What a great find in Clayton. Was in town visiting my daughter and was looking for a causal spot with good food. I stumbled across Pastaria and was immediately drawn to the place. I sat at the bar and was immediately greeted and given a menu. I ordered the Citrus Salad and Fried Risotto Balls. OMG the risotto balls are something that cannot be passed up. Simply amazing. The salad was so good, could have used a touch of acid but was superb. The service was top notch and will not only be coming back but recommending Pastaria to anyone that I like. The restaurant vibe is fantastic. Welcoming and hopping but not too loud that you couldn't hear yourself think. read more

Who doesn't like Pasta!!! So it was a girls night, i will say the restaurant is open and noisy. Not off putting type of noisy, but you are not having any romantic private conversations here. We are in Clayton so you know the ambiance is right, nothing to complain about there. My waiter was attentive, almost to attentive, until it came to the check then I couldn't find him lol. Not complaining though because way to often you have to be ultra patient. WE had a large chopped salad which was delicious. I had Pomodoro pasta which was good. BUT THE STAR OF THE SHOW WAS THE BRUSSEL SPROUTS. we ate two orders and I ordered one to go. Now i am not a pasta snob but I do enjoy the hill, and my favorite Italian restaurant is EAtely in Chicago. Now this, aint that. But i would definitely come back and try other things on the menu. ITs affordable enough that i can bring my whole family, its nice enough that this could be classified as a special night out. If you have teenagers or young adults that are currently dating within a budget, your date will feel special if you bring her here. read more

All of Pastaria's gelatos are delightful, but it outshines the main dishes both times I've been. The entrees can range from okay to good to great. It's a nice place with good vibes, but not a life-changing meal. They do offer gluten-free pasta substitutions for the majority of their dishes, which is great. read more

Pastaria has some of the very best pizza in STL! We've been going there for years and it never disappoints. You get complimentary bread for the table that is so good and pairs very well with the chili oil and parm. We got the chopped salad, bolognese pasta and Roman pizza. All were perfect! read more

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Not my first time here, and it definitely won't be my last! I split the Endive and Arugula Salad and the Pistachio Ravioli and it was very tasty. Also finished the meal with the peanut butter dark chocolate pretzel gelato, and it was so tasty. Our waiter was great. We had two kids with us, and the wait staff were all so friendly and great with them read more

Pastaria - Shared pistachio ravioli - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

Excellent meal and experience with 3 co-workers. Difficult to choose- so many amazing menu items. Our sever was friendly and attentive- made good menu recommendations. We were too full for dessert. We tasted all of each other's entrees- I still think mine (pistachio ravioli) was the best. Also enjoyed the citrus salad. Open floor plan but not too loud to easily talk/hear each other. Everyone enjoyed all of the food. read more

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We stopped at Pastaria for a quick dinner on Thanksgiving Eve. We didn't have a reservation and were offered bar seating, which wasn't ideal with a toddler, but we were hungry and decided to make it work. Unfortunately, I'm taking one star off for the unwelcoming demeanor of the bartender who served us. On a positive note, the food was excellent. We ordered the Little Gem Chopped Salad and the Tagliatelle Bolognese to share, along with Butter Noodles for our son. Everything was outstanding--fresh, flavorful, and clearly well prepared. Despite the service hiccup, the food alone makes this place worth returning to, and I'm looking forward to coming back the next time we're in town. read more

Pastaria - Little Gem Chopped Salad - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

As good as ever! Even though it's been a couple years since I was here the last, the food, service, and quality are still as good, if not better than ever! I came here on Sunday, and surprisingly was the first one to walk through the doors. I chose to sit at the bar (bc what else is new?) I was immediately given water and menus to peruse. I noticed a couple things were different since last time: they have a happy hour menu that includes the weekends and they have breadsticks! There were a few new items on the menu too, but the breadsticks are what caught my eye. I already knew I wanted the pistachio ravioli but debated on whether I could eat the breadsticks. Mind you, you get a decent size piece of bread that comes complimentary. Ultimately, I decided to stick with the complimentary bread and got the smaller size glass of the Scarpetta Brut Rose (sparking). First of all, the complimentary bread is chefs kiss. Soft, fluffy but crispy edges were all I needed. That and some fresh olive oil and balsamic to dip. I was hungry, so needless to say I woofed that down instantly. They let me get another piece before my ravioli came out and thankfully that held me over. The wine had the perfect amount of fizz and sweetness and was equally refreshing. If you're looking for a dish that's light but still filling, go with the pistachio ravioii. Even though it's pasta, I didn't feel bad eating it! This place never disappoints and I have yet to come here and not leave feeling full and with a smile on my face. read more

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Attentive service in a lively atmosphere! We started with the shaved kale salad which had a lovely anchovy dressing over tender, thinly sliced kale. I had the Allen pizza - mozzarella, oregano, mushroom and prosciutto. The wood fired crust had a nice char and a great chewy texture. My dining partner had the semolina pasta - a shrimp fettuccini that had a light buttery sauce. If you aren't a garlic lover, this dish is not for you. Overall, everything we ordered was fresh, nicely plated and high quality. read more

Pastaria - The Allen - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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Came here because a friend told us it was their favorite pasta spot and tried it out while we were visiting from out of town. I probably wouldn't come here for a date because the ambiance is a little louder and family-oriented, but the food was incredible. We ordered the neck clam spaghettini, risotto balls, the garganelli, kale salad, and a margherita pizza. I would pass on the risotto balls but everything else was amazing. Better than any pasta spot I've tried in SF. I'm genuinely sad this restaurant isn't in SF. Service was also fantastic. Server was very attentive, and answered all our questions. read more

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Last week a friend and I decided to get together for happy hour, decided to go to Pastaria and it just rolled into dinner! Love that they have some happy hour specials and we enjoyed them thoroughly. Had we wanted to eat our fill with that menu we certainly could but we really enjoyed that we could have. I recommend going early and snagging a table (though I also love the bartenders). We were seated in the wine/deli space which I love dearly. No trip to Pastaria is complete without the risotto balls and I love that they are on the happy hour menu! There are also a few drinks, I happily chose sangria and didn't look back! So good. We also got the margarita pizza which has never disappointed at Pastaria. We were having so much fun and hanging out so long we eventually ordered the garganelli to split and it was the perfect close. I have come to Pastaria dozens of times over the years, doing dear friend meetups like this one, hosting out of town family or friends and holding business dinners of various sizes from a small table to a private room. The service is always topnotch, attentive but not overt, anticipating needs, etc. There is street parking and a garage - the restaurant happily validates. read more

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A lot to love here, for sure. James Beard awards don't just fall off the truck, so you know they must have something special. While I enjoyed it, I wasn't blown away. Perhaps I was expecting more from the service and flavors? The bread is worth the trip, and they tease you with just one piece (thank goodness, as you'd ruin your dinner otherwise). The risotto balls are good, not amazing, but well crafted. We both scooped up the last bits of the pappardelle and the pistachio ravioli. They added chicken to the latter which changed the dish, I believe, but I still wolfed it down. A little more attention from water refills to correct ordering would be appreciated, but it was a busy Wednesday night and the place was bustling. read more

I'm obsessed with Pastaria and everyone needs to know it. Carbs are a love language and this spot is full of them. One of my friends wanted to get together when she was in town for a girls dinner, and I loved that it was so easy to make a reservation for a large group. We had to wait a bit to get seated, but for a Friday night it wasn't wildly long. We had no issue with it! Our server was wonderful and treated us so well. We all had cocktails/ wine. They came out timely and she was very attentive. We started with apps, and we ordered the crispy risotto balls. Wowwww these were insane. The crunch, mozzarella, sauce- so great. I got a chopped salad because I'm obsessed with their salads and it was wonderful. So fresh, and I love their red wine vinaigrette. I ended up getting the cacio e Pepe and it was as amazing as I remember it the last time. The most simple things are always the best. Till next time, Pastaria! Can't wait :) read more

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Pastaria is an awesome Italian restaurant located in Clayton and run through Gerard Craft and his group of restaurants. The overall environment is elevated but cozy and there is the Pastaria Deli and Wine shop located next door. I ordered a vodka cocktail, the Toasted Semolina Linguine, and the Arugula & Endive salad. The cocktail was light and not too sweet and both dishes of food were amazing!!! The salad was light but balanced with the goat cheese and dried cherries. The pasta was so flavorful and the shrimp was cooked to perfection. I can't wait to take friends here when they come into town! read more

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Pastaria in Clayton is a dog-friendly gem. We brought our pup and snagged a comfortable patio table; the team greeted us with smiles and kept everything moving smoothly. Our server was fantastic--knowledgeable, friendly, and speedy (drinks and starters landed in minutes). Food hit every note: crisp, creamy arancini with zesty dips; a wood-fired pizza with that perfect soft-but-blistered crust and luscious fresh cheese; and a beautifully layered pasta that was rich yet balanced. Great energy outside, thoughtful pacing, and fair portions/prices. If you want a relaxed patio meal with standout service, this is it. read more

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This was my spouse's and my first time at Pastaria. I can already hear you thinking... How have you not been to Pastaria? I have only myself to blame. The space felt really nice and open, yet still casual with a classy touch. I loved that we could see the kitchen from the seating area; that always adds to the experience. We went on a Wednesday night for an early dinner, so the restaurant was mostly empty. I requested to sit at the bar where the chefs were preparing food (the chef's table, always my favorite seat). We started with the Crispy Risotto Balls, which were perfectly fried with a super gooey, cheesy center. I couldn't stop eating them. Since we were at Pastaria, I had to order a pasta dish. I chose the Garganelli, which was absolutely delicious. The olives in the dish added a nice tangy contrast. My spouse had an oyster mushroom special, which I think I may have liked even more than my own dish. I'm a sucker for mushrooms. We were already full from the meal, and I knew I shouldn't, but I asked to see the dessert menu anyway. Of course, they had tiramisu, how could I say no? We ordered Mama Rodolico's Tiramisu, and it ended up being my favorite part of the meal. Even though we were stuffed, we took our time savoring every bite. We had a great experience at Pastaria. The staff was wonderful, and the food was excellent. It also seemed very kid-friendly, I noticed another table with a child using a coloring sheet and a kids' menu. We'll be back! read more

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Great food and service fun atmosphere. Tagliatelle Bolognese and Tuscan Peposo. Great options. read more

Pastaria - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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Dinner with family. Pasta was fresh. Drinks were perfect. Service attentive, and accommodating... we showed up early, they were able to seat us. The vibe was nice casual. Which was perfect because we had a younger kid. read more

Got take out. Ordered at the bar. Salad was good. Not for $21. It's insane. Pasta is wild. Asked for chili on the side. Literally just got oil and pasta for $23 I feel like I got ripped off. Not worth going back to fix it. read more

Pastaria - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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The open kitchen staff are the best ever! They work so diligently, are so busy, and yet are so friendly and work so great together as a team! They are phenomenal and a large part of why I return. The spaghetti is delicious, my fave. Ambiance and wait staff are both pleasant. Cocktails could use a little help...but over all a lovely experience. read more

I wanted it to be great. I really did. It wasn't BAD, but it was mediocre Italian food. I expected better from a Niche food group creation, considering how much I I loved Brasserie and have heard about Bowood. The interior is cute, but the tables are packed together pretty tightly. I will say, though, that upon being asked for recommendations, our waiter was so so knowledgeable about the food. He gave us in depth explanations of the flavor profiles and stomach-feels of each dish, which I really appreciated. The bread they give to start is SO good. It's warm, soft, and rich. We even asked for a second round. My friend and I ended up splitting the Salume Nduja Pizza and the Toasted Semolina Linguine (as per our servers suggestion). Here were our thoughts: Salume Nduja Pizza: 6/10 - The bites of nduja sausage were really flavorful and great, but the rest was underwhelming. It tasted too much of a raw tomato sauce flavor, and there wasn't enough cheese. I was excited about the honey but I couldn't taste it much, and the bits I could taste didn't make a great pairing. Also, I like a thin rust, but this was just a bit too thin for my liking. Toasted Semolina Linguine: 6.5/10 - I liked the idea of it, especially because I've never experienced black pasta that wasn't made with squid ink. The shrimp was good as well as the sauce. It was a bit greasier than I would have liked, but it had a nice spice to it. Somehow, I wish the pasta was slightly thicker. It felt like it wasn't the right consistency to pair with the rest of the dish. read more

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This is my go-to pasta place in STL. Never disappoints...wonderful service and the food is so good! I always get the Garganelli and crispy risotto balls. The kids menu is perfect topped off with gelato options for dessert. My kids love the giant meatballs. James Beard Award-winning chef, feels like you are at his house with their open kitchen and pictures on the back wall. Highly recommend! read more

Love pastaria! For me, it's that restaurant that I'm always up to go to! Love the arancini, all the salads, pizzas and garganelli pasta (but no olives for me). Gelatos are good too! I've had a private dinner in the upstairs space and they did a nice job! Also, their take out game is strong! They are one of the only restaurants that really do it well! They package things very nicely so the items hold up in transit! read more

I've been going here for years. It is simply a great family restaurant with superior food for adults and great pizza for the kids. Pasta is great. Salads are great. Pizza so good I finish my daughter's leftovers. Even the bread they serve before dinner is wonderful. Professional and experienced waitstaff know what they're doing. Park in garage (entrance to right of restaurant) for easiest parking and have ticket validated. read more

Big space inside but will recommend making reservation on weekend. I did pick up while visiting the town. I ordered pistachio ravioli. For the price quantity was way less. Lack seasoning. Al Dante ravioli which i never had it in any other italian dining so far. read more

Pastaria - Inside - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

I love Pastaria! A little bit expensive but the food was really really good! I had the bolognese, the non spicy version, and the noodles and pasta were well mixed and the pizza that my friend got was superb! It came out fresh from the pizza oven and it was perfectly crispy! read more

If you are looking for a great Italian place in Clayton or near downtown, think no more. If it is Sunday and want to eat good Italian, no more thinking. Further, if looking for good prices & still a great place to take family & friends, flexible with timings - 4-5:30pm - time to take a pause !! Pastaria will offer all the above. Beautiful location, setting, ambience, food. Great quality food, with truly awesome service. Daily happy hour 4-5:30pm offers very decent selection to enjoy a great place with big crowd or frequent visits. Parking deck is right next to it and restaurant will validate it so it's free and convenient. They offer a bread with extra virgin olive oil & chili oil which is fresh, yummy, hot, soft & super ! Margherita pizza was really good ! And even leftovers next day were amazing ! read more

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So it took me nine years to come back to Pastaria - there are a LOT of good restaurants in St. Louis to try. And this time was completely different. Bread served was large, warm, soft, tasty. Marinated olives appetizer was huge - must have been 50 olives. And very good - such buttery olives. Risotto balls appetizer also was a great deal, with six medium size balls, and two types of sauce to dip - and very good too. The wife enjoyed her margherita pizza quite a bit, and my strozzapreti al pork was delicious, and another huge serving. It was loaded with shredded pork and the pasta was just al dente enough to give a nice chew. The pork/sauce was extremely tender and loaded with flavor. It seemed to include fennel and a nice lemon/citrus to cut the heaviness of all the pork. Perhaps I misremember, but the appetizer and pasta sizes seemed much larger than all those years ago. Basically we enjoyed every aspect of our meal, especially the flavors. This visit, the food came out at the proper pace. Perhaps that was because we were early and it didn't get crowded until after we arrived, but whatever. And our server did a nice job of checking on us and taking care of us. read more

Walking into this space it's very spacious. Plenty of tables to sit at and I think they have an upstairs area for bigger parties. The drinks were amazing! I got a mocktail and it was good. My friends said the espresso martini was great. The food was all good except for the Huevos Rancheros. It was basically beans on top of bread and an egg with sauce. I personally didn't care from it especially with all the beans. But I did love the French toast with the whipped ricotta. The risotto balls were amazing as well. read more

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Generous portions and delicious food, perfect for sharing. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it a great place to relax and enjoy a meal with friends or family. So good to be back here again, highly recommend for a laid-back dining experience! read more

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This is probably my favorite nicer-but-kid-friendly restaurant option in STL. For when you want something delicious and kind of upscale but also need the kids to be welcomed & more than accommodated. It's not where I typically go for date nights or friends nights out because there's better/more adventurous options. That being said...service is great, the kids LOVE sitting at bar where they make the pizzas, there's a window where the kids can watch the pasta being made towards the front, they provide crayons, and the kids menu is A+ and also half price when you get there early enough with an adult meal. It's my 6 year old's favorite restaurant. I'd say I've explored the menu enough to know that I have some favorites, and some things I find to be meh. We all love the risotto balls (included on HH menu). The pistachio ravioli is my favorite menu item. The toasted semolina linguine is not my favorite even though I like everything in it...it's just meh to me. This is almost a note to myself to remember to stop ordering it, ha. read more

Pastaria is a fantastic family-friendly casual spot for lunch or dinner. When I worked in Clayton, I stopped in for several lunches--service was quick, and the food was always DELICIOUS. The pomodoro pasta is my favorite for lunch. Most recently, I went for a friend's birthday dinner and tried the pistachio ravioli for the first time--highly recommend! The risotto balls are my favorite appetizer, and the complimentary fresh bread is a total winner too! read more

Came here on a whim, but there was no wait time to be seated. The vibes were pretty nice, and the ambience was cozy. We ordered 4 different dishes, and they were all good in their own way. Crispy risotto balls: Crispy, salty with a tangy herb aoili. Some people preferred the marinara, but I think the aoili was a little bit better. Nothing that wowed me here, but it was decent. Toasted semolina linguine: This was probably my personal favorite dish that we got, but I just love the salty, briny taste of seafood, especially shrimp. The noodles had a good, satisfying chew. The seafood was so juicy and well-seasoned and paired very well with the rich linguine. Pappardelle: On paper, this one sounds the best, but I think it was probably my 3rd favorite pasta dish that we got. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious, but I don't think it could ever fully hit the gear it was intended to. It was salty, rich, slightly smoky with a decent balance. I didn't really taste the apple, but I think a little bit more would've slightly benefit the dish. The pasta was satisfying and chewy. Canestri Cacio e Pepe: This was pretty good. Simple, straightforward, executed well. Something about the creaminess of the sauce and the saltiness of the cheese that was so well balanced, cut through by the pepperiness. Reminds me of a classy, elevated mac and cheese. Overall, it was a lot of food. There were 3 people, and I think we could've gotten by with 1 appetizer and 2 dishes. Overall, a good experience with good food. 4/5 stars. read more

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This place used to be a great go to place for Italian in the Clayton area. There has been some changes recently, a remodeling and along with that both my dinner partner and myself- long time patrons, have noticed the quality of the food has slipped for sure. It's possible that the Niche Food Empire is just getting a little too big. The prices have also gone up, a lot it seems $$ more than the usual STL dinning experience. In a recent visit, the pizza was sub par on a number of levels and the salad was painfully over dressed. Service is still good however. For people checking out YELP reviews, you'll notice reviews from 4 or 5 years ago excellent, lately, 2024, not so much, so be warned. read more

Alas I came back...but only because a friend was celebrating her birthday and they selected Pastaria for our group of 9 people. We were seating in a back area room which I really liked. It was less noisy and allowed us to talk more. Our waitress was Carolyn, she was friendly and accommodating. Since I didn't really like too many things on the menu I decided to share a Margueritta pizza with my friend and I also ordered the Burrata. The pizza was solid the Burrata was just a Burrata ball with cold pitta triangles and some mixed greens. Nothing special Now my friend ordered the Kale Salad with an anchovy dressing (which I would have never ordered) and it was actually really tasty and filling. Overall my opinion hasn't changed much about Pastatia even though I had a slightly better experience this time. read more

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Ordered spaghettini primavera ($29.95, "ramps, green beans, chestnut mushrooms, two year parmesan, lemon, cultured butter"). Received unmixed dry pasta, green beans, and mushrooms. No ramps, no seasoning whatsoever, no parmesan, no hint of lemon, barely even butter. Edible once I added all of the above myself. I used to love Pastaria. Sad to see the decline in quality. read more

Pastaria - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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The pasta is made fresh in-house and really shows in the quality. They start you off with complimentary bread served alongside a chili oil, which is a nice touch. The atmosphere is lively and often crowded, yet it still manages to feel polished and semi-upscale. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the desserts were just as impressive as the main dishes. read more

Many visits with family of eight... nice servers. Noice as this was a former warehouse?

One of my favorite restaurants! Stopped in for brunch a few Sundays back and had a great time. I got the carbonara - the perfect breakfast pasta. What's so great about Pastaria is that they cook their pasta to a true al dente, leaving some texture. No mushy pasta here! It can get a little loud when it's busy since the seating area is a big open room with high ceilings but the service is always great no matter how busy they are. read more

Pastaria - Carbonara brunch - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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I love Pastaria! We came in to celebrate a birthday. Made a reservation in advance so wait time was pretty short. Our waitress brought us bread to start, and was very attentive throughout. We got super delicious cocktails, and split the Bucatini All' Amatriciana pasta and the Roman pizza. Both were so delicious and quite filling. Everything came so fast too, we were in and out in less than an hour. The low lighting and intimate space make it perfect for a romantic dinner for two. It was a great fancy birthday celebration. Be prepared to drop a pretty penny, but the food and drinks are worth the price tag! read more

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