For pasta good perfectly al dente, with delicious home made sauce - at prices that are not ridiculous for pasta - Grassa is the place! Brought an out of town friend here the other night and she couldn't believe the quality, taste and portion of her chicken cacciatore over fusilli pasta for under $16. Enough for two meals! I had the Fusilli alla Vodka with spicy sausage that gave the dish a nice kick of heat. it was comforting, satisfying - and enough for lunch the next day. Another winner! We shared a bottle of the Pinot Noir which was really delicious. Since I am not a fan of Pinot Noir, and I mentioned that, the cashier offered me a taste. Yes, thank you! It was full bodied than most Pinot Noirs so we went with it and it paired perfectly with our rich and spicy pastas. And of course I got a cannoli. The crisp shell was stuffed with creamy ricotta dotted with mini chocolate chips perfection. When they first opened, the music was way too loud especially when they were playing head banker music. Thankfully they have turned the volume down and are playing a more universally pleasing soundtrack. Street parking. read more

Grassa - Fusilli alla vodka - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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First time trying Grassa and enjoyed it for the most part. It seems pretty comparable to other $15-20 pasta entree places I've tried in other cities, and the pasta is decent quality, cooked al dente, and pretty flavorful. I ordered the carbonara, which came with a fried egg and pancetta, though I do wish the meat portion was a bit larger (although difficult to complain for $15). The vibes inside the restaurant are very clean, modern and chic. The service seemed a bit slow (we waited ~20-25 minutes for 2 plates of pasta), but I think it's because they were making each plate of pasta fresh to order. Overall I'd say if you're not in a hurry it's a good place to get a decent affordable plate of pasta. read more

Grassa - Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Grassa is once again firing on all cylinders. The Big Sal pasta with Calabrian chili is excellent with huge wide tube noodles (like mega rigatoni). There is an elevated flavor- don't miss this special. The pork belly Mac and cheese continues to bring down the house. The Caesar is good (not with radicchio anymore). Service is counter and outdoor seating is plentiful on Hawthorne. read more

Grassa - Sal's Calabrian Chili Special - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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GET THE PIZZA HOT POCKET. if you don't read the rest of my review, just get the hot pocket. it's made with layers of crispy goodness like no other hot pocket you've had before. the italian ranch is also so slightly unique that it makes the whole dish come together. my husband got this dish and reluctantly wanted to share. it's so good. please try it. it will not let you down. good staples we got were the garlic bread, kids mac and the fusilli alla vodka. the caesar salad was exceptional. overall great quality food. i'd come back just for those pizza hot pockets though! *swoon read more

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This is my 2nd time back and I brought more of my sisters here because thats how much I love the truffle parpadelle! It was Saturday night at 7pm and a 30 minutes wait for food. It was pretty busy, but after you order your food and take a seat the yellow light sets the mood for a date night :) The meatballs are a favorite to try! And while the garlic bread was not as much as I was expecting, it was good. The pesto pasta was refreshing and the vodka pasta was just as good. Every time I'm in the area, I will try to get that truffle pasta! I'm also a fan of wide noodle pasta so I'm a sucker for parpadelle..... Consensus: at least try the black truffle parpadelle We got a few drinks to try: the blueberries for breakfast are a must try if you like a sweet drink, the rest were mediocre (but I'm a sweet cocktail kinda girl) read more

Grassa - Black Truffle Pappardelle, Spaghetti al Pesto, Fusilli Alla Vodka, garlic bread- 2 pieces - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Grassa has always been solid and a great place to have hand made pasta dishes at a reasonable price given the current climate of inflation. There is plenty of seating inside and outside. Ordering is quite simple and cocktails and food are made to order. Service is on point, comfortable atmosphere, and the food is simply amazing. Whenever they do specific food special weeks like burger or nacho week, Grassa always satisfies and never disappoints. I even converted my sister and brother in law and they always get excited when Grassa is suggested! Over the years they never disappoint and I can always count an excellent meal and walk away a happy camper! read more

Grassa - Meatball burger - Burger week 2025 - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Definitely would recommend the bbq Mac and cheese. I was pleasantly surprised with how good it was read more

Grassa - Pulled Pork Belly Mac & Cheesepork - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I just happen to be visiting Portland and y'all- I spotted mustache Joe from Top Chef at the airport! So I looked him up and discovered he was doing a pop up and collab with Grassa while I was in town. Had his specialty menu that included blackberry focaccia, shortrib ravioli and chicken parm ravioli and they were all elevated and delicious! What an incredible unexpected treat, Portland is my jam! read more

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Super delicious! Parking can be difficult, but we were able to find one relatively quickly. Plenty of indoor seating and kind staff members. I tried the pork belly mac & cheese and the grassa meatballs. The mac & cheese is to die for - the pork belly is juicy and flavorful. Additionally, we ordered the blackberry jasmine lemonade, which was quite refreshing! If you've never tried Grassa, I recommend visiting this location first! It's my fav! read more

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Loved grassa have been a loyal customer for years but my last experience inside was not great. Ordered two plates of pasta and some bread and waited 45 minutes for it to get to the table. There are 4 employees meandering up front; so I politely asked one if my food was out to which they responded 10 minutes The people who came after me got their food 2 mins after I got mine. When the server dropped the food me and my friend said thank to which she dropped our food didn't say a word and walked off, I guess because I pointed out that 40 minutes for spaghetti is a long wait. Anyway, the Italian cream soda was good so I guess that's cool. The attitude of the employees who got a 20% tip is kind of wild considering I just wanted some pasta. Anywhoooo gumba is not that far and the employees have always been nice :) read more

Grassa has long held its reputation in Portland for handmade pasta. They were one of the first in this scene and have maintained their popularity. With many locations across town, Grassa is there for you wherever you are. With plenty of pasta and sauce offerings, and with seasonal specials, you won't have to worry about not finding something to satisfy your palette. Are they the best pasta in town? No, but Grassa is a great quick meal option that won't break the wallet. On this visit, I got the rigatoni and it was great! The ragu was rich and meaty, and not wasn't overwhelming. The pasta was al dente and the sauce to pasta ratio was perfect. I have no complaints! Counter service, causal atmosphere, Grassa is here for any occasion to satisfy your pasta cravings! read more

Grassa - rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

It's culturally appropriated Italian food. I like the ambience and service but the food was meh lol. Service was excellent. I got a carbonara when a sunny side egg... read more

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Don't go here if you want to talk with your friends. You will end up with a headache. They play really loud heavy metal etc and won't the. It down even if you ask. Food is ok, nothing special. read more

Pasta tasted fresh but too al dente. Sauce tasted overwhelmingly like the sausage in the dish. The garlic bread was my favorite part. read more

Grassa - Fusilli Alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Pasta was fantastic! They have gluten free pasta and are very knowledgeable about allergies. Pasta was delicious! read more

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Nice location (neighborhood parking or street parking only). IT is more spacious than then Alphabet location. Claims with chermoula and saffron. read more

Grassa - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Quality food - and if they don't like you? Pasta is barely boiled. Sad. Fresh pasta is insulted.

Amazing food. 10/10 will try this place again. Garlic bread is amazing too! They were busy so it was a bit of a wait for our food, but the taste made up for that. read more

Grassa - Black Truffle Pappardelle - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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always love coming to this location. its near one of my fav thrift stores and this place is so cozy on the inside. the garlic bread is way too good. currently trying every item on their menu, but for now my favorite is def the hot pocket. love this place read more

Grassa - Hot Pocket Rigatoni Garlic Bread - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Decent place for some fast casual pasta (although fast might be a stretch because it took ages for our pasta to come out!) My partner got some spicy pasta with red sauce and I got the truffle pasta. Good flavors on both but mine was a little cold - it was warm enough but it had clearly sat in the window for a bit so the sauce wasn't as creamy as it should have been. I'm sure I'll go back at some point just because it's relatively affordable and is probably better for a quick lunch! Negroni was good! read more

Grassa - Truffle pappardelle, Negroni, Fusilli alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The first words that come to mind for Grassa would be: contemporary, casual, Italian, and fun. The self serve and eat well concept has been so good for the brand that there have been a number of locations popping up all over Portland. I just happen to think this one in SE is one of the better ones for the exceptional service, spacious digs, and tasty food. The space is modern and extremely accommodating for all types of groups. Their outdoor setup feels like something born during the pandemic but they've managed to keep it around in addition to a roomy interior that has tables, booths, and plentiful seating options. The format is simple: pay for your food first, self serve with the water, utensils and plate ware, and eventually someone will come to your table with the food. Speaking of the food, I've been happy with everything I've ordered so far. The seasonal menus are dominated by made to order fresh pastas. I can't say it's the best I've had, but it is very good for the price and format of the dining. Their bolognese has been a bit salty in the past but it's a hearty dish. Their pappardelle is smooth and texturally excellent. I think their carbonara is creamy if not to the point of indulgent and I can really get behind the lasagna. It's gotten to the point that I'm willing to order every dish with the certainty that it'll be relatively well executed. Part of the reason for this is the many cooks in the kitchen. They're clearly on top of their game since the dishes come out fairly quickly and the presentation is on point. The counter service has been equally impressive, as they've always been incredibly patient and kind with my group. The prices are also quite friendly for today's foodflation type economy. Many of the dishes are $10 and under which is excellent given how the portions are generous with each serving. Ultimately if I want something that is great for groups, easy for youngins, and simple but tasty food, Grassa is practically most of what I want in a quality establishment. read more

grassa is such a portland staple. i like trying something new everytime i come here. i also haven't been to this location before so this was a first. we sat outdoors so that we could be with our dog. all of this was shared between 3 people and that was the perfect portion! salad- very delicious but overpriced. i also wish the ingredients were chopped to the same size and mixed better because it was kind of difficult to pick up with the fork black truffle papardelle- it tastes bland if you don't mix it up, which we didn't realize we had to do. not my favorite and i wish the truffle flavor was stronger but i liked the texture of the pasta rigatoni- i've had this before and it was just as good. can't go wrong with it meatballs- delicious but overpriced. slightly too salty but it balanced out the blandness of the papardelle read more

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Grassa was flavorsome. I got the Pork Belly Mac-n-cheese and its unique but tasty combo. I enjoyed the slight sweet taste of the pork belly. It blends well with the Mac n cheese. I recommend an extra scoop of pork belly. We'll also got an order of garlic bread, the order comes with two slices. It's was crunchy, good and tasted like garlic bread. The other dish is spaghetti all chittara was surprisingly delectable. The whipped ricotta looks cool and it all mixes well. Im normally not a pasta fan but this place has me convinced. Haha. We went on a Saturday for dinner and it was BUSY!! Seating was pretty easy, you order first then look for available seat or they help you find a spot. If you don't mind, There's a bar off to the right when you walk in and can sit there. Parking was a pain, but that's the area in general. read more

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I had high hopes for Grassa & am sad to say, I was a little disappointed. My rigatoni lacked sauce, there was not much other than to barely coat my pasta, although the pork was very tender. The fritto misto was expensive & did not have much calamari, the fried lemon slices in it were different & delicious to my surprise. But I wouldn't recommend the fritto misto, just lots of fried bits of veggies & not much calamari. My paloma was good. The garlic bread was enough for two people, the bread was quite small, maybe 6 inches in length but came in a paper bag which I thought was cute. Service was good as well. Cashier was friendly, took our order & someone brought the food to our table once it was ready. I am hoping to return here in hopes my next dining experience will be better. I would like to try a different pasta. read more

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Fast, casual, yummy Italian. Easy to find... Parking on the street. First come, first serve. They don't take reservations. Several picnic tables outside too in case it's busy inside. Walk- in, order, get your number, find a table and relax. They will bring your food out when it's ready. There were 8 of us plus a baby.... sitting outside worked out great. read more

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My finance and I went to Grassa for a late dinner on a Saturday! I had the pork belly Mac and cheese and he had the baked occhi do lupo. I think we both wish we'd ordered what the other one had! I've had the Mac and cheese before so I knew it would be good. The chef even accommodated my weird request for extra glaze from the pork (it's so good!) I also appreciated that everyone was super nice even though we came in less than an hour before closing. We were the last customers there but never felt like the staff hated us for being there. read more

Grassa - Pork Belly Mac & Cheese - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Gave this place a second try. First time I tried the pork belly mac and cheese which was solid flavor, just very heavy for my personal liking, but still a good dish. This time I got the carbonara as it had raving reviews. I found it to just be okay. I found it to be dry, mixing the egg in didn't help. The flavor was lacking, the only good part were the pork bits. I think this place is overhyped as there are better pasta places in Portland. read more

Grassa - Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The rigatoni with sunday pork ragu was delicious. My partner got the spring pea tortellini which he really loved! read more

Grassa - Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Dont ever newer go there if you dont want get embarrassed. They dont accept legal tender in America. They have they own constitution . Date gone wrong . After exitment to order bill was 49$ - trying to pay with 100$ bill ( new kind colorfull ) They dont accept 50/100 bills . I was expecting to pay 60$ with tips but left hungry/angry and embarassed. Owner Rick shame on you. I offered to leave 100$ bill and come back other day for change . No mercy in this place . And it was dinner after we left church. They shudnt even open doors on days when people go to church to pray . read more

This is a pretty standard pasta spot. Came on a Saturday evening and it was poppin'. You order first then grab a table then they deliver you food to the table. All the past was cooked to a perfect Al dente and the sauces tasted fresh, but not seasoned enough for my preference. The thing I liked the most was actually the burrata peach salad. Everything on that plate married so well together. A little sweet from the peaches, a little savory from the burrata plus some tartness from the pickled cherries on that perfect charred toast *chef's kiss* I don't feel like this spot is very gourmet, but it's definitely not Olive Garden. If I'm ever in the area and crave pasta, I might drop by for some togo. read more

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As other reviewers here, I have liked the food. But the last two times I've been here the atmosphere was really not on par with the menu. I actually had to ask if they were still open the music was so loud. Like way too loud to converse anywhere in the whole place even with someone right next to you. It was like what you do after your closed and have to clean up the kitchen at midnight. I thought it was just me and sat outside but when a young couple left and told me they felt like they were being treated like they should leave because they got there an hour before closing. They actually felt like the restaurant was trying to push them out with the volume of the music. And also the AC was turned up to be extremely cold. All things that you do to make yourself comfortable in the kitchen after a really long day. But when I worked in restaurants, always done after closing. I passed this along to the staff. So that they'd know people felt this way. I was treated with rude and my favorite thing just walking away- even after prefacing this information with how much I like the food. I was told maybe I should tell the owner. I don't write negative public reviews much, but I'm tired of being treated like this. Like I'm the problem for trying to keep businesses in my neighborhood supported. And no way does the atmosphere that was created in there match with the menu or the food. Maybe all they want is a to go window and not have to deal with people sitting there. read more

I'm a fan of Grassa's fast-casual-fine dining setup; I didn't think I would be. Ordering from the counter and then grabbing your own table seems out of place in a restaurant that exudes such an "upscale" aesthetic, but it works; the flipside, of course, is that you lose any semblance of "service" outside of the ordering process, and the delivery of your meal. If you need another cocktail, you're on your own. Fine by me. The last time we visited a Grassa location, my wife and I split a dish between us. Not today. We learned our lesson! We were both hungry enough for our own entrée, this time! For today's lunch, my wife opted for the Fusilli Alla Vodka, which she paired with a glass of the Grassa White, and myself with a Jockey Full of Bourbon (whiskey, lime and ginger beer) and the rigatoni and pork ragu. Within 15 minutes our dishes arrived: the fusilli - handcrafted spiral noodles, tossed in a creamy vodka tomato sauce, tangy, delicious sausage, and crushed red pepper to give it just a hint of spice. Wonderful! The rigatoni was also excellent, with a rich, meaty sauce, tender cuts of pork, and some basil and cheese for good measure. We may have ordered our own dishes this time, but we both picked from each other's plates several times, sharing and relishing them both! Cooking and serving quality Italian pasta dishes is a lot like learning a trade skill: there are levels of proficiency, from apprentice to grandmaster, with each step requiring years of training, practice, and intrinsic knowledge. The quality of the end product is a direct reflection of this proficiency. The pasta served at Grassa is undoubtedly fantastic, but suffers somewhat from being the child of what is essentially an high-end chain restaurant. It'll never reach the reverent station of an Italian nonna, slaving away at hand-rolling noodles with experienced, calloused, arthritic hands, while simultaneously stirring a pot of her legendary Bolognese...but it's not trying to be, either. It doesn't have to. In a world full of Olive Gardens and Spaghetti Factories, a fresh take and an honest effort is enough put them leagues ahead of the competition. read more

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I used to come here all the time and really loved this place! However the past months I have been disappointed. I kept coming back hoping it would be good again but I feel like every time there was a different major issue with the food-- it's always either so salty it's unbearable to eat (like genuinely doused with salt), super watery and flavorless, or lacking any sauce at all (and I was coming here so frequently it was biweekly, every time it missed ). I do like their drinks and salad options as well as friendly service, but as for the pasta I think it's better to go somewhere else. read more

Comfy, but trendy spot! Filled with magnificent aromas from the freshly made ingredients. The menu is pretty standard, but packs a punch of flavor! Great beverage items to choose from as well. We came to visit from LA and saw a lot of good things about this place online! August, the hostess, was a tad rude. Her tone and facial expressions made me feel very uncomfortable and unwelcomed to the establishment. I asked a few questions about the menu and how to order and she made me feel stupid. But..... what made up for it was the service from a gentleman who served us our food and continuously came by to check on us and made she our experience was pleasant. Really good portion size! Not large, not small. Just the perfect amount especially if you wanna get a side or a drink. Pesto was a 9/10 for me. The almond crunch the whipped cheese the fresh noodles all tied together Rigatoni was very meaty tasting and so fresh. 8.5/10 read more

Grassa - Rigatoni and pesto pasta with a glass of white wine and a glass of beer :) - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

They "do not take reservations" yet did not allow us to sit at a certain table, and led people who ordered after us to sit there so we had to stay at bar top seating. Then a group came in and sat at a table with a sign that said "reserved" on it and got food immediately. Food is good but this was poor customer service. read more

We came in and ordered before other people around us and got our food last. The pasta for most of us was lukewarm or cold, the bread wasn't even toasted all the way. Yeah I get the place was busy but our food shouldn't be cold or lukewarm. I've been to other grassa locations and this one is far the worst one. I even tipped. read more

Amazing handmade noodles, great prices, and quick service! The staff is great--they put the whipped ricotta to the side, offered to remove sausage to make the dish vegetarian, and even made a dish spicy upon request. The baked feta with blistered cherry tomato pasta, spicy, was amazing! The pasta tastes soft and fresh, it's a fun and unique shape I've never had before, and was spicy, sour, creamy, and flavorful. We also tried the fried brussel sprouts with parm and pickled mustard seeds, and the hazelnut pesto pasta. The brussel sprouts were okay and missed a bit on the amount of mustard seasoning, but overall not bad (I wouldn't say it's worth $10 that could be spent on another pasta). The pesto pasta had hazelnuts and whipped ricotta, and the pesto definitely tasted freshly made, but it was overwhelmingly oily and hard to eat. Definitely a rich dish, not bad again but we weren't able to finish it. The prices are extremely reasonable, running like $11-13 per pasta! The ambiance is cute too, with little booths you can sit in and an outdoor option for warmer weather. All in all, would highly recommend checking out Grassa if you're in the mood for a quick pasta fix. Your experience will definitely depend on which pasta you order, but at such a low price point you can come back and keep trying your luck! read more

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The music was so loud it was difficult to enjoy your food while eating an early Sunday dinner. We had been here for the Saturday early afternoon and everything was great. Little or no music was difference That's why we tried again. Food .past was excellent for almost everything. I would not recommend the spring shrimp dish however. They said it would be light, but with fried bread shrimp, it was not. I should have known that though. Sauted shrimp would have been much better for a summer dish Garlic bread very good. May try again, but only if music turned way down or off. It's amazing how that alone affects food experience. read more

All I can say is this restaurant is GREAT!! from the food to the customer service. A MUST try.

Heard of Grassa before but I never gotten to try it until recently, some of my friends recommended the pork belly Mac and cheese. I usually try not to get Asian fusion at western cuisine establishments as it really could be a hit or miss. However, in this case they definitely nailed the pork belly. I could definitely see why my friends recommended this dish. It was a great blend and melted in my mouth! The place itself has a very clean atmosphere, and the cost of the pasta was like around $$! Anyways check the place out if your ever craving noodles! read more

Grassa - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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