I had lunch at Pasta Viva in Irvine during the middle of the lunch rush, and I was genuinely amazed watching Justin handle everything on his own. Despite the nonstop flow of customers and orders, he stayed calm, organized, friendly, and incredibly efficient. Managing the front while keeping up with the pace of a busy lunch service is no easy task, but Justin made it look effortless. He provided excellent customer service, kept orders moving quickly, and maintained a positive attitude the entire time. It's rare to see someone young perform so well under pressure. Justin did an outstanding job and deserves recognition for his hard work and dedication. Thank you for making our lunch experience such a great one! read more

Cheese wheel pasta without breaking the bank. #1 recommendation is The Godfather. Filet Mignon, Mushrooms, roasted garlic, tossed in house made alfredo sauce finished with parmigiano reggiano. I could devour this in my sleep. There is no way you won't find something you like here. They have preset pastas to choose from or you can create your own bowl. If you don't like pasta, they also have salads and sandwiches. Its clean indoors but seating is limited. There are plenty of tables outside with shade that are shared with the other businesses in the plaza. Not much to say about service since you order at a kiosk. You can watch them make your pasta in the cheese wheel while you wait. If you're craving pasta but don't want to break the bank at a fancy Italian restaurant, this is the place to go. read more

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Been seeing this place go viral on social media, so I decided to check it out myself. And I have to say this place definitely lives up to the hype! The CHEESE WHEEL is the absolute star of the show! I got to see my pasta being tossed in a giant wheel of cheese right in front of my eyes. This was an experience I never thought would be possible outside of Italy. Needless to say, I was very impressed! I believe the pasta is made in-house, cause it tasted very authentic. I ordered the Viva Diva (pomodoro with meatballs) and it was very filling and flavorful. The pasta had a nice chewy texture and I was surprised by how good the meatballs tasted (the seasoning was fantastic). Had the blood orange drink with my meal and I loved how it had just enough fizz and was not too sweet. Restaurant is located in a shopping center with plenty of parking. The inside is a little small with only a few seats (I opted to sit outside). I ordered at the kiosk (easy to navigate with pictures of everything). The workers were very nice and offered to help answer any questions. read more

Pasta Viva - Viva Diva (Pomodoro+ Meatballs) Pasta Blood Orange Organic - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

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I spotted this place on Yelp, the cheese wheel and special Italian sandwiches drew me in. I was in the area and I had to check it out!?! Place was in a pretty busy shopping plaza, I was there on a Tuesday afternoon so it was fairly easy to find parking. I bet this plaza gets VERY busy especially on the weekends and the evenings. There were a few people inside already eating, the staff was very welcoming! They greeted us when we came in and let us know they are there if we had any questions. We sat at a table and checked out the menu. I did not think the menu was very large, but there were too many things I was wanted to try. My sister and I agreed on getting one sandwich and one pasta dish to split. 1. Customize build your own pasta bowl, added meatballs, mushrooms and I added Samurai Umami (garlic Chili Oil, miso and sesame) OH MY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was one of the most delicious pasta dishes I have ever tried. It was intensely rich, a bit salty and so cheesy?! 1000%!!!! It was so good. The mushrooms were tasty, the meatballs were tender, they tasted so well with the crazy sauce. Their pasta is homemade and uber delicious. I needed more pasta for all of my leftover sauce. 5/5!!?!?! 2. Parma Focaccia - Fresh-baked focaccia made with imported Italian flour and extra-virgin olive oil, layered with Prosciutto di Parma, fig jam, truffle burrata cream, roasted pistachios, and peppery arugula dressed in rosé vinaigrette. I have never had these type of sandwiches and I did not know if they would meet the hype. I am not sure how close this sandwich would be as what they serve in Italy but I LOVED THIS SANDWICH. It was salty, sweet, soft, so fresh with the arugula. The arugula was perfectly dressed in the vinaigrette, NOT too little, not too much either. It was just perfect. So many flavors in this sandwich and the bread was just perfect, golden brown, soft, a bit chewy. If I would make any changes, I would probably ask for less fig jam and possibly more Prosciutto. I would never get sick of eating this sandwich. 5/5 !!!!!! I actually came back here later in the day after picking up my niece. We told her how good it was, she had complete FOMO, so we headed back. They got a create your own pasta bowl and they agreed it was amazing. The lady behind the counter even recognized me from earlier that day. If I am ever in the area again, I will be cruising to this location. I know I will crave the food from here. Honestly you can tell how much time and proper steps are done in preparing your food. It is not rushed, but done perfectly. The staff was completely friendly and professional. I really enjoyed my visit at this place. Service: 5/5 Food: 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 read more

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This food becomes an addiction. Once you try it, everything else just kind of melts away... It's simple. Great ingredients, hot food, cooked in a creamy hand made sauce. Simple ingredients, but oh, so good. Always five stars. They are friendly, remember your name. One of the very best places to eat. read more

Very good and delicious place, i try the pesto sandwich and the pistacho gelato and i just felt in love with them i bet they have other delicious things but those blow my mind, The place was packed and is little so I don't suggest it for big groups but it's a perfect plan to go and gravel something here for any outdoors activity. Also they are very fast, I noticed a bunch of people in the staff so the wait is not bad. The price may vary of course but honestly i think they have a fair price for everything in their menu. read more

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Pasta Viva is one of Irvine's most unique pasta spots, known for their fresh-made pasta and iconic cheese-wheel pasta experience. The atmosphere was cozy, the pasta was made fresh, and watching the dishes come together made the whole dining experience feel extra special. It's definitely a spot that's perfect for sharing different plates and trying something new. What we tried The Gladiator Pasta: 9/10 The pasta was rich, creamy, and full of flavor. The cheese-wheel preparation made it such a fun experience. The Godfather Pasta: 8.5/10 A delicious and comforting pasta dish with a great balance of flavors. Definitely a perfect choice if you're looking for something hearty. Caesar Salad: 8/10 Fresh, crisp, and the perfect side to balance out the rich pasta dishes. The Finale Chocolate Pasta: 9/10 Such a unique dessert experience! The chocolate pasta was sweet, perfectly chewy, and the perfect way to end the meal. The staff is also incredible helpful and welcoming. The portions are great :) read more

Pasta Viva - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

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Quaint spot in a strip mall - parking was easy on a Sunday afternoon. There was a line inside and every table was full - all great signs. The menu was pretty simple and I had seen the cheese bowl/wheel on my social feeds so we were anxious to try it out. I ordered the protein bowl while my daughter chose the alfredo bowl. The dishes were ready fairly quickly and we devoured them. We both enjoyed our dishes and the only reason I didn't give them 5 stars was because the portion could've been bigger. That' said the pasta, my meatballs and the sauces tasted incredibly fresh - felt like we were back in Italy. Highly recommend! read more

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This place is truly a hidden gem in Irvine. They make fresh and delicious delicious pasta tossed in a cheese wheel. Food: The menu offers a wide selection of pastas dishes and sandwiches. My favorite item is the Dreamer, which is pasta with prosciutto in a creamy and cheesy alfredo sauce and topped with pistachios. It's absolutely delicious. The No Regrets pasta is delicious as well. It's a chicken alfredo pasta. Service: The employees are very friendly and the food comes quickly. Ambiance: I like the decor inside but the indoor seating is a bit limited. Pasta Viva is truly an amazing restaurant that offers fresh and delicious pasta dishes. I come here about once or twice a week. read more

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Cheese wheel. Fresh Pasta. Didn't know anything else but ended up stopping for dinner. There aren't many tables and you place your own order from the kiosk. I'm not quite sure how much time passes while we were waiting for our food. But we first grabbed a table outside and then stopped into 7-eleven to get some drinks. A table eventually opened up right before our food was ready. I can't remember the exact conversation but I do remember the staff was very helpful and genuinely sincere. My toddler wouldn't stop making yummy noises as he slurped up the fettuccine Alfredo. It was plain noodles with the cheese sauce but it was so good. The price point doesn't break the bank either. I'm not sure if I'm bothered too much with the grab and go aspect of the restaurant but the food was amazing. Order ahead of time and maybe you'll also catch them light up the cheese wheel... read more

The food was so good. Cute decor, gets really busy around lunch times due to all the surrounding businesses. The pasta was tasty but the winner was the focaccia sandwich!! The fig jam inside and the bread was amazing- very big- recommend sharing read more

Pasta Viva - The meat, arugula and the fig jam inside/ so good - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

Pretty damn good! Watching the pasta being made fresh right in front of you and tossed in a giant cheese wheel was such a cool experience. The flavor was incredible and definitely lived up to the hype! I ordered the meatball bowl and it was unbelievably creamy and delicious. At first it looked like a small portion, but it was actually super filling. The atmosphere was great too -- while I was waiting for my food, everyone around me kept talking about how amazing everything was. That always says a lot! I'll definitely be back to try the desserts, especially the tiramisu! read more

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Another great time at pasta viva. Food is so fresh! Cannot even describe it other than fabulous!!!! Service again, heartfelt and like your Italian eatery next door. They always have great music playing in the background. Completely open and just generally great place to eat. read more

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This place is super cute, I love the concept and the atmosphere of the restaurant. The owner was super nice and helpful, recommending items and ready to help. We ordered two pasta bowls which came out super fast and tasted fresh. I like that this is a "fast concept" type restaurant without it being just burger and fries. I would pass on the soda personally, as the flavors are a little oddly unique flavors and over $5 per cup. The seating was limited inside but there are tables outside shared with the other merchants. Overall pretty good! read more

Been wanting to try this spot, finally had a chance to. It's located in a plaza with a lot of food options and plenty of parking. Inside is very modern, and the staff was super friendly and helpful. I was taking a while to decide, and they checked in on me a couple of times to make sure I was good, which I appreciated. They offer a make-your-own pasta option, but I went with the set option, the mushroom and chicken pasta. The pasta is handmade, and the fresh pasta was really good. They mix it in a cheese wheel right in front of you, which was a nice touch, the flavors came together really well and blended nicely with the cheese. Overall it was very flavorful and well balanced. The cheese wasn't overpowering at all. Great experience and I'd definitely come back. read more

Pasta Viva - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

I can see why Pasta Viva is definitely an unique, modern Italian-inspired, up & coming hotspot ~ with it's freshly-made pasta, house-baked focaccia bread, & even an authentic cheese-wheel pasta tossing experience. It's located in The Square busy shopping plaza ~ between Main St. & MacArthur Blvd..next to Paderia Bakehouse. Parking is plentiful, however, the plaza can get busy during working/business hours due to the surrounding corporations..so heads up! The atmosphere gives you a lil taste of Italy. It's vibrant & bright. You get a front row view of the pasta being freshly made & your order prepared. You order via one of the 2 available kiosks, which is efficient..except when indecisive people hold up the line. From popular recommendation, I finally got around to trying Pasta Viva and it was delightful. I enjoyed the fresh pasta and clean ingredients. I came for lunch w/ my mom & daughter. My daughter and I shared the gladiator (bolognese + meatballs) pasta ($19) + focaccia ($3/2 slices), which was flavorful and the noods were perfectly al dente. The bread was fluffy and yums, esp. when dipped w/ some oil (it was just missing some balsamic vinegar lol). My mom opt'd to build-her-own bowl w/ the cheese wheel (starting @ $10). She added pomodoro (tomato-based sauce) (+$3), chicken (+$5), mushrooms (+$3), sun-dried tomatoes (+$3), roasted broccoli (+$4), roasted garlic (+$3). To accompany our meal, we each ordered the organic lemonade ($4.50). Even tho we tried both the strawberry dragonfruit and pineapple passionfruit flavors, the strawberry one got our fav vote! It was refreshing & not overly sweet. Compared to the amount of food you get, this place is a lil pricey. While it was good (not wow), IDK if it's a place I'd keep coming back to or add to my food rotation. Still a must try & RxFoodie recommend, at least once! read more

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Located in a busy plaza, we went during lunch and service was really quick and everyone was very welcoming. Everything here is a little pricy but the pasta is tossed in a big cheese wheel and everything came out delicious. We tried the Gladiator, a marinara base, and the Dreamer, an alfredo base. Both very yummy, would definitely get again. The only thing I didn't like was the drinks. They have their own flavors in house but most of them weren't working and the water tasted a little funky. Other than that definitely a solid place for quick pasta! read more

Pasta Viva - The Dreamer (AlfredoProsciutto) Pasta - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

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Food: - The Gladiator (Bolognese Meatballs) Pasta: noodle consistency was good, however there is only one choice for noodles. Meatballs were standard, not the most flavorful. The dish had too much liquid, perhaps they didn't drain the water from the noodles. It was difficult to taste the cheese flavor from the cheese wheel with the addition of the parmesan cheese. - Basil Babe (PestoChicken) Pasta no chicken: good pesto flavor, but dish had too much liquid making the pasta soggy over time - Plain cheese pasta: cheese flavor was stronger, but salty Ambiance: - Order at the counter and wait for order - Cheese wheel is more for show than addition of flavor read more

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My friends and I are calling this place Club Pasta Viva, because they basically have club music in the evening, but we were totally here for it. Theres a very fun and happy vibe. We went for our first time on a Wednesday evening around 6:30pm and it was busy (I guess that's what happens when you go viral on TikTok)! The staff were hustling! It's an open air kitchen and you could see them getting to work, and they still had a smile on their faces. There's kiosks for ordering, and when it got really busy someone on their line would jump up to the cash register. I was worried this place would be just internet hype, but my friends and I all agree that it was actually really delicious. Their Alfredo especially...[insert happy Italian word here]. No one had a dish they did not enjoy. We will be back for sure! read more

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I wanted to like this place, I really did. You order at a kiosk in the restaurant which was fairly easy. The food here is a little expensive and the portions aren't large for pasta. I got the Dreamer bowl - Alfredo and prosciutto. And my food was salty, not just a little but unbearably so. And the worst part was that my pasta was cold. I watched them make it, do the cheese wheel and everything. They handed it to me and I started to eat right away, and it was already cold. The velvet upholstery looks nice in pictures but the seats are all pretty dirty even though the place is pretty new. I hate to leave a bad review, but my meal was pretty much inedible. read more

Pasta Viva - The Dreamer (AlfredoProsciutto) Pasta - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

Place was packed on a weekday! Wish I remembered to take a photo of their sandwiches but it was simply delish! Service is quick and easy and everything tastes fresh and home-made! Prices are on the higher end for lunch ($12+) but it's due to the hand-made noodles and focaccia they serve. Things I've tried so far: The Dreamer (Alfredo with prosciutto) -this one was yummy! I loved the bites of pistacio in the noodles, I prefer my alfredo a bit creamier and richer but the bites of prosciutto helped kick the umami up. Definitely a re-order if I'm feeling pasta Parma Foccacia *This* was the star of the show for me. The foccacia was soft, crunchy, and the fig jam gave the sandwich this extra layer of flavor that I wasn't expecting. I actually preferred this over the pasta, but both were good. Kicking myself that I didnt snag a picture of this, will update my review if I order it again. Ordering was easy on the self serve tablets, but they do sell out of foccacia so order early to snag those sandwiches! read more

Oh, hello, my new favorite place to eat. I'm officially obsessed: I came here today with my fiancé and toddler son and we all had a grand old time. I ordered a BYO pasta and all the ingredients were fresh (especially the pasta, which you can actually see being made! Yum) My fiancé said his bolognese ("The Gladiator") was so good, Al dente, and didn't make him feel gross afterwards. We both agreed the Tractor drinks were less sweet than regular Pepsi/Coke products #WINNING The pistachio gelato really WAS a dream. The ambiance inside is sooooo cute. This location used to be a Roll 'Em Up (how I miss them), but they made it sooooo cute with all the Italian decor, including the huge wall painting(?) Parking might be a little tricky during weekday lunch hours and I would probably order ahead, but since it was a Saturday afternoon, it was easy. I already want to go back and try more things!!! Everyone working was so informative and kind and organized. read more

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Pasta Viva looked very promising when I walked in. The concept is interesting, the space is clean and inviting, and I was genuinely excited to try it. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the expectations. There was only one pasta option available, and the pasta itself reminded me more of Chinese egg noodles than traditional Italian pasta. One positive is that it didn't feel heavy at all, but the biggest issue was the lack of flavor. The pasta sauce was extremely watery and didn't bring much flavor to the dish. The meatball was also disappointing. It had a good texture, but it tasted like it had little to no seasoning. Combined with the watery sauce, the dish felt very bland overall. I also tried some of the soft drink options, and honestly none of them were particularly enjoyable. They didn't add much to the experience and weren't something I'd order again. I really wanted to like this place because the first impression was strong and the concept has potential. Unfortunately, the food just didn't deliver for me. The pasta lacked flavor, the sauce was watery, and the meatball needed significantly more seasoning. I can appreciate that the meal felt light, but flavor is ultimately what brings me back to a restaurant. I wanted to love it, but I can't honestly recommend it based on my experience. read more

Pasta Viva - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

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Had to try this place with all the social media buzz - so the outcome - yes it's worth the hype for the cheese wheel pasta - so good. We to got pasta with pesto, chicken, red chili flakes & pasta with pesto, sundried tomato, and olives & so good ! Also don't miss out on the focaccia bread! However the drinks....ehhh flavors weren't really what I expected - even the basic watermelon-mint wasn't great- definitely needs some fine tuning on this. read more

Pasta Viva - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

This was my first time coming here. We were in the area nearby for a tech repair and we got hungry. My friend was craving something noodle-y and this came up in the surrounding area and I'm glad we came. We told the woman at the cashier what she recommended. She gave us a few options of what customers normally get and she also shared a few of her favorite dishes she chooses from. I didn't catch her name but she was really sweet in helping us decide. The establishment is not too large of a space inside. You do have about 5 table spaces that can fit possibly 1-4 persons. Depends how big your group is. There are some tables outside the establishment as well. You'll spend about $15-$30 about. I think it's worth it. The flavors just come through so well. Since I deal with acid reflux, the popular items had mostly tomato based or garlic in the sauce. Nothing against it; trust I love me some pasta, but my stomach would cause discomfort if I took the risk. Anyways aside the point, I did end up ordering their Chicken & Mushroom pasta I believe it was called The Game Changer from their menu and it was delicious! I liked the ground pepper they added into the pasta sauce. The pasta is fresh too. I didn't even feel bloated after eating here. Mind you, the Alfredo sauce comes from spinning the fresh pasta on a cheese wheel. It was an awesome experience to see that in action. Definitely coming back when I'm back in this area. read more

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Place had a great review on IG so my sisters and I gave it a try. Clean inside and out. Enjoyed watching the chef and food preparers. It was COLD inside which took away from us feeling comfortable inside. We ordered salad, sandwich and a bowl. Everything tasted fresh. Food was good for the price. Staff was friendly but no one stood out. read more

Total impromptu lunch with my (former, but forever) work wife... we tried out a new place today that was recommended by Nate Eats... It was empty when we arrived on a Friday at 11:30, but quickly filled to capacity with a few waiting for a table to sit down for lunch. I ordered the chicken pesto with pasta and my friend ordered the mushroom pasta. I quickly realized that my pasta was cold, but the bottom of the container was warm. After eating a few bites, I was not impressed, so I went to ask if they could somehow warm it up as my friends was steaming hot. The guy at the counter said he could not warm it up, but would make me a new one. I told him that It was ok... I'd just eat it as is cuz I didn't want to waste the food. Shortly thereafter, a lady came to our table and told me she was having a new one made for me and I could take the first one home. That was extremely nice and I enjoyed the hotter version much better. This is a cute, new pasta place in a fresh, nice, mini mall with plenty of parking. read more

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Came in on the recommendation of Yelp friend, Sherry C.(aka IG: aglassofsherry). I'm starting off my weekend of 'YES' with the cheese wheel pasta she highlighted. Hubs just likes the basic, a simple fettuccine Alfredo. Lucky us, that's where Pasta Viva STARTS! A simple house made - of imported Italian Chef's Flour - fettuccine, cooked in creamy Alfredo sauce then tossed in a cheese wheel and drizzled with Parmesan. $10! Hubs gave a satisfied 'Yummy!' when asked for his opinion. I stepped it up juuuust 1 notch and added a 4ct of meatballs for $5. They were good, dense, flavorful and meaty. All in all, a tasty bite. The pasta had a distinctly fresh taste. If you've made pasta from scratch, you know the taste. But this pasta was a bit lighter than I thought it would be and that's due to the imported flour. Yana, one of the owners, was moving around, checking on customers and stopped to ask how we liked the food and if it was our first time in. When we said it was, she was delighted to explain the concept and execution of the cheese wheel and fresh pasta. How they use clean ingredients and import them to replicate the delicious tasting dishes of their European home. Hubs also enjoyed the organic Kola Cola lite fountain drink. Guests have the option of ordering ahead, using the self-serve ordering kiosk, or placing their order w/staff. Justin helped us with our order and made sure our requests were noted accurately to the chef, then delivered our dishes when they were ready. The inside seating consists of a long, velvet covered banquette with small Disneyland Gibson Girl ice cream fountain, marble top, iron base tables in front and cute little upholstered stools. There's plenty of parking in the lot and all-in-all, should we find ourselves back in Irvine, craving scratch-made fettuccine and Alfredo sauce, tossed in a cheesy wheel, we will def head to Pasta Viva. Cheers! "CC" read more

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Came here cause my man was raving about the basil babe and we were in the area. Honestly I was a little surprised by how much the bowls of pasta were considering this is a fast casual joint. It was like $20 for a bowl of pasta! We ordered the basil babe and it came out fast! Like 5-7 minutes and it came with all the fixings. They leave all the parm and pepper available for you to take as you need and it's definitely a game changer to have the toppings. Their line of drinks are also really good! I was surprised with all the different beverage flavors. Personally the passion fruit was my favorite. All in all it was a great experience. Would def try more flavors. read more

Pasta Viva - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

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Pasta Viva has now opened in Irvine, CA with a giant cheese wheel! While the restaurant was cute and the vibes were nice... The food fell short, not very cheesy (despite being spun in a cheese wheel) and overall lacking in flavor. The small bowl, a drink and a small pack of cookies was $40!!! Which was pricey and even more of a cost since we did not enjoy the food. Unfortunately I would not return. ------ After reading the owner responses I am reducing my rating from 3 stars to 1 star. I do not like seeing businesses leaving rude comments to customers who have spent money & time and are offering real feedback. Not professional, nor kind. read more

This is the most amazing Italian food I have ever had. And the fact that it's fast food is absolutely incredible. The pasta is delicious and perfectly cooked! And the sauce and what they do in a cheese wheel it's just awesome! It taste so delicious so fresh so Italian. The service was great. It's a great little shop to Eden, but also has great takeout options...! read more

This place is definitely more of a casual food spot as seating is limited! Genuinely one of the most flavorful pastas I've had in a while-- definitely impressed! This spot is a bit pricey but worth for the high quality pasta. Although I wasn't the biggest fan of prosciutto + pasta, I still thought the entree was great! Their bread is extremely fluffy and airy as well. Entree size was big as well, this was enough for two meals for someone who doesn't eat as much. Great pasta spot! read more

Pasta Viva - The Dreamer (AlfredoProsciutto) Pasta - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

I love pasta & this place has brought my love for it in a deeper meaning. I love the concept of this place. The fact that they have a back window so you can see them make the pastas and then the area in front where you can see them prepping, as well as the cheese wheel - you gotta do what you gotta do to stand out right? The sandwiches were okay but the pastas were really good. The chicken fettuccine, the garlic one, they were delicious. Quite a few seats inside but there's also plenty of seats outside as well. read more

I was really excited to try Pasta Viva, but unfortunately, I left feeling disappointed. On the positive side, the customer service was excellent. The young man working was incredibly kind and took his time answering all of my questions when I called ahead about food allergies. I truly appreciated his patience and professionalism. However, the experience fell short when it came to allergy safety. It doesn't seem like they have a true allergy protocol in place, especially regarding cross-contamination with tree nuts. Although my concern was typed into the system, watching the food being prepared made it feel like it was treated like any other dish. Because of that, my son didn't feel comfortable eating the salad due to the risk. As for the pasta, it was very bland and lacked flavor, which was disappointing given the hype. We spent about $95 (including tip) for three pastas, a salad, and three drinks, and for that price, I expected much more in both taste and overall quality. The cheese wheel presentation may be a fun hook, but I think the restaurant would benefit from focusing more on flavor and food safety rather than the show. read more

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Stopped by Pasta Viva for an early lunch on what turned out to be the day of their grand opening celebration (I guess they've been in soft-opening stage?). The staff was very friendly and patient, taking time to explain the menu and offer recommendations, which was appreciated. The setup is fast-casual - think Chipotle but for Italian food. You order at the counter, watch them prepare the food in front of you, then grab it and find a table (or find a table first). The menu includes pastas, sandwiches, and a build-your-own pasta option, with the main draw being the parmesan cheese wheel that they use to finish the pastas. They also offer bowls, salads, and desserts, though we didn't try those. We ordered the Blizzard pasta with meatballs and the Parma focaccia sandwich. The house-made pasta itself was excellent, and I loved that it came with lots of whole garlic cloves, a big plus for garlic lovers. However, the dish was noticeably undersalted, and the meatballs were also lacking seasoning and flavor. The focaccia bread was delicious, but the sandwich was overwhelmed by the fig jam, making it far too sweet. I'd recommend asking for less or having it on the side if possible. Overall, we weren't especially impressed with the meal, but since they're just getting started, I'm willing to give them another try as they find their footing. The cheese wheel experience is definitely the main attraction - I just hope they dial in the seasoning, because the potential is there. I'd give 3.5 stars if half stars were possible read more

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Similar pricing to Zesty Olives in Laguna Niguel, Pasta Viva also does Parmesan wheel pasta for $10. This place is close to my office and I had seen a BOGO deal through the end of the year on IG so I dragged my husband down to try it. Turns out they are no longer honoring the BOGO deal due to demand but have not removed the posts advertising it. A shame really. We ordered their Diva bowl ($18) and the regular $10 bowl to try. It's a personal portion for what you get and probably the cheapest Parmesan wheel pasta you'll get in the area. I do not like the misfire on the BOGO deal because that's not how you attract customers. Also, my husband and I were still occupying our table and we were asked to move for other customers. We were almost done but not quite. There were other tables outside available and it was not raining this evening so I did not appreciate the request when other tables were clearly available. The pasta was okay for what we ordered. The regular pasta is pretty good. My husband mentioned he could make similar or better. The meatballs in the Diva bowl were overcooked and dry. The tomato sauce was really acidic without proper balance. I think they plopped it on the Parmesan pasta with lemon. I've certainly had better and while it might be conveniently located, I probably won't be back anytime soon. read more

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Saw this place on Tiktok and was soooo excited to come try, but unfortunately it was such a big let down. I do believe if the business makes some minor changes, they could do really well. Starting with the positives--ordering was easy, got the food quickly, and the ambiance was nice and bright. The figaro sweet focaccia was soft and delicious for a treat after dinner. The main pasta dishes were honestly just really bad. The pasta texture is so weird I've never had anything like it, but if I can compare it to something it'd be gum. The pasta was getting stuck on my teeth, and the sauce barely had any flavor. For $18, the bowl was small and the food was unappetizing. The meatball pasta was the worst dish--not only was it super watery, there's something off with the taste. Of the ones we ordered, the pesto tasted the best, but the texture of the pasta was still gummy. read more

Pasta Viva - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

Got a sandwich from here to try the place out. I ordered take out for a Parma Forccaia sandwich that was very very good. Bread was excellent and the chicken was cooked perfectly. I will be back to try to sit down item because the issue here is that I did not receive the text telling me my food was ready. I had to come back in to check and pick up my food. Just need to get that done better and stars can go up. read more

There are plenty of parking spaces. They have some seating available. You order first and then find a seat. I ordered via the kiosk and got The Dreamer (Alfredo & Prosciutto). I used their BOGO coupon and it was worth the BOGO, but not worth the full price. The portion was kind of small and taste was okay. The Alfredo was very creamy and the Prosciutto was good. It didn't taste anything special for its price point. But it was nice to try out this new place. Recommendation(s): - The Dreamer Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - Use their BOGO coupon (pastax2) (I'm unsure how long the BOGO will last) - Accept Apple Pay - Restroom available - Plenty of parking spaces read more

Pasta Viva - The Dreamer (Alfredo & Prosciutto) - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

I ordered the build-your-own Cheese Wheel Pasta bowl with sun-dried tomatoes and meatballs. The cheese wheel pasta was very creamy and flavorful, and the meatballs were good. The sun-dried tomatoes were a bit too salty for my taste, so I wouldn't order those again. The place was very packed when we arrived and there were no tables available inside. The menu has a nice variety of drinks. Overall, it felt a bit pricey,, my order came out to $18, but the portion was filling and more than enough for one person. The food itself was delicious. read more

Pasta Viva - Cheese Wheel Pasta bowl with sun-dried tomatoes and meatballs - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California