We love this place. It has to be one of the best simple pasta restaurants in all of London. We almost cancelled this reservation because we were so full from pasta lunch, but was able to push it back an hour bc we didn't want to miss out on their famous lobster for two meal as recommended by fellow runners. When the dish came out, we laughed at how much pasta there was. No way we could finish it, but to our shock, we ate it all up! It was so good that we enjoyed every last bit of it. Also our host & server Belle was so sweet to help move our reservation, encourage us for the marathon, and let us know that they offer a free pasta dish for all marathoners that present their medal after race day and helped us book a new reservation. When our new reservation came up, we thought about cancelling again bc, seriously, how much pasta can we eat this week, but we are so glad we didn't! The second time we tried 3 different pastas, and the best part was, Pastaio also offers half sizing which was perfect to try a variety of dishes. We got the ravioli, carbonara and bolognese. First bite of the ravioli lit us both up. Then the carbonara. Then the bolognese. Wow, trifecta. Everything was so good and the pasta was perfectly al dente. I couldn't believe I could still enjoy pasta this much after nonstop carb loading, but that's how good Pastaio is. Also the tiramisu is light and fluffy. Perfect treat at the end. read more

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We were lucky enough to snag an outdoor table on a beautiful night. Our waitress was nice. I had a credible Negroni so start. We only ordered a single course. The cacio e Pepe and paccheri with red shrimp were both very good. If you're in the mood for pasta, this is a good choice. read more

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Love this place. Was here during our last visit a couple of months ago. And actually, our first time was totally random and had a few hiccups. But, our second return this last visit was totally by choice and it was really everything we could have wanted. The food was delicious. The ambiance was delightful. The service was ... extremely British and perfectly uneven (but we knew to expect that). And the prices were very reasonable. Kinda loving this place now. read more

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This place did not disappoint! What a divine experience this was. The service/waiters were excellent and so kind. You're in for some real flavor and saltiness if you'll get what I got. I had the focaccia which was delicious, but I have heard the Sardinian crispy bread is pretty good too. I also had the creamy cacio e Pepe with pecorino spaghetti pasta as my main course with a glass of sweet sparkling moscato to go with it. It was the perfect combination with a glass of water to wash it down and cleanse the palette. My waiter gave me my dessert which was the tiramisu for free because I travelled on my very first solo trip to London. I would recommend this place. 10/10. read more

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Ask for Lucia. She was outstanding in her service! On a scale of 1-5 she is was a 10 in her customer service. My sons have food allergies and she handled their specific needs so well and made them feel so comfortable at the restaurant. She truly went above and beyond in caring for them. The food was the best. There is a reason their lobster dish is so popular. It's not hype it's worth the trip. While there we also tasted their chilli prawn dish! Wow just wow! Go here. You won't be disappointed. She made the night one to remembered for a lifetime for our family. read more

Food: Love the Sardinian Crispy Bread; quality pasta, but not much other food to go with the pasta despite the description (hence, 3 stars) Good Italian wine list, non-traditional Ambience : Causal, we walked in at 9:00pm and the place is bustling. It's a hip place, not the traditional full service restaurant. We were seated in a table with pull out chairs like a cafeteria. Service : As a hip place you would expect. Food came out very fast. They mean well, but definitely not the traditional quality dining service you would expect. read more

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Place and ambiance is good. The price is reasonable and service is just okay to me. The food is a bit blunt for me even have sauce. But the pasta is fresh. read more

the food was just alright, but our server was awesome. she was so sweet and gave us free tiramisu for our friend's birthday! the ambiance was very empty when we arrived (12:30pm on a tuesday), but filled up quickly. read more

Pastaio - tiramisu - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

Servings are on the small side, so I ordered the special (ricotta ravioli, tomatoes, olives) and the slow cooked tomato sauce on rigatoni. My entrees were served almost immediately, which was a pleasant surprise. However, the pasta was a little towards the uncooked side of al dente, and it was harder to focus on the sweet tomato flavors when you were busy chewing hard pasta. The ricotta in the ravioli was middle of the line average, no particular sweet taste, but it didn't crumble apart. Unlike the pasta, the cheeses did not seem as if they were made in house, which is a shame. Service took awhile, but the servers were friendly and accommodating, allowing me to move to a different seating area. The presentation was pleasant, but it took some time to flag down my waitress for a drinks menu. However, this was easily remedied by the strawberry Prosecco slushy, served with a compostable straw! The slush stayed consistent throughout the drink, while you were able to enjoy hints of Prosecco alongside strawberry. I finished off the meal with a creamy, indulgent tiramisu, which alternated between a smooth cream and a lingering cocoa and rum flavor. Definitely on the high side when it comes to pricing compared to quality, but it's a worthwhile stop. read more

Pastaio - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

When you need a break from shopping in the area, this is a nice pit stop. Between 3 of us, we shared the rigatoni and the spag and meatballs to share. I personally loved the rigatoni. Pasta was perfectly al dente and the sauce was simple and delish. The spag and meatballs were decent. I'm not a huge meatball fan but these meatballs were a great beef and pork combo leaving them to be soft and delicious. I wasn't as much a fan of the tomato sauce as I found a lack of depth. Felt like a can of tomato pasta and the spaghetti was a slight bit overdone. However, my fellow dinners both loved the spaghetti more. To each their own! I didn't love the bench seating style with seats with no backs. When you're tired and want to rest, you want to be able to lean back. All in all, I may visit if I'm ever on this side of the globe again but there's so much more to try! read more

Pastaio - Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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Food was nothing special. Service was good and quick overall. I did go at an off time though!

This place is amazing!!! Pure simplicity and great Italian cooking with delicious, high quality ingredients. We tried three pastas between two of us (portion sizes are moderate so that worked perfectly, perhaps they could be slightly more generous) as well as a tiramisu and a white peach Prosecco slushy cocktail. All absolutely delicious. Pastas included: 1) the silky, cheesy, black pepper-y Bucatini Cacio e Pepe, available upon request (not currently on the official menu!) 2) the spinach-y, vibrant, spicy and crunchy green spinach pasta with dried chilli and the crispiest breadcrumbs you ever did taste on the top! 3) the tagliatelle with mushrooms, garlic and olive oil, which was so moreish and indulgent. Which one would you pick? Spoiler Alert: you want them all. read more

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Loud, cramped at communal tables and a bit hectic . . . and super fun! This is a must eat place for anyone looking to experience the late night dining scene of central London. You'll share table space in a really loud open restaurant space with young, hip Londoners and enjoy a broad range of the best fresh made pasta in the city. The menu is tight - they've narrowed down their offerings - but well curated, with a nice mix of salads, pasta and antipastos. The wine list is surprisingly plentiful and offers a number of half bottle options and decent pours by the glass. Pastaio is a fun, energetic place to eat that has great food. read more

We had dinner yesterday at Pastaio. The ambiance is very fun and the service is great . The pasta was well cooked al denté and the flavors were awesome . The tiramisu was too sweet . The only negative point is that the portions are extremely small. We left the restaurant hungry even my kids were hungry too . They could increase their portions a bit especially that the pasta is not cheap read more

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Stopped here on a sunny day because they had outdoor seating. The menu boasted pasta and antipasti dishes. I went with the pasta because it's all made fresh. I had the colourful white and black spaghetti noodles with crab. There was unfortunately way too many chilli flakes covering the top and sides of the plate. More then just a garnish. This took away from the delicate crab flavour but overall I enjoyed the meal. There were many creative dishes and a fun drink menu so I am not opposed to coming back to try other things. Ambiance was great and service was good. Also the side salad I saw on the next table was large enough to share between two people at a good price. read more

This place is relatively new and definitely needs more reviews. Great location with a simple but tasty fresh pasta menu! Was craving fresh handmade pasta after the line at Padella was insanely long, and found this gem. Came for an early dinner and got a seat without a wait, enjoyed three pasta dishes (between two people) instead of ordering an appetizer or dessert. All three were fantastic but the best was the Boar Rabbit and Pork Agnoli. Definitely give this place a try if you're craving a warm fresh pasta! read more

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I came here as the place is tastefully decorated, and in a great location with some outdoor seating. The promise of good pasta was also a draw. However, the pasta is only just OK - and for the prices, it is not excusable, especially as its so competitive in London in the pasta space. I would recommend Obica, which is nearby, for better pasta (and value). read more

The restaurant has a beautiful interior and really friendly waitstaff who answer any questions one might have patiently and attentively. I had the cacio e pepe which was a creamy decadent sauce with a peppery kick. The pasta was unevenly cooked so parts were al-dente and parts needed a bit more time in the water which is the main reason for the 3 star review. I would be eager to go back and try it again given how appealing the concept of the restaurant is and the decent prices. One tip to the management thoguh would be to tone down the loud electronic music - it doesn't suit the otherwise marvelous vibes in the restaurant. read more

No frills pasta with quick service. Beautiful ambiance inside and very comfortable. Perfect on a cold night. The food was really good. We had the special gnocchi with sage and they melted in your mouth. The wild mushroom pasta was delicious as well. The Carbonara had an awesome flavor but the pasta was a little too al dente at a few parts. Dessert was delicious as well. The panettone bread pudding was so amazing! Also had the pear tart and it was quite good. Service was good. Our waitress was friendly and quick. read more

The pasta is so not worth it. We waited an hour for our table, another 30 minutes for our food. It's on the pricier end for basically no flavor. I got the white bolognese and the only reason it had a tiny tad of flavor was because of the few flakes of salt on top. The pancetta was not cooked AT ALL and was soggy and soft instead. Barely any sauce, no flavor and cost me about $18 USD. I paid that much for bad pasta that didn't even fill me up. I ate it all because I was starving and didn't want to wait for more food, but left the restaurant still hungry. Would definitely not recommend. Not worth it. Side note-none of the bathrooms had toilet paper. Worst pasta I've had. read more

Visited over the holidays. Stopped in after a day of sightseeing and were immediately seated. The food was delicious! Fresh flavorful pasta and great service. Had 4 different pastas all were wonderful. We loved everything we ate especially the bread pudding dessert. read more

Opening growing pains but this pasta place has potential to be a popular spot... In the wake of Borough Market's wildly popular pasta place Padella, a casual dining, focused on a small menu of good quality pasta, has opened the door for the demand. And now there is a like minded idea of dining in Soho. Located just off Carnaby St., Pastaio, a casual dining newcomer offers fresh made pasta dishes in relaxed, easy setting. Good food, no fuss. No reservations. Pastaio has a nice small menu, their starters are innovative and a bit different from the usual, and the pasta dishes are hearty and inviting. At the late lunch hour the place was busy but not too busy and I was invited right in. I ordered the peppers with anchovies which while good, there were a few tiny bones in the anchovies which made it awkward to eat. Next was the simple but difficult to make Cacio Pepe, which must be noted is enjoying a bit of a foodie rise at the moment. The pasta was very good if a bit mild for my taste but solid. I think next time I will try the pasta with the mushrooms which was my second choice. Overall I liked Pastaio, I think it really just needs to find its rhythm and work out the small kinks that every new place has. I do recommend checking it out as I will be doing again, read more

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Pastaio (Carnaby) Pasta has well and truly been democratised in this city, and I'm all the happier for it. If the queues at Padella are too long - which they usually are - this is a solid alternative, with a more extensive menu, larger portion sizes, and a - for me - more convenient location. Perhaps most importantly, and objectively speaking: it provides high quality pasta at a good price point. We skipped the starters and launched ourselves straight into the thick of it. The two highlights for me were the bucatini cacio e pepe and the agnoli with wild boar, rabbit and pork. You won't regret ordering either. The former was almost like a thick spaghetti, perfectly al dente, with a slight chew. The sauce was fantastic, creamy, rich, with a cheesy sharpness and a bold kick of black pepper. I was skeptical of the agnoli - too much meat packed into one little parcel, I thought. That wasn't the case at all - the meat was rich and perfectly balanced without being fleshy or overwhelming. It was lavished in a sage butter, leaving the dish creamy, with a herby note, but certainly not too rich. The agnoli itself was fantastic - again, a slight chew, thicker than a ravioli: a really fabulous texture. The tagliatelle with wild mushrooms, olive oil and garlic was good too, just not as impressive as the other two dishes. The pasta was once again well-made, the mushrooms tender - but the dish as a whole was certainly missing some potency, aside from a kick of lemon zest that dominated the flavours. Come for the pasta - the place itself is pretty buzzy, but more of an in-and-out. The pasta is fresh and well-made, and the sauces are lively. Will it replace Padella for me? Not quite, but then again - London has plenty of room for more high-quality pasta places. I'll certainly be back. RATINGS: Food: 4/5 Ambience: 3/5 Service: 4/5 Value: 4/5 Drinks: 4/5 OVERALL: 4/5 FIND ME ON INSTAGRAM: @ourappetites read more

Pastaio - Pastaio - @ourappetites (instagram). Check it out for more London-based food reviews. - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

Sure the fresh pasta is good and outdoor seating nice but it's ridiculously expensive for the amount they give you. I ate a full meal here, with appetizer and main with wine, but I had to go get a pizza somewhere else because I was still hungry, £50 later! Would not recommend. read more