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    Bombolini Pasta

    4.5 (267 reviews)
    InexpensiveItalian
    Closed Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Bombolini Pasta Photos

    Business Info

    BOMBOLINI PASTA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Bombolini Pasta

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    Inside
    Adam W.

    If you've not been here, highly recommend: Home made pastas, sauces, to go foods, incredible wines, and they brew their own spirits!!!

    Pesto cavatelli with chicken (left) and rose fettuccini with chicken (right)
    Maggie H.

    Just the words locally owned business and fresh pasta (and tasty!) should already make your heart sing. They have so many pasta types and depending on the pasta and day, they can be garlic, spinach, herb, etc infused. It's like a create your own pasta. They had a recent menu change so unfortunately the chicken masala is no longer there . I love the countless options and combos! I definitely want to try to get as many options as I can. I got a pesto chicken with cute shell pasta and Rose fettuccini with chicken. Overall, the pasta is kinda dry with less/little sauce and the pesto was unexpected (herbs and lemon/oil?). I got the fettuccini with extra sauce which was ample (keep in mind there's a one dollar charge for extra sauce). Much flavor and seasoning overall though! Price was, it is definitely worth it! Parking might be tight but that's the city for you. The place is modern and aesthetic. They have many types of pasta and ravioli for you to buy for yourself too! The staff was very nice, conversational, friendly, and helpful! The pasta is freshly made so there will be a wait time as expected.

    Pappardelle with Meat Sauce & Fusilli with Marinara and Sausage
    Soongyi C.

    No need to search for the best pasta in Richmond because Bombolini is where it's at!! Nestled in the Fan, you're greeted with all the good smells of fresh Italian food immediately when you walk in. They offer a variety of pastas and sauces to pair together, it would be surprising to find something you don't like. Each bite of pasta has a chewy/bouncy texture, you can tell it's homemade!! I love a good family owned business because you can truly feel the love and passion they put into the food, service and just the overall experience of your visit. This place has it all! You will need to parallel park on Main St. but it should be pretty easy to find a spot. PS - The building has just been re-painted lime green, you can't miss it!

    Squid ink with Alfredo sauce and chicken
    Miller G.

    I was very excited to try Bombolini for the first time, as it's in a popular location on Main Street and have always heard good things. Unfortunately I was not incredibly impressed with my experience. The location was really nice, there are lots of homemade options available to look at while you are there. Everything is pretty made to order, and the sauces / pastas are heated and combined to make each individual dish, as there are so many sauce and pasta options. It took a little longer than expected, which was ok, and there is no seating inside, just a couple small tables outside, which makes this more of a to-go option. I ordered the squid ink linguine with Alfredo sauce and chicken added in. Everything was good, and it was a very full portion of pasta, but I came away a little unimpressed and expecting something more. I thought the pasta broke apart easily so it was difficult to get a full fork, and I just wasn't blown away by the flavors. I will return and try a different combination of sauce and type of pasta to see if it was one bad experience, as I have heard plenty of good things about this location prior.

    Kevin N.

    THEY PUT THE BOMB IN BOMBOLINI! This joint right here is the only pasta I get in rva. Pasta is made fresh daily. So many options to choose from. Classic sauce options. Bone apple teeth *chefs kiss*

    Black pepper fettuccini Alfredo! Absolutely beautiful! IG: @_badassfoodie for crediting
    Jade R.

    This place deserves all the accolades that I have to offer. It's the most charming market. The walls are brick, exposed pipes and beams, just such a charming set up. It's also very large which is unlike most of the other markets in the area. It tripes as a market, a casual take out spot, and a distillery. The owner is incredibly humble and you can usually find him there working. There are dried pasta, fresh pasta, jars of sauce, and even gift baskets that you can purchase from the market. It's a lovely idea if you feel like making some very fresh dinner without the headache of making pasta. I'm a SUCKER for house made pasta so I had to eat in. There are a myriad of combinations. I settled for the black pepper fettuccini and creamy Alfredo sauce. Pure. Comfort. Pure, unpretentious, simple comfort. Ever since I've tried it, I've dragged all of my loved ones with me and made them believers as well. Overall, it's one of my favorite casual spots in Richmond.

    Chicken Marsala with Roasted Garlic Fettuccine
    Tiffany H.

    Fresh pasta is the best pasta. Definitely come here to eat for a true Richmond experience. This is one local business to support without hesistation. I love how you have the option to customize your dish by the pasta type. They even have different flavors of pasta, including spinach, roasted garlic, black pepper, spicy tomato, and tomato basil. I've tried the carbonara, chicken rose, chicken marsala, and smoked salmon pastas, which were all delicious. The dishes are not oily and seasoned well. You get a lot of pasta for a little under $10. I always have leftovers to bring home afterwards, which is perfect for busy college students or young graduates. Bombolini is also a mini market, so you can even buy pasta and sauce to cook, as well as wine. The service here is great. The cashier is so nice and welcoming and even offers help with the menu. Plus the wait for the pasta is fast, at most waiting 10 minutes.

    Katherine S.

    Fresh pasta: check Delicious sauces: check Great prices: check Why has it taken me so long to try this place? I've had this place bookmarked for years, but just never got around to going. And that is a regret I'll have to live with. This place is just great. The workers are friendly, there is fresh pasta constantly being made. They also have different flavored pasta: garlic, black pepper, etc. Just check their board! The 2 I tried were the salmon with spaghetti noodles, and carbonara with garlic pappardelle. So so good. Will definitely make this one of my go-to places for pasta.

    Rita D.

    I love their fresh made pastas!!! Today I got my favorite black pepper pappardelle pasta. Picked up some hot sauce and a little drinky drink!!! Love the owner...he's so friendly

    Wonderful Caprese Salad!
    Kimberly-Gretchen B.

    I've been to Bombolini a few times in the past. I'm not sure why I stopped going, because they do have wonderful food. I returned 2 days ago, my first visit in five years. I went i specifically to get a Caprese Salad to go. It took perhaps 10 minutes to prepare and I was on my way home. Once home, I weighed the salad... a very respectable 9.83 ounces. Ingredients appear to be Fresh Mozzarella (lumps), Fresh Tomatoes (sliced), Fresh Basil (minced) Fresh Lettuce (shredded), and a Vinaigrette drizzle. Yum. I'll be returning to Bombolini specifically for the Caprese Salad. It was very good. To get a better CS, I'd have to go to Williamsburg, Ann Arbor, or Austin. But here in River City, it is the best bang for the buck at $5.99. I'd like to give 5 stars, but I observed the man preparing the salad using ungloved hand(s) in contact with the food, however briefly.

    Menu
    Nikki J.

    Bombolini is hidden on Main st between Baja and home team grill. When you walk inside, it's half store half take out restaurant. There are a few tables but not enough for a big group or lots of people to eat in. I was surprised at the cheap prices for the quality of food! The pasta is made in house & you can watch them cook your meal. I got the carbonara with fettuccine. It was delicious! The staff was also super nice. I didn't realize until after that you can get different flavors of the pasta, so I'll have to try next time.

    Ashley B.

    I'm all for local places because the service is always great and I'm all about supporting local businesses. I've heard such great things about this restaurant so I gave it a try (with a group of friends who have already been and swear by it). I ordered the Alfredo over fettuccini and my friend ordered the meat sauce over the spaghetti and i tried both and they were both DELICIOUS. The meat sauce over the spaghetti especially, the flavor of the sauce is PERFECTION. And the noodles were the perfect consistency. The service was also great and everyone seemed to love their meals. They sells lots of other things also like wine and noodles and frozen pasta, I'd try it someday! For now, this restaurant is definitely some place I will return for delicious pasta for a great price!

    carbonara pasta with fettuccine infused with garlic!
    Kathy T.

    Highly recommend this place for fresh YUMMY pasta at a really decent price! The moment we walked it, the cashier was really helpful with explaining their menu since it was our first time. It was really neat, because not only can you pick the type of pasta you want, BUTTT also the pasta flavor! It varies from squid ink to even pumpkin! My boyfriend ordered the alfredo and I orded the carbonara. Once you take the first bite of the pasta, right away you can tell the pasta is really fresh! I thought the carbonara was okay, but the bacon in the pasta was really good! I think I like the alfredo a bit better though. Will probably come back to try the other pasta sauces! Portion wise, it was a good amount for what you're paying for! Not only that, but for two pastas, it was 15 dollars! What a deal!

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    Wonderful fresh pasta for a great price. Smoked salmon is fantastic. We shop here weekly.

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    Casa Italiana - Fried Calamari

    Casa Italiana

    4.3(373 reviews)
    6.6 mi
    $$

    We've been ordering pizza from Pizza Express (their sister restaurant) for a long time, so we…read morefinally gave Casa Italiana a try. We made a reservation (not necessary on a Thursday night) and the back of the restaurant was so pleasantly dead quiet, we could actually hear each other speaking. Our waiter was quiet and attentive and lovely. We ordered the zucchini appetizer, probably the best zucchini frites I've ever had, the eggplant parm and the lasagna. The lasagna was good but left something to be desired. The eggplant parm was exactly the way I like it. The tomato sauce is light and tastes like fresh tomatoes. The eggplant was crisp without being oily. We will definitely come again.

    Walked in for Monday lunch on the week of Christmas. Interior was clean and spacious. A tall…read moreChristmas tree was at the back area. Service was great. Our server Patricia was attentive and told us about the menu and some things not on the menu. The complimentary bread at the start was very good. Just the right amount of crunchiness at the outside but very chewy on the inside. I love it. Mussels in white sauce was good. The bucatini pasta special that had sausage and broccoli rabe in white wine and garlic sauce was solid. Flavorful and not very heavy. Tiramisu della Famiglia was okay. The homemade pistachio and chocolate chip bread pudding with vanilla ice cream was huge. It's meant for sharing with at least another person. The contrasting warm pudding and cold ice cream were good. I liked it! Would definitely be back.

    Photos
    Casa Italiana - Wall decor.

    Wall decor.

    Casa Italiana - Fried Calamari

    Fried Calamari

    Casa Italiana - Outside

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    Outside

    Edo's Squid - Eggplant Parmesan

    Edo's Squid

    3.9(896 reviews)
    0.5 miThe Fan
    $$

    Calamari fried and ALSO in broth with arugula, pine nuts and lemon…read more Veal scallopine Brocoletti and shrimp

    I know this is a Richmond institution bc it's been around forever. It's good but I feel like it…read morecould be even better. Very old school with no online reservations which is not super convenient but hey I can get behind it if they are going for an exclusive vibe. Very much an old style Italian restaurant but feels like they have really packed the tables in here - like sardines- so yeah it feels a little tight for my tastes. Service was friendly and helpful. (Making the reservation over the phone was not overly warm and fuzzy but hey I get it you probably are tired of having to take reservations over the phone all day lol). We got a popular app- the squid,white bean and arugula which was bright and flavorful so lived up to the hype but a little disappointing in that there was not a lot of squid so $18 for beans and arugula seemed a bit much. Also got the seafood bisque which was pretty tasty. For entrees we got the halibut, the monk fish fra diavolo and the spaghetti with crab meat. The spaghetti with crab meat was shockingly good. It better be for $40 but I don't always like crab bc it can be overly fishy in a not good way but this entree was very good. We also liked the halibut- nice piece of fish perfectly cooked. The MonkFish had a nice flavor, but the bones in it was a little bit overwhelming, and kinda made eating a lot of work. Seemed pricey to me since only one of us had a glass of wine and no other drinks, but I guess $50 a person sans cocktails and dessert is the new norm?!

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    Edo's Squid - Bar

    Bar

    Edo's Squid - Calamari

    Calamari

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    Bacchus - Tomato, feta and eggplant (penne)

    Bacchus

    3.9(269 reviews)
    0.3 miThe Fan
    $$

    Bacchus was good…read more It's a lowkey spot, very cozy vibes and not too busy on a Monday evening. The wait staff was on the slower side, which is surprising due to the fact that the place wasn't very busy. The menu is large and filled with Italian classics. The wine list was extensive. They do not allow any requests to the menu... for example, my friends chicken piccata came with a salad and they would not let her sub that salad for pasta. Nothing about this experience blew me away. The dishes are very simple for how high priced they are. I paid $24 for a bowl of spaghetti noodles with mushrooms and chicken. The menu does not get much more complex than that. To make a whole meal, you'd almost need to order an entree, a pasta and a side seperate, which would probs cost you around $60 My meal was good-- I was happily it and the quality was just fine, but it wasn't the kind of place I'd likely return to. There was nothing particularly bad about this experience, but also nothing blew me away. Next time, I think I'll just make the same tasting dish at home for a fraction of the price.

    Overall decent food for the price. Good flavor (would not say standout) and healthy portions…read more Service was good given it was really busy. It probably took about 10 minutes to get seated but that's because they were packed, so no complaints with getting seated. Environment was fine, and noise level was reasonable. There was free street parking when we went which was helpful. I was in the mood for veal scallopini, while the rest of my family went with chicken Marsala. Both were good (not great), and worth having again, but I feel could be better.

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    Bacchus - Bar area

    Bar area

    Bacchus - Bread and Butter

    Bread and Butter

    Bacchus - Alfredo with shrimp and penne noodles

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    Alfredo with shrimp and penne noodles

    La Grotta Ristorante - Mousse Cake

    La Grotta Ristorante

    4.0(398 reviews)
    1.4 miDowntown
    $$$

    Had a great experience at La Grotta. I ordered the quail and they let me know up front it would…read moretake a little longer, which I appreciated. While I was waiting, the owner actually brought out a complimentary plate of pasta with three ravioli and some fettuccine--both were unreal. The ricotta ravioli (not pictured) is honestly some of the best I've ever had. The quail was definitely worth the wait too--really well cooked and super flavorful. I'm in town from Texas for work and this is 100% a spot I'll be coming back to every time I'm in Richmond.

    Lots of friends recommended this place for us unfortunately didn't quite meet the expectations…read moreespecially for the price point. Despite making reservations and showing up on time we were not seated promptly. In fact we went ignored at the front for about 10-15min. We finally got seated and got put in a table squished against the wine bottles. Wasn't exactly the most comfortable spot as my elbow and side kept brushing against all these expensive bottles of wine. Our waiter wasn't the most attentive. Had to flag him down for water and menus. Ordered one beer and he forgot about it - had to ask again. Bread tasted stale and underwhelming. Octopus appetizer was a special for the night and was decent. Ordered a fettuccine which was the saving grace for the meal - you can tell it was in house made pasta and it was overall pretty delicious. My partner ordered a filet with peppercorn sauce which was honestly the worst part of the meal. The filet was over cooked and looked really rough...Wasn't nice a round filet but was broken apart... it looked like it went through a washing machine. The peppercorn sauce was way too salty with no other flavor. The filet was so bad my partner couldn't even finish it. The dessert trio I'll say was the last redeeming part of this meal. We got the tiramisu, coconut, and mouse cake. All fairly delicious Mind you - all this time water was never refilled. Plates were never cleared by our waiter, we had to track someone else down. Asked for the check - we waited about 30-40min until we flagged down another waiter to get it for us. All while we could visibly see our waiter just standing there. Sad to say we likely will not be returning here. Only reason this place is getting 3 stars and not 2 is because of the pasta and desserts

    Photos
    La Grotta Ristorante - Inside restaurant

    Inside restaurant

    La Grotta Ristorante - Asparagi Parmigiana

    Asparagi Parmigiana

    La Grotta Ristorante - Fettuccine Alla Papalina

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    Fettuccine Alla Papalina

    Lost Letter - Polpo alla griglia

    Lost Letter

    4.2(98 reviews)
    1.3 miScott's Addition

    Made a reservation and went here to celebrate a birthday. This place is great. Ambiance was classy…read moreand clean. The lighting really contributed to the very intimate feel of the restaurant. The open layout of the kitchen allows diners to see the cooks preparing food. One can also see the patio/outside seating from the inside as it was separated by a huge glass. Our server Matt, though he did not introduce himself, was very nice and knowledgeable of the menu and gave us great recommendations. Food was great. They a great and huge selection of wine and other drinks (I did not take pictures of this wine list that had multiple pages). I was not a fan of the nonalcoholic "Is that Cashmere?" Since it had grapefruit, pomegranate, cinnamon, vanilla, and soda, I was expecting a fruity taste but the cinnamon and other ingredients overpowered the fruity notes. Polpo alla griglia was great as the grilled octopus was chewy and flavorful. I would have preferred the beans to be softer though. Stinco di Maiale was very tender braised pork shank that really went well with polenta. Pesce arrostito was roasted rockfish and black rice with fennel sausage. This was very good too with a hint of spiciness. For dessert, the bunet was fantastic. It's chocolate, almond with amaretto. Love the texture. It was light and very good. Service was fantastic. Once you've told them food restrictions, everyone serving your table will know it without asking you again. The sommelier was very nice. If you're taking out your food, you'll receive a small piece of paper like for coat checks and you can get it when you leave. They also had card and a little something for birthday celebrants (cookies with candle) which was sweet. Would definitely be back!

    I can't believe it's been almost a year since our last visit. This time we got a spot on the patio…read moreand loved it. The weather was a balmy 72° at 6:30 PM and slightly overcast which made the patio the perfect place. A very serene setting for a sophisticated meal. I highly recommend the patio, but you need to plan way in advance. Even on a Wednesday night. And definitely get there early because parking is a bear. I don't mind the walk, but anybody with mobility challenges, might find it tough to get there on time unless they can get dropped off. For cocktails our friends got a very swanky bottle of white wine by Cinque Terre. My husband and I got mixed drinks : the Italian stallion and the ciao fantasy. Very different experiences, but both very good. The Italian stallion was complex yet refreshing and the ciao fantasy was complex and smooth. For appetizers, we got the beef tartare and the Borlatti farro verde. Again, both very different but equally delicious. The tartar obviously more a protein forward appetizer that had a smooth richness brought out by the egg and the well chopped beef. The extra sourdough was a nice touch. The Borlatti was the perfect starter for a spring evening and I actually enjoyed it more than my entrée. It has a lightness to it, but also richly satisfying, especially with the sourdough. For the entrées, we went back to our favorites from last time which was the cavatappi and the rockfish. I enjoyed the cavatappi more but I was trying to get more protein and less simple carbs so I stuck with the rock fish. This time the fish was not a great piece and had very little edible protein because of the bloodline running down the center of it, so for $38 it felt a bit stingy because I needed more of the fish than the slightly over spiced rice and sausage. Did not feel like a good choice for the evening. I did not finish and went back to my appetizer to satisfy any hunger pains left. Definitely disappointed that there was no specials for the evening and a lot of the menu seems pretty similar to the last time we were there. Also seems like fewer choices at least for the small plates. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful and again really enjoyed the atmosphere. However. Everything seems overpriced these days but even though prices haven't shifted that much at LL on this occasion, $172 after tax but before tip seemed a bit much for Richmond. Feels like everything is a few dollars over what the price point should be especially if it's not done to perfection. We will probably go back but not for a long while bc of price but also because of menu options. There are several restaurants in Church Hill that bring more bang for your buck.

    Photos
    Lost Letter - Inside

    Inside

    Lost Letter - Fried olives, burrata, sourdough, delicata

    Fried olives, burrata, sourdough, delicata

    Lost Letter - Spumoni Cake

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    Spumoni Cake

    Dinamo - Mushroom Bolognese

    Dinamo

    4.3(195 reviews)
    0.5 miThe Fan
    $$

    A hole in the wall hidden gem for authentic Italian food and excellent value (portion and quality…read moreto price ratio) --------------------------------- Food: some of the best food I've had in Richmond, and ever! We ordered a beet and fennel salad - and now, that is a salad. The beets were fresh (I've had canned beets in salads before but this was fresh), and the fennel was crunch, mild, and texturely satisfying in contrast with the soft beets, the dressing was well coated but not drenching the salad. Could have eaten the salad all day but then the entrees came: Squid ink fettuccine with calamari and shrimp -- it was so fresh I could not eat it for a few minutes, massive entree, fettuccine tasted like it was made in house, so flavorful and rich Sausage with polenta -- my first time trying polenta in solid form, tastes a bit like if rice and corn combined, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, sausage was good too Also the complimentary bread was excellent, crunchy exterior soft interior, especially dipped in the pasta sauce Recommendations: making a reservation (you have to call), we made the mistake of assuming it being a cold rainy Sunday, we could do a walk in at the bar, but ended up walking in the rain for about an hour - well worth the wait Affordability: ~$25-30/entree Ambiance: it's pretty small and easy to bump into people on accident, but very cozy ambiance with deep red color theme Service: great, no issues! Good for: date night, celebration, when you just want good food

    If you're looking for a spot that delivers Italian comfort with thoughtful execution, Dinamo is an…read moreabsolute standout. From the first bite, it was clear the kitchen took pride in both tradition and detail. The mussels were exceptional; tender, briny, and swimming in a deeply flavorful tomato broth that begged to be sopped up with their freshly baked bread. The gnocchi with cream sauce was pure comfort food elevated to art. The pillows of gnocchi were light and delicate rather than heavy, and the cream sauce struck that perfect balance: rich and indulgent without overwhelming the dish. Every bite felt carefully crafted and deeply satisfying. My wife commented that it was the best cream sauce she's ever had. Another surprise were the baked cabbage and Swiss chard dishes we had as appetizers. Savory, tender, and layered with flavor. The slight caramelization and depth from baking gave the greens a richness that complemented the meal beautifully. Between the warm RVA atmosphere, attentive service, and a curated menu that respected Italian tradition while delivering satisfying flavors, Dinamo is the kind of place my wife and I will certainly return to. Highly recommended.

    Photos
    Dinamo - Aesthetic

    Aesthetic

    Dinamo - Pepperoni Pizza

    Pepperoni Pizza

    Dinamo - Storefront

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    Storefront

    Oro - From website

    Oro

    5.0(3 reviews)
    1.3 miDowntown

    This is by far my favorite local business to get fresh pasta from. Oro is an Italian pop up…read morerestaurant and a farmers market booth. I haven't yet had the chance to attend one of their pop ups, but I'm an avid fan of their pastas and cannot wait to one day! Birdhouse Market on Tuesdays is my go-to for their pasta. You can also find them at the St. Stephen's farmers market. My favorite pasta they make is their sourdough tonnarelli. The creste de gallo is a must try. Other delicious and unique flavors I've enjoyed are the basil gnochetti and the porcini bucatini. I once got their white bolognese sauce and paired it with one of their pastas, it was divine. They have cute postcards with pasta sauce recipes, but you can also buy their incredible pasta sauces and pair it with the pasta you buy (which I highly recommend). If you need any help, the owner who runs the stand is incredibly sweet and can guide you in the right direction. Oro is incredible, if I could give them 100 stars I would.

    I typically try to catch them at the Birdhouse Farmer's Market when they're set up. Their fresh…read morepasta is wonderful! Especially coming from someone who has used a lot of boxed pasta over the years, I absolutely love getting to enjoy it fresh. Since I live alone, I'm typically able to break it into several nights of food for dinner, which works out great. After a long day, it's so easy to make (what I've tried so far was recc 1-2 minutes of cook time) Staff is always happy to answer questions about the pasta also! Pictured is the basil one, you've gotta love basil for this one, but it was very enjoyable, also loved the noodle shape, which I'm blanking on the exact name at the moment.

    Photos
    Oro - Butternut Sage Coffins

    Butternut Sage Coffins

    Oro - Butternut Sage Coffins

    Butternut Sage Coffins

    Oro - Two of my favorites

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    Two of my favorites

    Bombolini Pasta - italian - Updated May 2026

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