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Pic A Pasta
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
600A Washington St(between Brackett St & Bigelow St)
Brighton, MA 02135
(617) 789-4555
- Nearest Transit:
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Washington St @ Breck Ave (193, 501, 503, 57)
Washington St @ Oak Sq (193, 501, 503, 57, 57A)
Faneuil St @ Oak Square (64)
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
46 reviews for Pic A Pasta
Review Highlights
"Check it out next time your in the Oak Square area."
(in 4 reviews)
"The cajun cream sauce is absolutely delicious."
(in 3 reviews)
"Friendly and fast service/delivery."
(in 12 reviews)
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46 reviews in English
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Review from Jessica M.
Newton, MA
12/8/2011
We order from Pic a Pasta at least once a week. The food is delicious, in particular the lasagna in a tomato wrap and the Greek salad in a spinach wrap. In addition to sandwiches, this place offers pasta dishes, salads, and pizza. The food never takes more than ten minutes and the staff is friendly. There is a great selection of beverages and chips as well as a baked goods counter if you are in the mood for something sweet. It is very reasonably priced (dinner for 2 for 10 dollars!)
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Review from Annette A.
Brighton, MA
4/13/2011
Good, basic pasta for a cheap price. If you are just hungry and don't need a fancy-pants Italian dinner, this place will do the trick. You can get your fix for under $6 on most dishes.
I'm not sure if their pastas are homemade, but they don't taste any different from a box of supermarket brand pasta. But like I said, this isn't the North End. Their sauces are pretty good, their variety is excellent and the service is pretty quick. -
Review from Evan J.
Boston, MA
7/11/2011
We ordered the blackened chicken caesar wrap, penne pasta with chicken and red sauce and the "meatball bruschetta".
First of all, the order came to less than $15, awesome! The food was all really good, though my friend said the chicken in his pasta was a little bland. The blackened chicken in my salad was perfect though, with a bit of peppery spice.
Definitely would recommend it! -
Review from Alexandria S.
Chatham, MA
5/23/2011
As soon as this place opened I got a menu and ordered. I have had just about everything on their menu. Its all great. The pizza is traditional flat bread. Mix and Match pasta is best. Mac and cheese is like thick homemade grama style. I get a large and its so big i cant finish it all.
Breakfast in the morning is good and cheap. Hungry Man is where its at. Although the home fries are a little weak i would want them to cook them a little more.
I live literally a block away and have had it delivered before they are pretty quick. lol. -
Review from Dena M.
Boston, MA
9/6/2011
I ordered two pastas dishes for me and my friend today. I got chopped tomato sauce and paid for extra diced tomatoes. I received exactly 6 small pieces of chopped tomato in olive oil sauce. My friend paid for mozzarella as a topping. She received only a small sprinkle of parm cheese. When we got the order, it was in a paper bag and plastic bag and started leaking onto our floor. One of the tins had a hole in it and leaked all over my salad. We called and the man who answered said he had made the food himself, told us we were lying about the mishaps and blamed the entire thing on the delivery driver (who did nothing wrong!) He was very rude and only offered a credit if I placed a future order (which I will NOT be doing and do not suggest you do either) Do not be enticed by their free delivery. It's not worth it!
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Review from Tim T.
9/21/2010 1 photo
It's cheap. Half decent, even more decent when you are broke and have no food in the house and you are starvin' marvin.
I find their takeout hit or miss, although I have continued to order from here even with the 'miss' due to the fact that it is SO cheap. I mainly order the same dish, chicken curry with rice and fries. Sometimes it is gorgeous, and sometimes, it's not.
I also find that if you order closer to closing time, your meal definitely tastes like you are getting the scrapings of the pot. If you order mid-afternoon or early evening, you get a much better quality dish.
All in all, for $5:75, I won't really complain too much. The service and delivery are decent and for budget friendly take out, there is no place around that is better, or at least I don't know of it yet.
I've ordered from here so much since moving to Brighton, and the main reason is cos it's cheap, 5 stars for my wallet, 2 stars for the quality of food, 4 stars for how quickly it arrives (usually under 45 minutes).
Order minimum is $10 with no delivery charge. For $10 you will definitely feed two people from here. -
Review from Erik O.
Boston, MA
10/11/2010 5 Check-ins Here
I like this place. Its nothing fancy, but it serves some damn good food and a cheap price. they deliver, take CC, and do breakfast too.
i regularly do the pasta-bilites option, and get:
Penne Pasta and Pesto Sauce with Chicken, Broc, and Mozzarella cheese.
The regular size is plenty for one, and the large will serve 2 fine. it comes with a nice piece of bread for dipping
i'd say its more of a take out/delivery place, as the seating is limited, and not all that inviting.
the breakfast is dirt cheap, allthough sometimes i find it hard to get in there with magnetism of the D&D's next door...
all in all this place is solid. -
Review from Amy S.
Boston, MA
11/4/2010
Yes, it's a cute little takeout place, but this is the type of place that you don't go to for the friendly staff and lovely decor. You go b/c you want good food quickly that you can take home with you and eat it there. The food is what matters at takeout places (although there is a small area to eat there if you wanted).
I really thought I was going to like my dinner. I ordered from the "Pastabilities" menu where for $4 for a reg (more than enough for one person) or $6 for a large you get to pick your pasta type, sauce, and then pay a small amt for each "topping." I did the gemelli with their marinara sauce and added sausage, broccoli, and spinach. My friend and I split a garden salad with pesto vinaigrette dressing. I love pasta - I was hungry and you could say I was pretty excited as well.
Then I took a bite. I was dissappointed. The salad was fine - just a regular garden salad (it did seem fresh) and the pesto dressing was actually really good on the bread (which was just a plain white roll, but was nice and soft). The pasta, being my main meal and what I was using to fill me up left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Literally. It somehow managed to be very bland and also have an odd taste to it that I coulndn't quite place. Plastic? Everything in the pasta tasted like this so maybe it was something with the sauce? The sausage was okay, but like everything else in the dish it didn't have much flavor. I'm not even sure if it was supposed to be sweet or spicy. I know it's cheap, so maybe I got what I paid for.
I wouldn't recommend this place to my friends and wouldn't come back on my own volition given all of the other places to choose from in the area. If someone really wanted to go back I might try one of the other sauces to see if it was any better. -
Review from Josh W.
Somerville, MA
9/20/2010
It's fine. Nothing special. As previously stated by Emily G "Clever idea, mediocre execution".
Prepackaged chicken takes away from the meal. -
Review from Lauren v.
7/1/2009
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. -
Review from Lauren B.
Boston, MA
11/19/2007
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. -
Review from Emily G.
12/17/2009
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. -
Review from Matty F.
Boston, MA
7/1/2011
Really affordable, and really fast (although I've only done pick-up, but it takes maybe 10-15 minutes).
Good options for combining pasta, sauces, and toppings. The cajun cream sauce is particularly tasty. One minor complaint: the natural & chopped tomato sauces tend to puddle up in the dish. Sometimes it even makes a bit of a mess in the bag. -
Review from Nora B.
Brighton, MA
7/10/2007
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.Listed in: My Neighborhood, Top Restaurants
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Review from Barney B.
San Diego, CA
7/7/2008
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. -
Review from Kelli F.
Gorham, ME
6/28/2007
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. -
Review from Jason C.
Boston, MA
4/28/2008
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. -
Review from A. W.
Blackstone, MA
1/3/2007
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!! -
Review from Katie K.
Brighton, MA
9/17/2008
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. -
Review from Garrett B.
Medford, MA
9/13/2008
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. -
Review from Sara K.
Mechanicsburg, PA
7/31/2006
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. -
Review from Bill M.
East Watertown, MA
Updated - 3/29/2011
Still am not going to give it more stars, but we ordered again. My girlfriend got the same thing as before, this time I got shells in there creamy cajun sauce. This was much better then the alfredo sauce because it actually had, well, flavor. So I suggest that out of everything if you like cream sauces. My only complaint is that I ordered it with the same things as before, but this time got chicken and clams, and I don't think there were any clams in it.
Listed in: Italian food and Pizza
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/12/2011
I am giving it 3 stars.
I ordered via foodler. Foodler has it listed under "Breakfast" because they… Read more »
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Review from Amy C.
Wilmington, DE
10/12/2007
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.Listed in: Brighton
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Review from Lauren S.
San Francisco, CA
4/1/2008
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. -
Review from Diane D.
Brighton, MA
7/7/2008
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! -
Review from Catherine R.
Somerville, MA
12/13/2008
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. -
Review from Matthew P.
Newtonville, MA
11/18/2010
Pretty good basic italian food, prices are very good. The $4 regular pasta was enough for an average adult, $6 large is very generous, and just 40-60 cents to add a wide variety of vegetables.
$1.45 to add side salad, also pretty basic but good price. $1 for order of garlic bread - same theme, very good for the price.
There is limited in house seating - small tables, but it is not an unattractive place. The star rating always should be in the context of what you want, this is very casual, mostly take-out, basic but high quality food for a very good price. You can get better food elsewhere, but not as fast or as cheaply. -
Review from Young Min K.
Allston, MA
1/21/2011
This place is absolutely terrible. I ordered through foodler, and they said they didn't see my request for no cheese on my pasta salad. I call them up and let them know they messed it up. In turn they told me I was wrong, and refused to hear anymore of my food allergy. Never ordering from here again, just an absolutely terrible way to run a business.
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Review from Erin G.
Fairfax, VA
1/23/2006
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.
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Review from deb y.
11/2/2009
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. -
Review from Amber K.
Somerville, MA
8/29/2010
Think twice about coming here. I entered the place to a TV that was being flipped between random station and way too loud. The walls and signs are all slightly falling apart, making the menu confusing. I ordered eggplant parmesan and the dish was so hot that even after twenty minutes I was burning my mouth. Even then the dish was bland and not worth the money. Even though we were eating there, they served the food in plastic containers. Don't bother.
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Review from Rebecca O.
Haverhill, MA
6/27/2005
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.
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Review from Austin H.
Brighton, MA
1/21/2007
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.
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Review from Eli G.
Allston, MA
8/5/2006
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!
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Review from Geno K.
Riverview, FL
12/14/2008
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.
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Review from Scott P.
Roslindale, MA
Updated - 6/25/2010
Lowering to 3 stars. While the toppings are good, it always seems the pizza is slightly undercooked. Sandwiches are also a little underwhelming...not bad, but not great.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/9/2010
I've only gotten delivery from here, so can't speak to ambiance.
Food is very reasonable.… Read more »
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Review from Huan z.
Somerville, MA
9/11/2009
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.
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Review from s b.
Oakland, CA
11/29/2008
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...
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Review from Michael K.
Brighton, MA
4/21/2008
I love that you can choose your own pasta, sauce, meat and veggies for your dish hence the name Pic a Pasta. They also have the special pasta combinations (meat lovers, thai chicken, curry, etc) which are good too. I love coming here for lunch and even catering too - the price is right for both. I used to get food catered from Vinny Ts all the time, but Pic a Pasta has definitely done a great job replacing it.
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Review from Nicholas M.
Boston, MA
5/6/2009
Its convenient for me and its quite inexpensive. I get the penne with pesto sauce, artichokes and feta. Quite satisfying I must say.
