Pastai
“I have lived in Chelsea my whole life and this is one of my new favorite restaurants.”
“The pasta was cooked right at al dente, and mild cream sauce pulled everything together.”
“I went here for brunch because it was rated pretty highly as a gluten-free joint.”
Pastai
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Happy Hour: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
6 reviews
Rate and write a review Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I caught a quiet and sort of quick lunch here during a conference (the meal they were serving looked mediocre at best). I think the atmosphere would be great during dinner…you could hear a pin drop on this Wednesday afternoon. The bar area has a nice look to it and it is an inviting place to eat if you don't want to sit at a table. The pasta itself was not overly special and neither myself or my co-worker thought it lived up to the name or the description on the menu. I think I would go back because the place seems like it would be a fun dinner spot, but it would be more for the atmosphere than the food.
This place is very cute and I immediately wanted to love it but since service and food are an integral part of any dining experience this place does not deliver. My friend and I came here for dinner on a Thursday night, the place was relatively empty. One word to describe our waiter would be unbothered. He just simply appeared uninterested and was pretty much unavailable, again I would understand if the place was packed and he was running around but the place had at most 9 other customers. We ordered the cheese plate to start of and it was good. I like the overall presentation and the cheese selection was interesting. After looking at the menu I went with the Torchio Alla Genovese, the description of slow cooked 8 hour braised flank steak sounded delicious. My friend went with the lasagna. When our dishes arrived my food looked good but as soon as I took the first bite I was disappointed. There was no flavor, the pasta was beyond al dente to barely cooked. Not even the sprinkled cheese helped. At this point I basically took a few more bites and then my friend offered some of her lasagna which was really good. Our unbothered waiter never even came over to inquire if we liked our food throughout the meal. My friend had to find him on her way to the bathroom and ask him to bring me another glass of wine. At the end he comes over sees my full plate and asked if I wanted to take it, my immediate no didn't even phase him again because he was unbothered.
IN SHORT: Pastai is the place to go when you want good, homemade pasta that doesn't take any risks. Their ability to substitute wheat-free pasta in any dish makes it a functional choice to take back any of my many gluten-free friends.
THE STORY: With an adorable interior full of whitewashed walls, subway tiles, and blonde wood tabletops, Pastai is more than a comfortable fit for the neighborhood. While it's not likely to become enough of a destination to convince many people to trek across town for a fairly concise menu, it's a wholly pleasant and charming corner of Chelsea that promises an easy meal for its neighbors.
While pasta dishes are humble and conventionally crafted, each features homemade noodles that make the menu special enough. The Gemelli con Burrata with broccoli rabe pesto, roasted tomatoes, and burrata mozzarella was a comfort food indulgence, despite being weighed down by a bit too much oil, a small flaw apparent in most of Pastai's dishes. The dishes do change regularly though, so there is always an opportunity to find a new pleasant gem, and the ambiance and hospitality of the service makes it an agreeable choice that won't ever blow you out of the water, but will certainly make you feel welcomed and at home.
UGH! One of the few times I didn't yelp before going in. Damn it. Sadly, everyone is right about this place.
So pricey for tiny portions of "artisanal" pasta ($19 for 1/2 – 2/3 cup servings) that are OK at best. And yes, I had the cauliflower one that everyone likes. Everything they served came up short taste wise, and seemed to be "missing something." The minimalist salt shakers' opening weren't big enough for the coarse salt crystals inside, so you had to shake pretty violently to get anything to come out. I'm not expecting Olive Garden portions, but if they are going to be so small, can't they at least taste good? Isn't that the point? Also, lukewarm, visibly dirty tap water jugs. Gross. 🙁
Two stars for how cute the interior is. But who cares when you hate what you're eating, and wish you had never come?
Pastai is a nice Italian eatery on the far West side of Chelsea. The food here is reasonably priced, and the atmosphere is very downtown chic yet also refreshingly casual. Good place for pasta & wine. My server was attentive and and easy-going, he patiently described all the popular dishes. I decided to go with the Bucatini with cauliflower in a cream sauce. The pasta was cooked right at al dente, and mild cream sauce pulled everything together.
For dessert, I had both the panna cotta and two scoops of vanilla gelato. The panna cotta was topped with chopped pistachios and raspberries, and the gelato was really creamy and smooth tasting.
As always I ended the night with Cappuccino. All in all a very pleasant night and eating experience.
I don't know why there are so many negative reviews of this place. It's extremely cute and the food is good. My friend and I went for dinner. Our food came out timely and at the same time. The food was also the right temperature which I know was a concern in the other reviews. I have no complaints about the service. Overall, I would say give this place a shot! Maybe they've improved since these past reviews?