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Clever idea, mediocre execution.
1. Select pasta shape, ingredients, and sauce type.
2. Pay nice man money. Wait ten minutes.
3. Eat food, remain slightly underwhelmed.
There is not one thing I would ever crave at Pic a Pasta, but its reasonably priced and a quick solution to killing some hunger pangs.
disclaimer: i've only had their pizza.
10 minutes for a slice of pizza? Really? And no fountain soda? Are you serious?
I know. I'm hard to please. But to be fair, I will update this review if/when I return and try something other than their pizza.
Yummy pasta combinations; quick service and low prices make Pic A Pasta an ideal post-workout, I-am-too-lazy-to-cook dinner. I do wish the bread were a little better as the garlic sticks were a bit disappointing- like buttered little sub rolls.
My major complaint: the lack of marinara on my pasta. The paucity of sauce. Us Italian girls, we-ah like-ah dah gravy! (Yeah that was terrible, I know.)
Next time I go back I am asking for extra sauce. Which to be honest, will probably translate to +1 star.
Never had pasta here but tried breakfest and found very yummy. It's a really cheap place for breakfest. You can eat and then get on the bus infront of the door if you are waiting for the bus. One of the frequent place I go when I lived in Brighton a while ago.
This is a good place to order out lunch. They have fairly quick delivery service and it's a great bang for you buck. I've never actually been inside but I've been told if I go it will ruin the mystique. I'm a big fan of the Greek salad wrap and that's usually what I end up ordering after looking through there pretty extensive menu.
I think they deserve at least one of their stars for selling hot dogs. Who does that anymore? A hot dog for a buck!
I've also heard the build-your-own-pasta is really good and the portions are big, though I've never ordered it.
A term I never heard before yelping is 'Meh'
But as I finished my lunch from Pic-a-pasta today and contemplated what I would write about the experience, I shrugged my shoulders and went 'Meh'.
and it became clear, I smiled, and I heard music....
before you think it was maybe some divine revelation, it was actually crap music directly preceded by 'Hello Moto' coming from a cube outside my office.
But 'Meh' hits the nail perfectly, and appropriately it's even part of the description of 2 stars.
And this is not to say I didn't enjoy my grub. It was seemingly fresh produce (I grabbed a salad), but it didn't feel like any thought was put into it - in fact it felt pre-fab, with just the toppings thrown on based on the customer's order - efficient? yes. inspiring? no.
and in the past, my selections have either been fairly tasty or sloppy and gross - and for me, I like some consistency, especially until I find my favorites.
I wouldn't avoid this place. In fact I have been going to it since it was on the other side of the Square, and I still manage to get sucked back there - but the time between visits is lengthening, and that says something (especially since I work closeby). And when you consider the other options in Oak Square proper, it probably should be getting decent reviews - but it's not much to say you are in the top 2 when there are only like 2 places in the vicinty, right?
So if you are here on foot, it's safe and it's filling - but if you are more mobile and hankering for pasta, hit Carlo's - or hankering for salad hit Whole Foods - because for the $7 I just spent here, I could have been more wowed by either fairly easily.
Overly creamy sauces on generous portions of pasta makes for an OK lunch. What's missing is the flavor, which I think gets lost in the thick sauce. The only dish I like is their Cajun Chicken dish -- everything else I've tried has been too bland. In fact, my last time there, I threw the meal away half way through it -- some special they were running -- but it was really just cream and ham pasta. Yikes.
Prices are cheap, service is quick, some seating available. Thanks to a large student population, I think the old "cheap & plenty" formula will keep this place around for some time.
Another place I really miss since I moved out of Oak Square. Love the "create your own pasta" menu, and I actually think the portions are really generous. I remember being able to order a large, eat until I was full, and save the rest to bring to work for lunch the next day, pretty awesome.
I almost always ordered fettuccine alfredo with a bunch of things mixed in, but I also tried the lasagna and the meat lover's special (pasta with bolognese sauce and pepperoni) a few times. Their breakfast burritos are good as well.
My only complaint about this place is that it seems like the food takes a really long time to make. When I lived nearby I stopped ordering delivery because it took so long, and even when I started picking it up I had to wait a long time for it to be ready. Still the food is great, and the prices are definitely reasonable, so if you can wait 20-30 minutes, definitely give this place a try.
I admit I was shocked when the breakfast fare from a pasta place wowed me. Now there's no reason to get your egg and cheese sandwich at Dunkin Donuts next door, cuz this place is better. Their eggs don't come in frozen pre-fab patties. They sell toast. And their coffee is great.
Get the free delivery.
This quaint little pasta shop looked so promising from the street. Once inside, there was a cute little Italian man behind the counter who waited patiently as we scanned three chalkboards worth of menu items. He told us our order would be out in a few minutes and we took a seat at one of the plain looking tables, both looking forward to our home cooked meals. That is when the romance ended.
My pasta primavera with shrimp in wine sauce had a mix of fish and garlic flavor. While it wasn't heavy on vegetables, there were an abundance of green peas and mini shrimps, straight from the frozen section. My friend couldn't eat her chicken parmigiana because of its weird consistency. She claimed the pasta sauce would have been better out of a commercial bottle (Ragu anyone?) . Both were served with a disappointing white piece of bread, probably picked up in the aisle between and sauce and the peas.
Maybe their other options are better- they have salads, different sauces, create your own pasta dish- or maybe you should just hit up somewhere else in the neighborhood.
The food is great, the portions are perfect, and there is a lot of variety! You can pick your own sauce, type of pasta, and toppings (ranging from veggies to meat). Or select one of their many salads, specialty meals, sandwiches, and so on.
The prices are reasonable and the service fast and reliable. They deliver or you can eat there.
Build-your-own pasta dish!
Your choice of way more sauces than I would bother making and way more "toppings" than I might keep around my house on a normal night I would feel lazy and just make pasta. Makes me feel like a legit Italian American on lazy nights in Oak Square!
FOR VERY REASONABLE prices.
Did you also know they have breakfast?? Cuz they do. And its also cheap. And yummy! And a great alternative to the Dunks next door for a morning breakfast sandwich if you're into that kind of thing.
MM MM!
Seriously, I almost don't want to mention this little gem. Okay, so it isn't the Four Seasons, but it is a great last minute option for healthy and fast takeout.
We've been ordering from this place for close to 6 years and have never had an issue. The food is always fresh and the employees are friendly. The salads are delicious..and just like the pasta, pick your own toppings and call it your own! Haven't found a nasty piece of lettuce yet and the toppings are always crisp and snappy.
Like someone else wrote, you could make it at home, but the price combined with portion and quality makes this place a must on the nights you just don't feel like slaving in the kitchen.
One of my buddies turned me on to this place and I have been addicted ever since. They have a wide selection of pastas, sauces, and extras. They give you a generous portion and a great fresh roll to boot.
The guys who run the place are always friendly and accommodating. Even though this place is pasta crazy they don't look at me like I have three heads when I order the steak and cheese. It is fabulous!!
For some close-by comfort food and fast friendly delivery, this is a neighborhood favorite!
Cheap eats and yummy food. Generous portions and local people. I think the main ethnicity is a mix between Italian and Greek, with items on the menu such as Chicken Penne and Broccoli and Baklava.
Lots of choices and variability so you always find something you want. Check it out next time your in the Oak Square area.
Its convenient for me and its quite inexpensive. I get the penne with pesto sauce, artichokes and feta. Quite satisfying I must say.
This place has reasonable prices and great quality food. I'm addicted to their "Pastabilities" menu- you pick a type of pasta, sauce (cajun cream and curry are great!), and add in any vegetables or meats that you want. A large is about $8 (and if you're not a complete heifer like I am, you could make two meals out of it).
The only bad thing about this place is they usually take about an hour to deliver, so if you're hungry, order early.
They also deliver to Boston College, so that's a plus.
Pic a Pasta has GREAT, authentic really affordable pasta. The portion sizes are HUGE.
The cajun cream sauce is absolutely delicious....and they give you tons of shrimp...or whatever you ask for in your pasta.
They're pretty quick too with delivery/pick-up. Much easier than making pasta on your own....and much more delicious.
The pasta options are pretty good - there's a lot to chose from. I like that they let you make your own. The veggie wrap is also delicious. Sometimes the delivery takes forever, though...
If all you want is to save yourself the trouble of washing a pot after throwing jarred sauce over pasta you had to cook for yourself, this place will do. But, if you know what well prepared sauces and pasta can taste like, you will be disappointed.
Great price for a good lunch. This won't be your favorite pasta spot. You won't rave about it to your friends. But if youre in the center and need lunch, it's a good call. The owners/staff are super friendly. The prices are really good for the portion size and quality of what you're getting. And the whole customize your pasta dish thing is neat.
i used to live right around the corner from Pic-a-pasta and god was it my lifeline! the ingredients are fresh, the portions are massive, the value is fabulous and the host is friendly. It's not really an eat-in kind of place but you can grab a table most of the time. All of my friends who came to visit requested pic-a-pasta by name for their dining choice.
i just called Pic a Pasta tonight to order dinner. after waiting over an hour and a half we still hadn't received our food. I ended up canceling the order. who wants mushy pasta that has probably been sitting around for an hour of the hour and a half i had been waiting...
I will NEVER order from here again.....
Wasn't overly wowed on this first trip, but definitely planning on a second go-round. My takeout ravioli had great texture, and the portion size was perfectly in line with the price. (Not to mention in line with what you'd pay at most local pizza shops.) The marinara wasn't to my taste, but not bad, and the free roll was surprisingly good. Small dining area, but ample booths and counter seats given the location, plus a handful of cute tables for two. Overall, a great fast food Italian option for the Allston area (if just a touch out of the way).
Pick your type of pasta (hence, the name) and then the sauce you want. Ta Da - insta meal! It not anything you couldn't make at home, but to me that's why I go - quick, good meal without the prep or clean up.
Like most people, I wish I could give half stars because this place really deserves a 3.5. The food is super cheap and versatile. You can get a salad or pasta with just about anything on it. Some of the sauces are good (Bolognese and Alfredo), others are less exciting and a little scary (White Wine and the Natural). However, one of my favorite things here has to be the Beef Stew. I know, soup from a pasta place? Seriously, give it a whirl. It's the best pick me up for those cold Boston winters, which I guess aren't really an issue anymore thanks to global warming.
Great lunch spot, I get delivery from here to my Allston office every couple weeks. If you are a fan of pasta salad then you need to try Pic A. You can cutomize your pasta, veges and other interesting toppings and they have like 50 choices. Pasta salad heaven!
Most of the food is uninspired and somewhat flavorless. I've been underwhelmed on every visit, and don't plan on going back. There are much better places in the neighborhood.
When I lived in Brighton I would literally order food from here at least once a week. The pasta dishes are great and you can justify eating there often because most of the dishes are relatively healthy. The cajun cream sauce is incredible (ok- so maybe this one isn't that healthy) - its not too spicy but has enough of a kick to it. I'd also recommend the chicken marsala or the greek salad with blackened chicken....both solid choices. They also have good breakfasts and everything is reasonably priced.
I'm a big fan of Pic a Pasta. Although I agree with some of the other posting it does need to be more consistent (the main reason why I didn't give it 4 stars). However you do get good size portions and the ability to build whatever kind of dish you want. If you're looking to eat there it's nothing special on the inside so its better for takeout.
Brighton, MA
Category: Restaurants
Brighton, MA
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton
Category: Italian
Brighton, MA
Category: Pizza
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