| rev:text
| - I rolled the magic hand back and forth, back and forth over the stars a few times before I went to four stars! Somethings should be easy, reviewing the PastaBAR is not.
This is a restaurant my husband and I have been going to almost as long as it has been open, a fateful day when we missed Matt's closing time and as I looked across the street saw the large sign beckoning us in at 2:00 on a Sunday. So many things have changed since that day.
There are times in my life when I try to do better and that means no dessert or no alcohol and those are the days that we just plain don't go to the PastaBAR as the temptations kill me!
My favorite beverage is an Old Fashion but it is not a drink I order out because for some reason despite everything bartenders say, they just can't get it right. One of the first things that sold me at the PastaBAR was the New Jack Fashion. It is no longer on the drink menu, but they still make it and it does not disappoint. Gentleman Jack with Amerena cherries and blood orange bitters ;1 is never enough and 2 really makes you want 3, but I have not ventured down that path. As it is going to the PastaBAR requires a driver for me! In general their drink menu is a fun event and I like the fact that they only serve cane sugar beverages.
My other favorite there was the chocolate bark, but they have taken it away as in not on the menu AND not available. Perhaps with the gelato bar it became too much, or maybe others didn't understand it the way I did and it didn't sell, but it was HEAVEN!! Really it changed my whole understanding of chocolate. At first it had shaved almonds and then it changed to whole nuts, but it was the perfect combination of sweet and salt that made it come together. In fact I am now constantly seeking out salted chocolate just to get that same happy sugar high and I have noticed in several recent dining outings I am not alone (FnB, JAX, Wildflower).
Then there is the other stuff they make...pasta. Well it's darn near perfect. Every dish I have ever had the pasta is perfectly cooked and they often have gifted specials that I remember months after. In the world of apps they also introduced me to the savoriness of having egg on salad (runny poached type egg) and their heirloom tomatoes are always spot on. Other apps are good, but I don't love as much as the salad.
The owner adheres to rules that my husband has always preached to me like no cheese with fish and I see where that occasionally causes reviewers agitation, but the menu does work with you if you approach it the right way. For instance I wanted the incredible Dessert Shrimp (I have no idea why they are called that, but they are phenomenal with their garlic, basil, pepper kick) on the fettuccine typically made with Rib Eye and I was told no, but that I could get the fettuccine dish without the rib eye and the shrimp on the side to create my own heaven.
I know many people find the PastaBAR overpriced, but I believe the ingredients are very high quality and that is the reason for the cost. You get what you pay for.
Service is hit or miss which when someone tries something new and gets the wrong server could be a huge problem. It also can really hurt even for non-first timers as is evidenced by my sister who flat out will not return here. In particular they seem to struggle with larger groups. It is almost like the service staff isn't used to dealing with larger tables and larger may mean 6. The service issues are not good, but thankfully everything else is.
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