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Pasta Fresca
2 reviews for Pasta Fresca
I remember Pasta Fresca from the days when it was brand new and didn't get a lot of business. I used to eat there at least once a week (often more) and the waitstaff always knew what I wanted. Their pasta is fresh and has a really excellent texture (my favorite is the spinach linguine). Their sauces are quite good, in particular the creamy marinara sauce. I love that sauce so much that I used to ask for a side order of the sauce to dip a half order of cheese bread in.
But that was years ago, and a lot of things have changed. The restaurant has gotten much more popular, and what used to be a 10 or 12 table restaurant has more than doubled in size with an addition built on. The side of creamy marinara dipping sauce I used to order so much has actually been put on the menu next to their breads. Their prices have gone up--expect to pay $9-10 per entree--and I think the quality of their food is not what it was when they first opened.
Their caesar salads are excellent--but their dresing is slightly different than usual caesar dressing (more anchovy in the dressing?), so either you like it a LOT more than you normally like caesar salads or you like it a LOT less. The order of cheese or garlic cheese (but they use actual fresh, chopped garlic, so be careful!) bread with the creamy marinara sauce is an absolute must. Their alfredo sauce is also a little unusual and a happy twist on standard restaurant alfredo--they add nutmeg for a cleaner, fresher flavor.
Essentially, Pasta Fresca remains a really great little Italian restaurant--especially for Columbia, and in particular as an alternative to somewhere like the Olive Garden--and if you don't remember the way it used to be before it got bigger and more popular I'm sure you'll be more than pleased with your meal. The atmosphere is cozy and perfect for a date, but also good for a regular family dinner or a meeting with friends.
*A helpful tip: it's much better and easier to park in the Kroger parking lot and walk down the slight, short hill to the restaurant than try to park in their actual lot.
I ate here in Dec 2008 and needless to say I didn't care for the food here. Not too many menu options and for an Italian restaurant it is surely lacking variety.
The place did have a nice atmosphere and friendly waitstaff so overall not a bad place but the menu and food quality didn't meet our expectations.
We're used to good Italian food being from Chicago. I know there has to be good Italian food in Columbia other than Olive Garden.
There is Dianne on devine etc... If you're ever in Charleston stop by Maggianos and get the family style... All their food is made from scratch and reasonably priced for the large portions and excellent quality.