Italian travelers, this article is for you! A new and interesting format has arrived in New York: the Pasta Bar. It’s rare to find one in Italy, where we are masters at making pasta at home at any time of day, but Americans love pasta, the quintessential Italian dish, and they love going out to eat (and make) it in the city that never sleeps.
The Pasta Bar format arrives in New York
Usually, when planning a trip abroad, especially to a destination like New York, people tend to avoid any Italian spots, but this is an experience I recommend adding to your itinerary. Pasta Bars are places where the focus is on pasta dishes, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find other types of dishes as well. Usually, the accompanying dishes, mostly small bites, appetizers, and desserts, are also Italian.
However, the real star is pasta! In many cases, you’ll find it fresh, and there are also risottos and gnocchi, which are typically hard to find in New York. There are Pasta Bars for all tastes and budgets, from Michelin-starred ones offering a decidedly extravagant experience, to pasta-making classes, sometimes with real Italian grandmothers, for an even more immersive and memorable experience.
The best Pasta Bars in New York
Let’s start with one of the top names in the Pasta Bar world, the Michelin-starred restaurant Rezdora, which offers a luxurious 5-course tasting menu for $90, expensive but perfect for a special occasion. If you’re looking for something more casual, maybe even take-away, to enjoy while exploring the city, there’s Pasta de Pasta, where you can customize your own bowl. I recommend trying the incredible Alfredo Pasta!
If you’re looking for something in between, you can opt for lunch inside a pasta factory. Try Forma in Brooklyn, where you’ll find many different pasta shapes to pair with the sauce of your choice. Finally, if you want to make delicious fresh pasta alongside an Italian grandmother, book your workshop at Mille Nonne at Essex Market and try your hand at making spaghetti alla chitarra and delicious gnocchi alla sorrentina.
