds after the Kale salad by a food runner. Our server apologized. Not a big deal. The Canestri Cacio e pepe were thick curvy extruded pasta with Pecorino, Grana Padano, and Black Pepper. White noodles on a white plate with no garnish. Didn't look appealing and the flavor was nothing special. We also had the Pappardelle with smoked pork, mascarpone, and thin sliced apples. The dish was a real disappointment. The Pork had no flavor, looked and tasted very mushy, and an almost pureed texture. It ruined the dish. If it had the texture of pulled pork or a true braised pork, it would have been much better. At the bottom of the plate was a small pool of orange colored oil. For $16.95 you would expect more. Although we did want to try the Pizza, I'm afraid we won't be returning.
(2)
Donna B.

We were visiting my son and are from the Chicago area so I know good Italian cooking & this was a real disappointment. Their pasta leaves a lot to be desired, very heavy, no vermicelli available. I love pistachio anything, so I ordered the pistachio ravioli. It was awful, so I sent it back...something I've only done twice in my entire life! My husband agreed with me. I then had the spaghetti with white clam sauce, very few clams & sauce just okay. Sitting next to their open kitchen, I was able to watch their preparation where they throw all the ingredients in a sauce pan & heat it all together. Something I have NEVER heard or seen in Italian cooking. Everything came out looking like a casserole dish. NO homemade meatballs or sausage available with any of the entrees even as a side dish. Vegetarians, skip it. Appetizer, salad, & bread were passable. Gelato was okay, chocolate & pumpkin, but not as creamy or flavorful as I've had in a number of places in Chicago. I would not waste my money on this overpriced restaurant. Their wait staff was less than pleasant, very uppity. If you want noise, mediocre food, & the chance to say you've been there, then go. Otherwise, I'm sure you can find authentic Italian cooking elsewhere with a friendly staff and some cash left in your wallet.
(1)
Scott R.

Loved it! Kids thought it was great too. ProTip: Go during a weekday. Mega long wait on Fridays and Saturdays.
(5)
Daniel K.

The atmosphere is nice with an open casual feel. We ate at the kitchen bar which was a lot of fun. However, the most important part of the night, food, was not outstanding and overpriced. The pasta dish I ate was much smaller a serving and not quite a full meal. In addition, there was only one or two ingredients which did not warrant the high price. The pizza we ordered was a decent size but was about on par with expectations...nothing spectacular. Alas, we will not be returning anytime soon.
(2)
Gregory W.

Working next door to Pastaria, and also being a big supporter of all of Gerard Craft's past endeavors, I was happy when it's doors opened over a month ago, and was pleased that my expectations did not fall short. The pizza is, in my opinion, probably the closest representation to the same pizzas I ate in Naples so many years ago, being both crispy and tender, with the pleasant thinness not often found in many American styled pizzas, but not overtly crunchy like the predominantly popular St. Louis styled pies. Originally I had their white pizza, covered with brussel sprouts, italian cheeses, a bechamel sauce, a generous portion of lardo, and lemon zest, creating this over the top flavor of richness from the fats and creams, while the sprouts and lemon cut through it's heaviness. My wife had their Cacio de Pepe, a dish that has, to my best memory, never made it's presence here in St. Louis, being a simple pasta that's basically created with cheese, pasta, and pepper; easy to screw up, but done masterfully here. In a local cuisine of pastas drowned in sauces and gravies, it's refreshing to find something this simple but authentically Italian here in St. Louis. My only complaint is that I hope to see a bigger menu, or at least a rapidly changing menu to see what other amazing dishes this place can churn out!
(4)
Ari K.

Since we read on Yelp about Pastaria, and the most frequent complaint is about the lack of reservation system, and long waits, we decided to go on Thursday, around 4 pm. Parked the car in the garage next door, (Pastaria validates your ticket), were seated right away, ordered drinks, then ordered food. We had risotto balls, that were as good as everyone says they are. We also had chopped salad that was very tasty, even though they charge $1 for splitting it. My wife ordered pasta, gluten-free, and it was delicious, and ordered The Roman pizza, and it was excellent. Perfect crust, perfect toppings, spicy just the right way. Then we tried their gelato, and it was great too. The only negative, and it is very subjective, is the size of the room. I know it is light and airy, and very open, but might be a little too big. As I said, it is subjective. Otherwise, the food was great, the service - just right, we will certainly come back.
(4)
Josh S.

We dropped in here a couple weeks after they opened and the place was packed. What more do you expect when Gerard Craft opens a new restaurant. I was excited to try this place out and I was not let down. We were able to find a spot at the bar which saved us a good 40 minute wait. We started off with a cocktail, which were ok. Our bartender talked more about his other job as a gardener...which I would suggest he not abandon. We started off with a couple appetizers that a month later I cant seem to remember what they were. They were good, but not OMG memorable. My main course was memorable though. I had the Pappardelle with smoked pork shank and it was melt in your mouth amazing. As my wife has mentioned the service was lacking and she procured our deserts, some creamy gelato. The salted carmel was amazing and it has my mouth watering just thinking about it. Clayton is going to be my new favorite area to go for dinner, with Pastaria and another of Gerard Craft's places opening up just down the street.
(4)
Abbey S.

It is a really neat concept and they did earn one extra star for having gluten free pasta, but they charge $6 for gf and they don't even make it in house! The food is below average but they make up for it with atmosphere. I would not tell friends to go here unless you wanted to try it to try it because of the hype. But do not believe the hype as it was overpriced for quality of food.
(3)
Matt T.

Got a pizza and pasta. Pizza was watery and all the cheese slid off, crust was good. Disappointing. Pasta was fine, but nothing memorable about it. Gelato was the highlight of the meal. Service was good. I'll be back, but just for dessert.
(3)
Gay C.

My husband and I had dinner at Pastaria for the first time on June 1, 2013, it was awesome and we will certainly be back. We sat outside (a little windy, but for us, it was actually quieter, considering there were quite a few children inside). We shared a small chopped salad (which was perfect for two); I had the Pistacio Ravioli (so delicious), and my husband had the Pappardelle, which he couldn't stop raving over. For dessert, we had the Mama Rodolico's Tiramisu and it was absolutely wonderful. Service was great, and we had a very enjoyable meal. Hopefully if we go back and have to eat inside, we'll catch it at a time when there aren't so many little kids.
(5)
Sammy H.

The first time I came here, I ordered a pepporoni pizza- which was sour. The second time, I asked for plain pasta in garlic and oil. It wasn't on the menu, but it's something pretty easy to make. I ate the entire thing, and had to wait a while before dessert. They have great gelato. I know because I have tried almost every flavor in the two times I have come here. Once they brought my plate of pasta with the spice on it, which I had asked to be left off. But, with their exceptional customer service, they took it off and gave me a free gelato- including sampling all the flavors! Definitely going here again.
(5)
David R.

Yessir! Top notch. So close to 5 stars . . . I'm just a tough grader I suppose. Great pizza, even the no cheese pizza. Radish brucetta? What a nice surprise! I'm a fan and will be back. The biggest give-away? The staff is enthusiastic and proud of the food.
(4)
Allison A.

I absolutely loved this place. The food was great and the staff was very friendly. I would definitely recommend the Garganelle pasta and the tiramisu. One of the best restaurants I have tried in a while!
(5)
Tricia B.

Wonderful service and food. All around great dining experience!
(4)
Emily E.

Husband and I went last night, Saturday night. Tried to arrive after the dinner rush in the hopes of a shorter wait time. Nothing doing. We got there at 8:45 pm and were told a one hour wait. We were able to quickly snag two seats at the bar for our wait and it was just about a full hour until we were seated - about 9:45 pm. It was well worth the wait! I had the shrimp salad and pepperoni pizza - both were excellent! My husband had the chopped salad and salmon entree. The salmon was too undercooked for me in the center (he may have ordered it that way) so I only had a bite but seemed to have a pretty good flavor. The gelato was off the chain amazing. One dish of it is enough to split between two people You get two flavors in the dish and be sure to sample them beforehand. The service was also very good.
(5)
Raccoon H.

Best breakfast of my life. I had the Huevos Rancheros, which was described as "thick toast, ham, white beans, and salsa verde." That's kind of misleading. It was two perfectly soft-boiled eggs on top of tuscan white beans, cured ham, and toasted Italian bread topped with their house pesto and real parmigiano reggiano (not the fake stuff). It's hard to make perfectly soft-boiled eggs. This, coupled with their high-quality ingredients and world-class pesto recipe really took this dish over the top. I don't think it could be any better than it was.
(5)
Steve T.

Meh. Tiramisu wasn't bad. Why meh? The space is workable... a bit warehouse-y, echo-y, cold. I was seated quickly - it was only half full at 8:00 on easter sunday - but the service was bland and uninterested. The chopped salad tasted only of vinegar and pecorino. The pistachio ravioli was well formed and proportioned but no real taste - just vinegar and browned butter that covered it. The pasta was a bit over-done and chewy. Presentation on both dishes was diner-like although it was so dark I had to squint to tell. The salad was a clear lettuce cheese covered mound. The ravioli was 10 pieces dumped on the plate with the butter sauce and 9 pistachios. The tiramisu was well-formed, well proportioned, the right texture, and not overly sweet. It was the best part of the meal. My brain recognized it as mechanically sound but tongue never said whoopee! I wanted to like Pastaria, and was excited to go after reading the reviews, but "meh" doesn't rate a second date.
(2)
Cindy W.

We love pastaria! we actually had our rehearsal dinner at their room upstairs. we usually get the Bucatini All' Amatriciana and a pizza along with the cannoli. Perfect for take out also! their curbside service is very convenient
(5)
Joe S.

Gave this place a shot based on the reviews and word-of-mouth, but it's my last time coming here. Sorry Gerard. Don't go here for dinner if you have a party of 4 or more. The space may be large, but the front of the house is not built for large parties. They don't take reservations and the No Wait app for "getting in line" is useless. At 6:30, we used the app to sign up and get in line. We waited two hours to get a table, finally getting seating at 8:30. Every single party of 2-3 people in front of us got seated before we did. Walk-ins were seated before we were. We spoke with the hostesses several times, but they were not inclined to help us in any meaningful way. In fact, the entire staff was nonchalant, even though it was clear they were overwhelmed. When we finally did get a table, between ordering and getting our food it was another 45 minutes. This is a ridiculous amount of time to wait for pasta. Even my minestrone soup took 20 minutes.And after all that, the food was good, but not out-of-this-world great. Much more sizzle than steak this place is. I also did not appreciate the snide comments of some of the waiters. Apparently, the word had spread among them that we were not happy campers (would you be?) because of the wait, and when bringing our food, they let us know about that. Not professional. I appreciate what Gerard Craft is trying to do with Pastaria including the food and communal ambiance (the latest fad in dining...nice increase in per plate revenue too), but the service and efficiency of the place is falling way, way short. I predict that Pastaria will eventually fade into the dustbin of "great restaurant concepts" that have fallen down in execution. Plus, a nearly three hour wait isn't worth a bowl of upscale pasta.
(2)
Tiffany L.

Have you ever had that feeling when you walk into a restaurant and you just want to desperately like it? But something just doesn't click for you? Unfortunately, Pastaria was that place for me. Walking in, I was immediately impressed. From the decor and the pasta-making machine to the GELATO, I thought I had found an Italian heaven, my newest go-to place in St. Louis. I mean, come on..I don't know that many restaurants that can show off their own pasta-cutting machine. This place had to be amazing. And it was good. But, not the OMG/AMAZING/PLZKI11ME reaction that I had expected. Of course, no complaints on the pasta itself as it had great chewiness, cooked to perfection, ect. ect. But the sauce itself was just alright, maybe even a little bland and unfortunately did not live up to the expectations that I had built up in my head. The flavors just didnt really click. Also, to be honest, I wasn't a fan of the pizza. Maybe it is because I have been brainwashed by American cuisine into not knowing what real, authentic Italian pizza is even when I'm staring at it face-to-face. But, to be perfectly, I felt that the pizza was a little bland and the dough was a bit thick which didn't help. The only thing that truly lived up to my expectations was the gelato. It was beautifully dense, rich, and just amazing in flavor. Perfect. All in all, the place is a decent place to get Italian food. Great ambiance, but the food doesn't quite live up to expectations.
(3)
A. A.

The food here was amazing. I got dish with apples, pulled, pork and pasta - nice combo. But, we had to wait 30 minutes for a table after we'd called ahead and been assured there was no wait. And, the ambiance wasn't great - it was quite loud and our party of 5 had trouble hearing each other. It was a Thursday night, so I'd guess that's mid-level traffic. All in all, the food was great and I'd go back if I knew someone who wanted to go, but I'm not going to suggest it.
(3)
Ben P.

This place has quickly became my favorite restaurant in the STL area. They have a great concept that is very well executed. Hard to find now a days. Don't miss out on there excellent homemade pastas or any of their killer desserts!
(5)
Kevin D.

I've been following chef Gerard Craft's tweets about Pastaria for many months now... trip to Italy, practice pizzas in his backyard, choosing plates and silverware, etc., and it was so much fun to be there on opening weekend. The space is wide open, casual and inviting. All the pasta is made at the front of the restaurant, and there's a gelato counter with some amazing flavors. Tonight they had basil (wow), birthday cake (with chunks of cake in it), banana sesame, salted caramel, goat cheese, pistachio and others. The food was delicious. We tried a salad, pasta with cheese and pepper, pasta with bolognese sauce and a margherita pizza. The cheese and pepper pasta was really creamy and a little spicy... so good. The pizza crust might have been my best part of the meal... just perfect and with a slight char on the bottom. The bolognese had a bit of a smoky salami flavor which we thought was interesting. There was a ton of staff - looked liked there were 4 or 5 restaurant managers walking around - and our server was efficient, friendly and knowledgeable about the dishes. We really enjoyed our first visit to Pastaria and look forward to going again very soon. UPDATE, 9 PM: We just ate our gelato that we got to go. Wow. Best gelato I've had outside Italy. Fantastic.
(4)
Robert H.

Food was decent, staff extremely nice but took forever the best get the meal in. Sat for 20 mins before getting water or bread.
(3)
Lisa G.

The best shaved kale salad in town! All the pasta entrees are also delish. Between noon and one is a bit busy and the attire is more formal as is to be expected while people are on lunch break from work. In the evening it is more casual and kid friendly. My son lives the gelato.
(5)
Michelle B.

the fennel sausage pizza is one of the best pizzas I've ever tasted here or Italy. +1 star
(4)
K W.

I recently returned to Pastaria, this time for lunch. It was every bit as delicious as the dinner. Highly recommended!
(5)
Megan S.

Pastaria. Perfection? Perhaps. Or maybe I'm biased. Because I love pizza and Italian food in general. And having spent over a decade in the restaurant business, I love a well oiled machine. And I am a firm believer that even if the food is amazing, if the service is off, the experience is compromised. And vice versa, obviously. Pastaria gets it. They GET it. They don't take reservations, so we used the 'No Wait' app - and maybe had to wait 20 minutes total (we were quoted 45). It's a big busy restaurant, and while we waited - somewhat awkwardly - at the very packed bar to get a glass of wine, a server (not the bartender) swooped in out of no where to take our drink order. He was friendly and made a few jokes - which was so welcoming. Once we had our wine, we moved towards the hostess stand and stood over by the stairs to wait. Almost immediately after settling in there, a girl came by with complimentary garlic knots for people who were waiting. I LOVE when restaurants do this. It softens the blow of having to wait for a table and everybody loves free stuff. It's true. Once we were seated at the kitchen bar, things progressed quickly, which was great. We weren't super hungry - having lunched at Baileys' Range earlier that day (also outstanding) - so we started with the Brussels Sprouts and split a Margherita Pizza. Both were fantastic - as expected. The pizza is Neapolitan - my favorite and the Brussels had a bit of heat to them as they were tossed in chili oil and then roasted. Our server brought us each a slice of delicious crusty bread and made sure our water glasses stayed full (another thing I am a big fan of). We skipped dessert, but the gelato bar looked amazing. I really enjoyed sitting at the kitchen bar. The cooks worked together and with who I assume was some sort of an expediter - and they all seemed content in their places and to have a good rapport with each other. I think that kind of contentedness speaks volumes for the chef and management - and the food. One of the cooks greeted us as we sat down and also asked how everything was while we were eating. I really appreciated seeing the staff; from the hosts to the servers to the kitchen staff- take pride and enjoyment in their work in the restaurant. There was a sign in the kitchen that said 'Taste your food'. YES! Just one more example of the pride this restaurant takes in preparing its dishes. From start to finish, we had a great experience. Great food and great service. I can't wait to return to St. Louis and visit Pastaria again.
(5)
Alan S.

I've been several times, and I've never had anything that I've remotely disliked here.
(5)
Kate B.

Since my initial review, I've been back here quite a bit and thus felt the need to update. Initially, I wanted to hate this place mostly due to the fact that it's insanely trendy and hipster-y...and also because the service initially wasn't the best. And the pasta didn't blow me away mostly due to it being too under-cooked at first. There are aspects of Pastaria which are still not 100% perfect but let's face it, no one is perfect. (Although Taste is damn close, lol.) But I do feel as though they've improved a lot since I first went. Took my parents here for dinner when they came into town and their minds = blown. My old man couldn't get enough of their Brussels sprouts, and he loved their bolognese pasta too. My mom ordered the pasta dish with the apples in it and couldn't get enough of the combination (I must admit, it's pretty effing good.) My sister liked their pizza too. My friend came here with me and had the pepper cheese pasta dish and asked them to go light on the pepper. Now I order that dish the way she did because before, it was wayyy too peppery. It's just right when you order it like this, unless pepper is yo thang. My dad and I enjoyed the "Primitivo" zinfandel wine they have here too, and my mom enjoyed their Bellini cocktail. So why no 5th star? OK, here's my beef with them: their policies. Like how they won't take reservations, and they won't seat partial parties. I get it. They have their reasons. But there are hundreds of other restaurants that DO take reservations and DO seat partial parties. And they are successful! Until they start doing those two things, I must withhold my fifth and final star, unfortunately. But that doesn't mean I won't go there anymore. I'll just plan to go there late at night or really really early so I can definitely get a table. And I'll have to coordinate better with my friends, which can be difficult especially when we're all driving from completely different towns and are unsure of the highway traffic and road construction, etc, etc.! Just really annoying and mostly an inconvenience because when I wanted to take my family there, they told me I couldn't get a reservation even for a party of 7 people or more. Wtf. My friend wasn't there yet either as something came up with her work and she had to call her boss on the fly, so I had to ask the server (not the hostess) if I could save the seat next to me for her. He said it was OK with him, lol, so it worked out. But they gave me so much crap when I asked to hold the seat for her. It's not like she was going to be an hour late and there were already five of us there. Jeez. I think it would piss me off a whole lot less if they weren't so snooty about it over the phone and in person. If they said, "I'm so sorry, but please feel free to grab a drink/appetizer at the bar, grab a seat and make yourself at home while you wait." That would be nice. If only they actually read this shit and took into account people's feedback. If only! But... also glad to know there is always the option of getting fresh pasta to go and fresh sauce as well. And gelato! I mean, shit, when I feel inclined to cook and actually do my own dishes, I will make a quick stop here and grab shit and go to avoid the stress of not having a reservation. In summation: - my friends & parents love this joint - amazingly delish food & wine & desserts - can get said food & dessert to go if needed and cook at home - service is improving significantly - free fucking parking, FUCK yea (ask them to validate your ticket when you leave) - their policies still suck - Sean still hates it here, sadly - I feel like a fatass afterwards...but sooo worth it! I'm planning to bring Sean's parents to Pastaria next week, and I hope they don't mind eating early-ish to avoid waiting.
(4)
Mary Margaret M.

I really want to give this place five stars, but I just can't. The last time I was here for brunch, I got the breakfast pizza. I've had better elsewhere. The meat was so fatty it wasn't worth eating. Half of it had good flavor, but the other half was so burnt I couldn't eat it. I was so dissapointed. It was a good thing the doughnuts that we got as appetizers more than made up for it. I will certainly be back, but probably will steer clear of the brunch pizza and be sure to get the fresh doughnuts.
(4)
Niharika R.

Pastaria is one of the newer places in St. Louis I've been meaning to try for a while, and thank God I finally got the chance! It was definitely worth it. First of all, the atmosphere might not be for everyone; feels a little impersonal since we were kind of elbow to elbow with our neighbors and seat-back to seat-back with the people behind us. Never mind that though, the service was exemplary, even though it was getting pretty packed on a Thursday night our water glasses always stayed full. Luckily we did beat the major dinner rush since we were on our way to a show at the Fox, and got seated right away. My friend ordered the kale salad which I obviously picked at as well because I have limited boundaries, and it was surprisingly good; I'm not much for kale but the dressing (anchovy/caesar I believe) really made it pop. I ordered the pistachio ravioli based on recommendations by friends and it was definitely more than I expected; the lemon and butter sauce combined with the pistachios and fresh pasta was a great combination of tastes. We didn't have to wait too long for our food either which is a huge plus since we were in a semi-rush. There was definitely more than enough portion-wise, even though I polished it all off I could have made it more than one meal. We finished it off with tiramisu; it lacked a little bit in the flavor department but I could have also been in a stupor from the pasta so I'm not putting a whole lot of weight on that, since we finished it anyway. It had a wonderfully creamy texture which was a great departure from the last tiramisu I had which was watery and almost put me off tiramisu for life. I will definitely be returning, there are so many other dishes I want to try! It's also a plus that everyone else seemed to be enjoying their meals as much as we were, always nice to be around happy people.
(4)
Jason G.

This place, this food, this chef are amazing. I can't tell you just one thing. The entire menu is so good. This is our go to when hungry. No frills, just good food!
(4)
Amie S.

Absolutely love this place. Their risotto balls are delicious. I also tried their lasagna and the bruschetta and they were great too! Overall, great food and service. I only wish they accepted reservations, we had to wait almost an hour even though the hostess told us it will take 25-30 mins.
(5)
Wendy T.

With Pastaria literally a walk away from where I live, I can't wait to come back! We had the crispy risotto balls and winter squash soup. The risotto balls are lightly fried and have enough flavor without the marinara and garlic aioli (I thought it was buttermilk :P) sauces. Delish! The cup of soup was a tiny cup, but the soup was creamy and really satisfying~ The pizzas are probably around 10'' in diameter, and the crusts are thin and, as my boyfriend says, almost just like Italy's pizzas! I had the pappardelle with smoked pork, mascarpone, and apples. The waiter said the pork had a strong smoky flavor, but I couldn't taste it very well. Also, the pork texture was kind of mushy and similar to canned tuna fish, but I still thought the dish was overall delish :) You can choose two flavors for each order of gelato and sample the flavors before ordering. I liked the gingersnap buttermilk and vanilla bean! The gingersnap is made at Pastaria and is thick and aromatic. Chocolate was definitely not our favorite though :P Free parking in the parking garage (validated by Pastaria), a great and cozy atmosphere, and an enjoyable meal. Will definitely come back :)
(4)
Stephanie R.

By far the best Italian food I have had in St. Louis! The bolognese was AMAZING! The pasta is very fresh and the sauces are well-crafted. I also really enjoyed their kale salad, a refreshing twist on the classic caesar. Yes you probably will wait an hour on a weekday so don't be alarmed. We ordered some wine and appetizers for the wait which was perfect. It's a cute date spot or girls' night out locale.
(5)
Shannon C.

I've been here for lunch and dinner several times with colleagues and it's the perfect lunch and happy hour spot. Though the ambiance is a little bright for my liking, the food and service is top notch. They have great salads and sandwiches and pretty decent wine selection. No one appreciates a good salad like I do, I'd camp out here and eat salads all DAY!
(4)
Kat V.

The one thing I have a problem with this place is that they don't take reservations. I came here on a Saturday night. Bad night for me. The place was packed! The ambiance was really airy & modern. Upon entering, you go through a "black curtain." Totally unique. Now on to the food. Being on a low salt, no dairy, low fat diet is not fun at all. The staff at Pastaria totally accommodated to my weird complex diet. The pasta itself was sooo freaking good. It had the right amount of chewiness. The gelato looked delish. Alas, I must wait until I feel better to try it. Oh yeah, I waited for an empty seat at the bar & got to eat my dinner at the bar. Whenever there's a bar at any packed restaurant, try to find an empty seat at the bar & see if you can eat your dinner there.
(4)
Kenna C.

Great service, attentive staff. The Risotto Balls are eye rollingly delicious. Crispy on the outside and cheesy goodness on the inside. A must try to start your meal. The pasta is made in house before your eyes. Everything is extremely fresh and it conveys in the finished product. The lasagne has paper thin layers of pasta w/creamy cheese and beautiful balanced bolognese sauce in each delicate and satisfying layer. Don't pass this place up if you are looking for fresh and artful Italian fare.
(5)

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Address : 7734 Forsyth Blvd
Saint Louis, MO, 63105
Phone (314) 862-6603
Website https://www.pastariastl.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 10
Mon : 11:00 am - 10

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Validated
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

Claim Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

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Pastaria

7734 Forsyth Blvd, Saint Louis, MO, 63105

Pastaria Menu

Soups-salads-appetizers

Vegetables

Pastas

Pizza

Desserts

Entrees

Healthy Meal suggestions for Pastaria

Soups-salads-appetizers

Vegetables

Pastas

Pizza

Desserts

Entrees

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