L'Artusi opens reservations 14 days prior, and given its popularity, you must book immediately. Our…read moreparty of five managed to snag a table this past Saturday evening. The interior was completely packed, and the noise level was high enough for my smart watch to complain. To sample a bit of everything, we shared two orders of focaccia, four pastas, and one dessert.
HOUSE-MADE FOCACCIA - 10
Super bouncy with a bit of chew, this was probably the best focaccia I've ever eaten. It came generously drizzled with olive oil and alongside chopped peppers drenched in even more olive oil, which added a nice little kick. We highly recommend starting with this.
TAGLIATELLE - 27
Out of the four pastas, this was my absolute favorite. I love the thin yet chewy texture of the tagliatelle, and the bolognese sauce was rich and hearty. Finished with just the right amount of Parmigiano, both the pasta texture and sauce were sheer perfection.
PICI 'CACIO E PEPE' - 23
This was such a simple pasta, yet so delicious. It was incredibly creamy and cheesy, with hints of fresh black pepper flavor that blew standard at-home black pepper grinders out of the water. Despite it being the simplest pasta of the night, I enjoyed it immensely.
RIGATONI - 32
This pasta was simple yet slightly innovative, featuring sausage paired with a broccoli-based pesto. There was a slight bitterness that was polarizing among our group. While this wasn't my favorite pasta, I appreciated the creativity.
PERCIATELLI NERO - 35
This dish packed in more components than just pasta and sauce: plenty of crab, tomatoes, and crispy breadcrumbs on top. However, the combination wasn't very memorable. None of the flavors really stood out, and it was my least favorite pasta of the night.
OLIVE OIL CAKE - 14
Served with a pile of golden raisins and fancy whipped cream, this ended up being a bit of a miss. The raisins were a bit too sweet, and the cake's texture was uneven -- some bites were soft and moist, while others felt dry. A couple of others in my group also felt the same way.
Overall, I'd give L'Artusi a 4.5/5; it was mostly hits with a couple of misses. The pasta portions are quite small. Since each dish is primarily carbs and sauce, I'd imagine you'll likely need an appetizer or a pasta and a half to leave full. Still, I'd definitely come back for the focaccia, tagliatelle, and the cacio e pepe.