I love this restaurant! It tops chain Italian restaurants every time. Portions are huge, i.e. plan a take-home bag. Appetizers look great for a good start to a hearty meal. We knew we were in trouble when we glanced at other diners' plates. We went right for entrees. House dressing on crisp, loaded-with-colorful-vegetables, garlic bread sticks fresh and crispy outside, soft inside, all tasty. I enjoyed a satisfying plate of eggplant parmigiana. Wow! I'll get this again! My included side of pasta with marinara sauce (I chose penne pasta) went home with half of my eggplant and some breadsticks. Decor is chic and relaxing, making for an outstanding meal. read more

Basta Pasta - Fallston - Italian Near Me - Fallston, Maryland

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Expectations were seriously dashed this evening. As a treat, for a "take away decent dinner night" we ordered: spaghetti/meatballs, chicken carbonara and the Italian Platter. For take-away, I don't have any expectations regarding "playing" of course. But my carbonara was SO disappointing, I had to deconstruct it, put it into a skillet and "fix" it! The sauce (which obviously is the same for dine in and take away) is absolutely flavorless. As a salt-sensitive person, i actually had to ADD not only salt & fresh cracked pepper and sage in order to give the butter/cream sauce some flavor! There were 5 1.5-inch pieces of asparagus stem (no tips) and 4 1-inch pieces of pancetta. I chopped up the pancetta and sautéed that first to render the chunks down more. There was abundant chicken pieces, but they were huge, "cowboy" chunks of chicken...not a presentable ready nor neatly sliced pieces, and overcooked/dry. The mess looked like a peasant dish, not the somewhat elevated Italian dish I was expecting and hoping for. As I fixed it in the skillet and chopped the Hunks of chicken down, I got more and more annoyed- hence this review. After salt, cracked pepper & sage I finished it with a healthy squeeze of lemon. NOW It Tasted good, but I'm pissed. My daughters spaghetti and meatballs didn't have enough sauce for the pasta included. I didn't expect the world, just decent food, especially for a $30 entrees. It isn't hard to make good food. It just takes someone who cares about what they're putting out. read more

The food was incredible.. our service superb! Our server was very attentive and helpful with her suggestions.. we were all thrilled with our meals. read more

Nice portions and quick service. Bar like ambiance, but nice. Carry out option if crowded read more

New to the area and wanted to check out pizza sources. Lot of the neighbors swore by VInce's but had a great Italian dinner at Basta Pasta and saw a bunch of people taking pizza boxes out. Had some friends over and ordered two similar pizzas (Sausage, green pepper, black olive, and mushrrom) from both Basta Pasta and Vince's Crab House. See picture below. Prices were nearly equal ($26). Ingredients on the BP pizza were fresher and Italian Sausage was a fancier grade. Crusts were similar. Overall the crowd liked the Vince's pizza better as well as the larger size for the same price. Still like BP for dine in entrees...just not gonna be the go-to pizza place for us. read more

Basta Pasta - Fallston - a box of pizza and a plate of salad - Italian Near Me - Fallston, Maryland

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The food was delicious. The service was phenomenal not to mention the fact that they are very efficient when you run out of water and other drinks they bring it right to your table. The ambiance was amazing as well. Highly recommend this restaurant read more

10 of us went out to celebrate a birthday at this restaurant last night. It was a phenomenal dining experience! Our server paced our meal perfectly with drinks, appetizers, salad course and dessert. Our meals all arrived at the same time which can be unusual with a group as large as ours was. Every single person enjoyed their meal. The prices & portions sizes were very good. The atmosphere is very nice. read more

Fantastic food all around! I had the chicken parmesan(addictive), my husband had the chicken Alfredo (loved it and they easily accommodated his request of angel hair pasta instead of the norm, fettuccine) and my son ordered the stuffed shells (he made "yum" noises the whole time! My mother loves their eggplant parm. Be prepared to have a few meals from your order... HUGE portions!!! read more

The best Greek food you will ever have!! Everything was so fresh and tasty!! The service was absolutely outstanding!! You will never go anywhere else!! read more

Service was not good. Food was okay but could've been better. They were small portions and extremely overpriced. Do not recommended and will not be back. read more

The food was mediocre. I ordered eggplant Parmesan that was heavily breaded. It had very little sauce and a sprinkle of cheese. Nothing seemed fresh. When I brought it to their attention they took it away and still charge me for it, however they took it off after I requested they do so. I was then informed that I would be charged for a salad that typically comes complementary with the meal since I sent the eggplant Parmesan back. Overall, not a great experience. read more

I usually take photos but it didn't make it. I ordered the Tortelloni Pesto with the Red Pepper Cream Sauce added Italian Sausage and onions and it was superb! This is the best pasta/tortellini I have ever had. As soon as I opened the lid, the aroma of the sauce, mushrooms, peppers, and sausage serenaded me. I couldn't get to the fork fast enough. The tortelloni is nicely sized for the perfect mouthful and the filling mixed with sauce was the perfect finish. To be honest, I didn't even need to add the sausage but it added a delightful and flavorful surprise with each bite. The salad was fresh and the Cheesecake is in a legendary world of its own. I highly recommend Basta Pasta if you are looking for delicious cuisine. I'll be back! read more

A health condition does not allow a member of our party to eat a full meal. Side dishes were attempted to be ordered. The waitress said it was not allowed. Requested to speak to the manager and was shut down with him stating matter of fact, that this was not allowed per policy, and simply walked away. This is complete discrimination to a patron with a health issue. We were willing to all leave but our family member insisted we eat our meals while they just sat. We will never again patronize this establishment. read more

Delicious food and friendly service. Even in a packed dining room on NYE our food was out quickly! Yummy homemade sangria. You can't go wrong with any of the pasta options. And the crab imperial is delicious. You will frequently see the owner checking in on tables. I think I that makes such a difference! read more

Such a nice business!! All of my family has been there, never a complaint, every birthday, Christmas and anniversary for my in-laws I get them a $40 gift card! Never a complaint (which is nice because they love to complain) and it works!! read more

Update to previous review on August 26, 2021. I still have not heard back from the manager who requested me to send my issues to the email they provided. This just proves that this restaurant has no concerns for the way that their business treats their loyal customers. read more

My boyfriend and I come here monthly. Very nice atmosphere and great food. Service can sometimes be slow when during busy dinner hours. We love their pizza and gnocchi. read more

Niko delivered excellent service and the soft shell crab special left me wanting to return. The calamari appetizer was tender and delicious. This was a great meal in a casual, comfortable environment. There is no need to drive into the city with restaurants like this one right here in the neighborhood. read more

Basta Pasta gets an easy 5 stars in my book! My husband and I went here for date night, and while we left stuffed, we certainly didn't leave disappointed. Our server Zach was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant was busy but the service was completely on point. Our drinks were brought out in record time, including my drink from the bar. Appetizer, salad and breadsticks came out quickly. Salad and breadsticks are complimentary by the way. Breadsticks were alright but the mozzarella sticks and salad were great! I had the ravioli and my husband had chicken parmesan and our entrees were just phenomenal! The ambience was cozy and well decorated. The entire staff was friendly and took care of their tables well. I really can't say enough good things about our visit. We will definitely be back! read more

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Hubby and I had our anniversary dinner here. Our waitress Mary was very attentive although it was a busy Saturday night. Clams casino appetizer was perfect. Not greasy or too salty. Hubs got the seafood pasta and raved about how fresh it was Seafood. I had the veal saltimboca- the veal was perfectly cooked. I think the spinach should have been blanched instead of raw and I wish the cheese was melted, but the sauce was yummy and the flavor was outstanding. We were too full for desert, but we will be back. read more

Came here for the first time tonight. Walked in on a Saturday evening at 5:30 and got seated right away. Atmosphere is warm and inviting. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. I'm a breadstick connoisseur (lol) and I loved theirs - soft and warm and amazing. Mmmmm, carbs :) I ordered the crab imperial stuffed tilapia. It was really good - the crab imperial had a nice hint of mustard flavor, and the tilapia was nice and flaky. I got roasted potatoes as my side, and they were cooked and seasoned very well. The old man got the blue crab risotto with scallops and shrimp (they had a specific name for it but I can't remember). It was great! The risotto had a nice hint of white wine and was cooked to perfection. Another member of our party ordered crab cakes. They were ok - not the best I've ever had, but good. And the final member of our party got cream of crab soup, which was too runny for my liking. Overall I really enjoyed my meal and I can see myself going back. read more

Normally, this place has been a pretty good and reliable spot for my family and friends to go to when we're all together. The food is decent, but I think from a hygiene standpoint, there much to improve on. Our server gave us water tonight that tasted like it was straight saline solution. Between all three of of us in our party, we all agreed the water tasted odd. We asked our server to refresh the water thinking it was a mistake but again, still tasted awful. We were all in utter disgust by the taste it almost seemed like it came from toilet water. The water we tasted is the same water that Basta Pasta used to prep and cook all of their menu items with. That alone put a literal bad taste in our mouths so we immediately paid our check and left after having a glass of wine. I felt bad for the server, but this is more of an issue for the management or owners. My friend once worked there as a hostess and said that they don't wear sanitation gloves in the back where they prepare salads and other fast menu items so servers can quickly tend to their patrons rather than take the extra minute to prep the right way. It's was no surprise to me after tasting the water how other areas of hygiene could be addressed for restarting patrons safety. I would recommend other restaurants in the Fallston or even as far as Bel Air to friends and family from here on out. Really disappointed by the experience at a place I truly once's enjoyed. read more

I'm unfortunately leaving this place three stars even though it's one of my favorite restaurants. Our appetizer of bruschetta was good but way more watery that I would have expected. The breadsticks came out cold but luckily they are bottomless. Our main meals were delicious. I have never been u satisfied with the main courses. This time I got eggplant parm and I usually get spaghetti Bolognesenor chicken parm which are also great choices. Unfortunately the side dish of spaghetti that you get with it is extremely tiny compared to the main part of the dish. I'm only giving three stars because of our service. I've had better service here before but it's never consistent. This time, she acted like we were such an inconvenience to her by just being there. read more

Basta Pasta - Fallston - Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - Fallston, Maryland

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Great food nice ambience, and outstanding staff! It's a regular place for me now! Are you there at least once a week.

We have heard lots of rave reviews about this place but it was pretty underwhelming. I had a chicken and vodka sauce at the waitress's recommendation and it was bland and needed lots of salt and pepper to doctor it up. The chicken was tough and dry. When the waitress delivered our food she dropped the Parmesan cheese grater on the ground, picked it up, dropped it again where it broke into several pieces, then put it together and went about grating the cheese that had just been on the floor. Ew... read more

Terrible management terrible customer service and terrible food Great employees that sound like they are being held hostage Never coming back read more

Basra Pasta is a small spot in Fallston. The place has been in the area for years. A local favorite of many. We Used to frequent another Italian restaurant but it closed so - we gave Basra Pasta a try. I would say good over all. My husband and I had the Chicken Parmesan and I had the Veal Parmesan. These two items were tasty. My sons ordered pasta dishes that were just ok. Cocktails were creative and delicious. Atmosphere was pleasant and looked newly decorated. read more

We have only tried the pizza and salads on the take out menu. We really like the pizza but its a bit on the expensive side and is only 14". The salads were nothing special. read more

Once again, Basta Pasta Fallston has screwed up my to-go order. We have placed orders there since they opened this location. I have tracked that 72% of the time my order was wrong. Once they even gave me someone else's order! We always order "NO onions" on our salad and they get it wrong more than 1/2 the time. Morons in the kitchen and carry-out is the only way for me to explain it. I sent my son today for pick up and he didn't know you have to check up on stupid people. My fault I should have explained it to him. I always check the order before I go. Shouldn't have to, but you learn which restaurant is incompetent after a while. I drove all they way back there today and was blown off by the manager who did not introduce himself. I did introduce myself, offered my hand, he did not, and then asked his name. He mumbled something unintelligible. He cut me off mid sentence and asked if the salad was the only problem, not caring what I had to say nor how many times they have screwed up my order. He took the bag of salads I brought back and walked away while I was talking. Obviously no caring about the customer here. Did you know they won't even put your eat-in drink in a to-go cup as you finish your $100+ meal for four people? (only asked for 1, for my grandson) Not going back. No recommendation for others to do so either. read more

We went here tonight for restaurant week and the food was amazing! I had the mussels in a wine sauce and my husband had the cream of crab soup. The mussels came in a large bowl and there were plenty to share with my husband. The sauce was so delicious we used so much bread to sop it up that I was pretty full after that! The soup was yummy with a hint of sherry and was the best I've had since Lynnhaven Fish House in Virginia Beach! The mussels were so tender!!! Then came caesar salad and the dressing was just fantastic. On to the star, the Osso Bucco Pork. It was tender and served on a huge bed of mashed potatoes with a red wine gravy that I could have eaten all day. I couldn't finish this course and had a little time as my husband finished to make room for my tiramisu. This was made the way I love it - soft cake with the wonderful coffee and chocolate drizzle. I was in heaven and was so happy I told my husband I felt like I had a huge hug! I cannot say enough about the food. It was a 10 out of 10! read more

Omg. This place has never disappointed. Took my kids out on a "date" with just mom. We have the BEST service I have ever received at a restaurant. I have waited tables in the past and our waitress was top notch. The best of the best. The food was amazing also. Cannot wait to go back, we will also be asking for our new favorite waitress Penelope. read more

Several months ago gave them a 5* review. Yesterday's offerings were bland, lacking in seafood (supposed to include variety, but didn't) and overloaded with pasta and sauce. Overpriced fare. read more

Delicious food! Great service, we had Anita today and she was absolutely fantastic!Seafood Pasta

I love Basta Pasta, I order from them weekly and will continue to do so. However I need to warn you of the lobster pasta, it's not worth the $35. You get the the smallest lobster tail (still In the shell) that's maybe 2 bites with loads of linguine. Order something else. Personally, If it's the price of lobster that's driving the price, I'd rather pay more money for a better quality lobster in my pasta. read more

I would give it 5 stars but for the brunch menu. I ordered their avocado toast with eggs and potatoes. I would have been perfect! Lovely strawberries. Except it was guacamole. With eggs and potatoes. Just odd. Need to change the avocado to guacamole read more

The atmosphere was good and I was excited for some Italian. The waitress was attentive. We ordered the fried ravioli, chicken Madeira, and a risotto seafood dish. There was only one thing that had any taste, the salad. The fried ravioli was not delivered as described and neither was my chicken Madeira. I think the fried ravioli had crab on top and it did not say that on the menu, but since I couldn't taste it I don't know. The three pieces of chicken on my entree had two tomatoes on top, mozzarella cheese and then provolone melted on top of the cold salad. It was supposed to be sun-dried tomatoes. Couldn't taste the tomato, the chicken or the Madeira sauce. My husband's dish was the same, no taste, and that was the biggest complaint, even the bread had no taste. Too bad it was in a great location so we could meet up with family. We won't be back. read more

A family favorite of ours. I always go for the chicken parmesan. Delicious. Fun cocktails & Caesar salad is always great. Hearty servings too read more

It's clearly time for another Basta Pasta review. Basta Pasta (corner of routes 152 and 165 in Fallston) has become the go to restaurant in Harford County for my wife and me. We go two to three times a month and it is ALWAYS wonderful. The staff is GREAT! The food is FANTASTIC and, if you are in the mood for Italian/ Mediterranean comfort food, you won't be disappointed. That being said, I urge you to do yourself a favor. Skip the spaghetti and meatballs, pass on the chicken parm, and order one of the specials. I know, I know, Harford County is not exactly the center of haute cuisine in Maryland but I am telling you, you will not regret it!!!!! Two weeks ago they served a tuna tartare with avocado and finger limes that was out of this world. Tonight the owner made us a grilled calamari that was, hands down, the best I've ever eaten. I am sure some of you will listen to the specials and say to yourself, "yuck" but I am begging you, get past your preconceptions and take a moment to expand your horizons. The creativity, and the flavor profiles these folks are creating are truly worth experiencing!!!!!!! Fresh salmon over a beet and yogurt salad, goat cheese gnocchi with a delicious beurre blanc and lump crab meat, fresh swordfish served over mussels, fingerling potatoes, and brussel sprouts with an incredibly tasty broth, seared scallops with bacon and wild mushrooms and a balsamic drizzle, octopus carpaccio with black truffle mousse; I'm telling you, this is the food culinary dreams are made of. Pick a night, visit Basta Pasta, and let Lexi, George, or another one of their excellent staff introduce you to YOUR new favorite dining experience. On a personal note, I'd like to thank Lexi, and George, as well as the owners and staff for making us feel at home, and like part of the family, every time we visit. If I could give you more stars I certainly would! read more

The food here is some of the best around. Service is always exceptional and owner, Mike, is great!! Our new favorite spot!!

Love their pizza and pasta. Beautiful and relaxing restaurant and convenient carry out. Lovely little hang out bar too.