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Mon-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 3:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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I live across he street and eat here more often than I should. Great eggplant parm, ham and gouda sandwich, homemade pasta, homemade ceasar dressing, pancetta pizza, and BOLOGNESE...MMMM...
The only problem I have with the place is how fat their making me.
This isn't a true Trattoria although they do have a chalkboard, it isn't a cut above most Red-Sauce joints. Three standouts for me: Bolognese, Agilo Olio, Arancini, Not the typical fare for casual dinning Italian. Many fancier places attempt these dishes but fail. My number one peeve is yes carrots are part of Bolognese but should not be chunks of carrot. At BP they get it the Bolognese is smooth and does not have chunkcs of carrots. To really enjoy this place you will spend slightly more than $10 a person I think but it's worth it. A pleasant place to eat and they will have the futbol on the TV.
* I would have no problem bringing a friend from Italy here. It's that
close to authentic. On par with Carlos Cucina Italiana in Allston, sans
liquor license.
* Menu is extensive but go here for pasta.
* Tough location if you are travelling by car.
I wanted to love this place...and I'll admit that the food is good...but on a Sunday afternoon with no other patrons, it took almost a half an hour to get a chicken parm and some chicken/penne/broccoli situation.
Once the food did arrive, it hit the spot and I cleaned my plate...so I can't knock it too hard, but it wouldn't be my first choice to fill a pasta craving.
This place has absolutely the best italian food I've ever tasted... and the best part is that it's right down the street from my house.
Italian food is my top favorite and there aren't many places that hold true to there sauces, especially the alfredo, which is done to perfection, seriously.
The other dish that I can't get away from is the chicken Parm with Ziti... the pasta is never over or under cooked. Also the dishes smell and taste fresh... nothing reheated. Oh and my other top dish is the chicken ceasar salad where the sauce is... as a matter fact, whoever reads this, just needs to go... straight up.
I would drop it down a half star cause it's just made it over the high price mark but its really not that serious, and its actually every bit of the taste. Luckily I controlled myself and my pockets to not overstuff myself there.
You will enjoy, and you can thank me later
Excellent home-cooked Italian takeout. Seating inside if you choose to eat there (though no table service). Great to call ahead and order so it's ready when you arrive. And clean out your tupperware, there will definitely be leftovers!
My buddy told me about this place a few weeks ago and I was like ya ya I'll go to it when I have time.
Well well well..talk about an absolute hidden gem...the chicken parm at this place is extremely good. the chicken parm is a good way to measure Italian restaurants,, Basta Past know what they are doing..
The restaurant itself isn't that big (only a few tables) but it has a warm hardy feeling. The is a good place to go for lunch but i recommend that you call your order in because they make everything from scratch so it takes up to 15-20 mins to get your food
Here's a good way to get a decent Italian food for relatively little money. Bring a cheese grater with real parmigiano reggiano, a Nalgene bottle filled with a good sauvignon blanc or sangiovese, and an empty tupperware, and go to this place.
I'm no Italian but I learned how to cook Italian food from fine books by Marcella Hazan and Carlo Middione. So perhaps I'm not easily pleased with Italian food unless your grandmother is really good on this one. I've not found a restaurant that impressed me without spending a lot of money. But for $15/person, this place gets 4 stars from me. The way they cook pasta is perfect and they don't give you swollen noodle like many others do, and the sauce is tasty. I find the way they use onions in the sauces is not the best and I also don't like the parmesan cheese-like powder. Yet, for a $15 meal this place is pretty good. One downside is that they don't have any wine, and therefore they don't have any good wine. That is still a problem...
Delicious!
Basta Pasta was recommended to us by two different people when we moved to this area. It's a great place for take out or a casual meal. My favorites are the daily specials and chicken cacciatore. The hand cut fries are also quite delicious. I always have enough left over after my meal for lunch the next day.
This isn't your typical sit-down restaurant where a waiter serves you water and takes your orders. It's more of a delicious high-quality "take-out" restaurant where you have to stand in line to order your food (or order by phone). I was blown away by their menu because everything just sounded so good...they had everything from subs to pizzas to pastas. I had a hard time deciding, but I went ahead and ordered the Chicken Picatta with Linguine. The food didn't come out as fast as I had expected but nevertheless, it was worth the wait for freshly-made food. The chicken was soo tender and savory. I could taste the intense lemon flavors over the melted butter. The capers weren't overpowering either!
So Jenn was in town (the reason for us eating out) and she had chicken parm panini, which I did not try, but she thought was very tasty. Mu had the risotto topped with calamari and this was pretty freakin good. If I came back, I would order this.
By the way, I had left-overs of my pasta and took it home. I ate it a couple days later (put it between 2 toasted whole wheat breads) and made a sandwich. Yeah I know, sounds weird, but it was delicious. Try it!
I miss this place SO much!
I used to live in Cambridge a few years ago, and this was a favorite of mine. Every single dish I had (and I had plenty) was fresh! The chefs were incredibly friendly and catering to your needs. You can tell that they put extra time and care into the dishes. Their passion for the food is clear.
It's so homey inside. Yes, it's a bit small. But during those cold winter days, this place is perfect for a quick bite, and one that is always, always fresh.
Since I moved out of Cambridge, I've been on the search for a high quality, affordable Italian restaurant like Basta Pasta. It's just not possible to find. I can't wait until I go back to Cambridge and taste their delicious dishes again.
If you're looking for down-home, basic Italian cooking, eat at Basta Pasta. Where the food is so revered, but you won't get any sneers, it's Basta Pasta.
If you like noodles al dente and your sauce with flavor a plenty, Basta Pasta.
When you fork over dough for a lunch that's so-so, just think twice and you'll find that the fare over here, it's quite nice.
Basta Pasta!!
Just don't expect air conditioning, a relaxing atmosphere or the use of a credit card if your order is less than $10!
Just an update to my previous review. Good news! Basta Pasta is now a member of http://www.mixmenu.com (and subsequently http://foodler.com ) ! This means, for a nominal fee you can get their fantastic food delivered.
This has been a fantastic find since my partner and I moved away to the other side of Cambridge (we used to be literally around the corner and could walk there in 30 seconds). They have a $15.00 delivery minimum, but if you are ordering for 2 people you should easily be able to breach this requirement.
Huzzah!!
Amazing. I used to live steps from this little take out place and recently went back just for the… Read more »
I have been to Basta Pasta now three times. The first two dishes were quite good, but didn't blow me away, although the portions are indeed large. I would have given it four stars on the basis of my first two visits.
Only on the third visit did I finally have the courage to order a pizza, with two friends present. We ordered the Pancetta, and let me tell you...this thing was righteous. And I know pizza. I usually make my own at home from scratch and eating pizza out seems like such a waste because so few places do it well, but this was $13 for a pizza big enough for three, and so good. Historically in the Boston area I would only partake in Upper Crust, but this was at least as good as anything Upper Crust serves, perhaps better.
I agree with Dan S. People dock this place a star for asinine reasons. This place is solid. This place is steel.
A hop, skip, and a few jumps away from the Central T stop down Western Ave you've got Basta Pasta Trattoria. With an unassuming store front, and only two or three metered parking spaces, and a few tables, I'm not surprised I haven't been here before. Semi off the beaten path... but as I recently found out, it's worth the trip.
The pasta is cooked al dente with good flavored sauces, and plenty of it at that. For around $10 you're going to get two meals out of your order... and it's apparent that Basta Pasta knows this because they have to-go containers out on the counter ready for you to grab.
If you're looking for their homemade fusilli, you need to go for dinner as it's not offered at lunch. That was okay though... the Chicken Parm over pene was just what my tummy was looking for.
I am normally someone who brings lunch to work, but this place might make the small list of restaurants I'll break my habits for... my real only deterrent is the parking situation since 99.9% of the parking around there is permit only.
One last note, if your meal is under $10 - you'll need the green b/c they won't take the plastic.
Basta Pasta gets five stars alone for their homemade fusilli with bolognese. That is a perfect pasta-sauce combination; each makes the other one better.
The mini-arancinis are also good, and portions/prices on everything are great.
Jesus christ, I can't believe all these people who dock this place a star because... I don't know why. It doesn't serve booze? They don't force you to listen to Sinatra?
Who the hell said this isn't a date place? If I brought a girl to this place and she was unhappy I'd kick her sorry rear to the curb in a heartbeat.
The food here is ridiculously good for the price you pay. My metric for any Italian place is chicken parm - if they can nail this (it's easy to do chicken parm well, but not *great*), they usually do the rest pretty well too. For less than $10 I got some of the best chicken parm I've ever had, hands down, with perfectly al dente penne and an excellent tomato sauce. In a sit down restaurant I would have easily expected to pay 2 or 3 times as much for this dish. And there was a boatload of food too - we're talking 2 meals for a solid eater.
Fiancee got some smashed olives and garlic pasta, came with tomatoes and some random greens, she was completely satisfied.
We got the garden salad to start out and they completely doused it with vinaigrette, so I'd caution: dressing on the side.
I really think the quality of the food actually causes this place to get lower rankings - the deficiencies here (no AC, limited drink selection, counter service, lousy parking situation, water in a cooler with styrofoam cups, shared TV for dining room and kitchen over the counter) become glaring precisely because the grub is so excellent. You somehow expect more - it seems impossible that they could do so well with so little!
Anyway, I'm floored that these guys can charge what they do and stay in business. I'll be back; maybe once I have some of the other stuff I'll knock them down a peg. But I doubt it. These guys know how to cook.
Edit to add: Just read a review that said this place is cash only. Untrue, I paid with a credit card last night.
First rate food. What I want to plug, especially, is the staff. These guys are so personable, and warm, in spite of how hard they work to bring gourmet food to you for $10. I don't know many Albanians, but Alton is such a stand up fellow that I find myself stopping in just to greet him. This place has old world soul quality that some of us appreciate.
Food was delicious (5 stars for the food!).
The guy behind the counter is another story.
My good friend took me here for dinner tonight and we had the Mini Arancinis and a wonderful Beet Salad with what I think was goat cheese and arugula with balsamic dressing. Both were really delicious.
We had intended to have dinner, but my friend had already had something earlier (there's a point to this) so I was in the hot-seat to decide what to get for dinner and she'd have some of what I chose. I really couldn't decide just then and didn't want to monopolize the guy behind the counter. Really wanted to just sit down after a day.
I said "How 'bout we just get these two for now and we'll come back to order more in a little bit, ok? We can just pay for this now..." to the guy behind the counter.
There were no people in line, the phone wasn't ringing and the place had some empty tables, just to give you an idea.
He said "No, I will wait for you to order."
I said "Really, please, just let us just pay for this and we'll go from there, ok?"
I just wanted to have something to eat, it was 8:30pm on Friday night. I was exhausted and hadn't had anything to eat since about 2pm.
I really wanted to sit down with my friend and have a bite.
He said "I will wait".
I said "Really, we'll have those and come back for more. Could we pay for these please?"
He said "I will ring this up when I take your order."
I said "Well, that'll be it then, thanks. Could we please pay now?"
He finally rang up the Mini Arancinis and the wonderful Beet Salad which we really enjoyed, trying to just let the bullying from guy behind the counter not wreck our time there.
It's a cute little place. The food was great, I'd have loved to have dinner but really just wanted to leave after the whole ordeal at the counter.
When we were done, we took out plates up to the counter in an effort to be helpful. I waited a minute to talk to the guy behind the counter before we left. I waited until there weren't people waiting to place an order. I gently said "I just have to tell you that that really wasn't very nice or very cool of you to be so pushy with me to place my order. I work with the public and I'm in the service industry, too, so I know it isn't easy, but that was just really awful and you can't treat people that way." He said "Well, I am sorry you feel that way and I probably do more customer service than you. " I said "You know, that really isn't a real apology and I'm sure you definitely don't do more customer service than I do. I just had to let you know that that was just not very nice." He said "I'm sorry you feel that way." I just looked at him in disbelief and left with my friend.
The food was fabulous. Maybe we'll get it to go next time and look leisurely at the menu as it appears on the computer screen beforehand.
p.s. I am an easy-to-please person and just want people to be nice to me when I'm buying something or at a restaurant. They don't have to be all "zippity-do-da!" or "happy-happy-joy-joy", just decent and definitely not mean or pushy, that's all. I would much rather write reviews about things and places I love. This review wasn't written by a chronic complainer, is I guess what I'm saying.
If you live in cambridge and are having a italian pasta craving, there's no need to trek over to the north end! It's placed in a very unassuming spot in between central square and charles river on western ave. The prices are much friendlier as well. I'm a big fan of the chicken marsala with their homemade fusilli pasta, their spicy bolognese and their baked stuffed eggplant. I also think their pizza is quite decent, especially their margherita pizza. They are fast too!
Lived around the corner from this place for 2 years. Delicious, fresh, rustic, hardy food in enormous portions...the perfect remedy for snowy winter days or fast, cheap takeout. Prices may not seem super cheap, but that's because they give you a heap of pasta big enough for a linebacker. I don't eat Italian food that often, but this place hits the spot whenever I want pasta.
Menu favorite: Chicken Cacciatore with homemade fusilli (ALWAYS get the homemade fusilli...beware that they often run out if you order a late dinner)
I'm not sure what this review is worth because I have only had one dish here, but about 20 times! Four words: CHICKEN PICCATA WITH FUSILI. So delicious, I actually eat it in my car on my way home (gross, but true)! I'm sure I've had a dream or two about it also. They are pretty generous with the chicken, the last time I went I received 3 HUGE pieces of chicken... although I prefer the amazing, fresh pasta. Unfortunately, the chick at the desk always seems pissed off... but it's worth it! Hah!
Oh, and a family I know who has lived in Cambridge for years SWEARS by them!
This little hole-in-the-wall restaurant is totally unassuming. It's located on a small street in Cambridge and is small inside. The prices are great too...I'd say it's even on the cheaper side for Italian food.
My friend took us while we were visiting and told us that this was her and her husband's favorite Italian place to eat outside of the North End.
It was delicious.
We ordered Chicken Parmigiana, Chicken Marsala, and a Caesar Salad...everything tasted so good!
I highly recommend this place!
There's hardly anything I can contribute that hasn't already been covered in the 160+ reviews already listed. Basta Pasta is a great, low-cost Italian option.
There's no ambiance like the North End. It's not a date place. There's no booze. That's not the point. It's just a chill place that reliably cooks up tasty, homemade Italian cuisine.
I'm a big fan of the meatballs with linguine. It's $8.95 and will satisfy two diners. Perfect for a weeknight when I don't feel like cooking.
Did I mention they make their own pasta...?
This Italian takeout made for a lovely picnic of wine and carb loading.
From Harvard Square we didn't walk terribly far to get to Basta Pasta (0.8 miles to be exact). Upon placing an order for three to go, me and a friend picked up a couple bottles of screw-top reds (under $10) and a small baguette from Whole Foods on River Street and met back up with Dave across the street for our loverly picnic. Highly recommended!
The best part (besides the wine): each meal provides plenty of leftovers and always taste delicious even the day after. Make your colleagues jealous when you warm up that spicy garlic goodness in the office kitchen microwave, peeps, and get over to Basta Pasta!
It's Sunday, I'm thinking of food per usual. I'm thinking of pasta, common. I'm thinking casual.… Read more »
First time, and had their Chicken Marsala.
Small little place with well cooked food. Very much a local spot.
I'm not going to lie, I was secretly hoping that this place would be terrible so I could nickname it Bastard Pasta and also not add another craving-worthy Italian joint to my list...Alas, 'twas not to be.
While attempting to work on my triceps at the gym last week, I thought "Hmmm...I need to work the biceps. Particularly focusing on hand to mouth reps." My friend must have been reading my mind because about three seconds later he suggested we head to Basta Pasta after the gym.
And while Basta Pasta may not be the most post-workout friendly place (I remember spaghetti dinners being the night BEFORE a big game in high school), it was definitely a delicious way to end a workout. Isn't your metabolism working faster after a workout anyways? Don't answer.
Anyways, we were lucky enough to find parking right out front. The space is pretty small and there are a smattering of tables. All were full so we decided to hover as we had to wait for our food to be made anyways. I ordered a meatball parmigiana sub (homemade meatballs!) and my friend and boyfriend ordered chicken piccata. They have a whole host of choices from paninis to pastas to salads. I even saw a burger and buffalo wings. Although I don't know what sort of blasphemer goes to a place called Basta Pasta looking for those two options.
Anyways, my sub had a fulfilling 7 minute life before making its way to my stomach. The pasta plates were huge so I also sampled the piccata dishes which were delicious. The garlic was very robust. My friend stole a furtive glance around the packed place, said "I don't care" and tipped his plate back to drink the last of the sauce.
That is what Basta Pasta will do to you.
I hate olives. They are my enemy. Naturally I was a bit hesitant to try the squashed olives dish listed on the menu. However, one bite of its garlicy goodness and this dish quickly became one of my favorite meals Basta Pasta has to offer. Place it over fusilli and you have an amazing meal for the 2 or 3 plates you can get out of the heaping portion you're served.
With menu items ranging from stuffed eggplant to chicken wings Basta Pasta is sure to have something for everyone at prices far below what you'd expect for quality italian food.
Food is always good, but the cashier is helpless. We ordered an entree which they ran out of (after the phone order) which required me waiting 20 minutes for it. When we got home, they forgot to include 2 of the appetizers we paid for. I called them, they said they would credit us, and when we ordered again, they said they had nothing written down about it.
So we went to the manager who was very helpful. However, check your order before you leave.
This place is really great. Couple bucks more per dish than I usually pay for pasta from pizza type restaurants, but it's a) a bigger portion, and b) a much higher quality product. There is someone who clearly cares about serving good tasting food here rather than just serving the utility food that most places this size serve. Even though you could go for something like Cinderellas (which I often do) for half the price and get a totally acceptable product, this is actually *good*. Tonight, for a change I grabbed some linguini putanesca, and I'm pretty sure I'll go for the homemade fuisili the next time. I've had it before and it's worth it.
This place good. The Chicken Caccitore was a bit to garlicky but the salad was delicious as well as the Chicken Pesto Pizza. Ofcourse its not the best Italian food I have ever had but it will do.
Potentially my new favorite lunch spot. when you walk in the place you know, just by smell, how awesome the food is going to be. One plate and I am hooked. and for $8 I got enough food for two meals (and I ain't a nibbler)
bravo
Basta Pasta is terrific. Huge portions of delicious food. The risotto is fantastic and could easily feed two people for dinner. The pizza is also very good (although not my favorite in Boston). My boyfriend raves about their sandwiches as well. Definitely a great place to eat.
I had been meaning to try Basta Pasta for about two years now. Even though I live in nearby Central Square, it's always been juuust far enough out of walking distance to justify choosing something closer. In the pedestrian world, folks, laziness dictates many of the decisions we make.
So finally I made it to Basta Pasta and I have to say it exceeded my expectations. The homemade fusilli was well-worth it-- not too doughy, and so unmistakably fresh and handmade. The sauce-- tangy, tomatoey, and best of all, not sweet. The chicken was crisp on the outside, tender on the inside. My companion's ziti and broccoli with aglio olio was also quite good. The arancini, which were heavily highlighted by many of you in your reviews, were very tasty. The portions were very large, and both of us were able to make two meals from our orders. At 8-10 bucks a pop, you can't really go wrong. Takeout is definitely the way to go here.
It was kind of like discovering an awesome B-side track on an old record that you've had for years.
Overall, a very fine choice if you have a car or are in the mood for a hike, and certainly the best Italian food option in Central Square.
The Caprese salad is great. For those who are interested in the Tomato-Mozzarella options, the salad is preferred to the panini.
This place was a really great place to go with friends- there were 15-20 of us all standing in the… Read more »
Is Basta Pasta a sub shop or a restaurant?
* You fetch your drinks from a big Pepsi Fridge *(sub shop)*
* A muted TV over the fridge shows a sports channel, while top 40 radio is played loud on the sound system *(sub shop)*
But...
* My chicken parm sub is called a chicken parmesan panini on the menu *(restaurant)*
* There were two sprigs of fresh rosemary in my fries *(restaurant)*
Well whatever, the chicken parm panini-sub hit the mark. The roll was warm and toasty, the sauce perfectly savory, the chicken crisp and then tender. I am stuffed full and loving it.
If you don't know where this place is and need to get here in 30 mins before close from anywhere in the Boston area don't count on it.After reading rave reviews of this place from others and the place about to close with my cooked food waiting for me to pick it up, i parked on the other side of the bridge and made the mad dash for this place.
I got the home made fusili bolognase, which was great to say the least. Very flavorful and cooked to perfection. Along with the must try arancinis it was an awesome meal. There was one thing i loved about this place is that for the price you get a lot of food. By a lot i mean a little over 3 meals worth.
Wow, that was a magnificent Chicken Parmesan. I'd read the reviews here, but I was prepared not to be impressed, especially when I saw the place, but the food was fantastic, excellent spicing, perfect pasta. I finished about 2/3 of it and now I'm stuffed.
Should be great (independently owned, friendly people, nice menu) but seriously, they just can't cook the basic things they serve. Pasta is often overcooked or waaay undercooked. Sauces are undersalted or oversweet, or there's too much on the pasta. Raw onions and cream don't belong in marsala sauce. At least they stopped making the burgers all garlic flavored.
Oh, if only you had more tables, Basta Pasta! Then I'd be more likely to share the little secret that you rock the hole-in-the-wall Italian food scene.
Alas, you have about seven tables available for in-house dining, so I've picked about 32 friends - the ones I like the best - and told them to head on over (but told them to stagger, of course). As to not overwhelm you, I have instructed some of them to order the chicken parm (the sauce is delightful, the chicken is just thinly sliced enough, and I have no idea how you did it, but bravo on the perfect amount of cheese), while I have requested some others to order the penne bolognese. I asked a select few to get the risotto, but only those who are ready for a little bit of creamy overload. I also told my very favorite friend to get the side of meatballs.
What can I say, I adore my friends.
I also can't keep a secret.
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