Il Pastaio: Masterful Italian Dining

Waiting to be seated at a restaurant is often, though not always, correlates to quality. With Il Pastaio, this is most definitely the case.

Fortunately, the wait for a seat at Il Pastaio is likely to only sharpen your appetite. While I was waiting in line, one gentleman in particular sang paeans about the Agnolotti. Although I did not end up ordering this myself, the imagery of green ravioli delicately stuffed with mushrooms and brushed with truffle cream sauce definitely lingers in mind. If that wasn’t enough, the gentleman’s wife shared with me her appreciation of the Arancini — breaded rice cones of mozzarella pomodoro sauce. Needless to say, I was ready to eat.

I was guided to a table within the dining room, a cozy dim-lit space that conjures the feeling of sitting in your very own kitchen. This feeling was reinforced by occasional glimpses of the chefs who could be seen venturing out of the kitchen. There is also a patio area that is comparatively more spacious.

Following the recommendation of my fellow patrons, I ordered the Arancini as a starter. The flakiness of the fried rice, mixed with the richness of the mozzarella and the freshness of the sauce was outstanding. The portion was modest, but packed with the right amount of flavor.

Though I considered ordering the Agnolotti (and again, now as I type this the image of it pops into mind, begging to be ordered), I ended up going with the Scoglio — a seafood pasta with calamari, shrimp, and deliciously sweet mussels and clams. The pasta was cooked to a perfect al dente and had a certain freshness to it that I find hard to describe. Like with the Arancini, the Scoglio came in a modest, but satisfying portion.

For dessert, I had the pleasure of eating a velvety-smooth, feather-light panna cotta with strawberry sauce and a short espresso on the side.

I can’t recommend Il Pastaio enough. Do yourself a favor and check it out. If you plan on going without a reservation, be prepared to wait. However, if your experience is anything like mine, that shouldn’t be a bad thing at all.

For more information about Il Pastaio, check out the head chef’s website. Stay tuned for more restaurant reviews at my own site, HerschelNaghi.net.