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    Pastificio

    4.5 (23 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Pasta Shops
    Closed Closed
    Updated a few days ago

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    Caponata
    Steve R.

    I couldn't wait to eat my food to post my experience. I was speaking to my client today and she raved about this little place, she told me its her meal every Christmas...I went from my meeting in Winnetka and headed straight to this little gem. I'm stuck here finding the words to describe my experience.... The warmest and kindest staff...old and young The food was packed to keep in the freezer and to grab for that day The selection was made for high end restaurant type meals. The meals were portioned to feed family style, individual and for 2 people...the value was beyond amazing. I bought several items...I felt so special by everyone....I was called by my name as though I'd been a long time friend. I was taken on a tour of the entire store and shown and explained to....each and every item and ingredient....from meats to vegetarian to gluten sensitive meals Salads, soup ,meatballs, pizza and garlic bread with amazing spreads is on the menu tonight in my home. I was told by the owner...this is certainly great food but best of all...its made with love. The passion and enthusiasm...care and welcome I got today will be filling my home and table today...I am so excited. It was truly a wonderful shopping experience and no doubt my family will enjoy it all. Tonight's Menu: Garlic Bread with Caponata and Bruschetta Gourmet Salad...a melody of fresh vegetables Minestra Di Fagoli Mushroom Fedelini Dinner Meatballs with Sauce Catalina Cheese Pizza The food quality is clean, fresh and well chosen Thank you all for my amazing meal

    Angela S.

    Hidden gem alert! So it seems, I've been exploring the Italian side of life in Highwood lately. I've always been so curious about Pastificio. I mean if Jay K and Valerie D love it, I knew they wouldn't let me down...and they didn't! Today I stopped in and had the most amazing experience. At first I received a complete tour of the store and learned about the freshness of their products. Knowing I wanted to leave with something for my kiddos for dinner, I figured I'd pick up an authentic cheese and sausage pizza from their freezer. I have a typical budget for dinner, and went to pay with my debit card, but I didn't meet the $15. However, since it was my first time, the owner, Pat, came out and let it slide. I also had the chance to chat with her for quite awhile and learned so much about her business and the Highwood community. She is celebrating 40 years in business. Wow! Not only did I leave with a delicious, authentic, frozen pizza, but they gave me two dried pasta nests in a bag with a ribbon as an extra special treat. Speaking of the dried pasta, the cases of homemade pasta are in plain view and so pretty to look at. You'll want to leave with all of it. I'm totally coming back for pasta on a future trip. Take note: Saturdays they have a nice hot bar with Italian delights. Pat mentioned the neighborhood regulars always come in for that. 5+ stars for the customer service. What a lovely establishment. I really hope you'll stop in when you find yourself in Highwood. The shop is a little off the beaten path, but it's so worth the visit.

    They have a small hot buffet on Saturdays only from 10:30 to 1:00. Take out.

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    6 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    7 months ago

    Best frozen and fresh pasta and sauce. The hype is real. Makes dinner so easy and something to look forward to.

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    3 years ago

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    Review Highlights - Pastificio

    old and young The food was packed to keep in the freezer and to grab for that day The selection was made for high end restaurant type meals.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

    The Cuisine American Bistro - Skirt steak

    The Cuisine American Bistro

    (25 reviews)

    The skirt steak, steak tartare, and mashed potatoes were absolutely perfect. Everything was…read moreflavorful, well-prepared, and honestly made me want to come back every week. Mako made a 10/10 experience and Miguel is an amazing chef and I can't wait to try what else he had on the menu

    We arrived right on time for our 6:30pm reservation on a Saturday night. We started with four…read morecocktails--a Ginger Manhattan, an Old Fashioned, and two martinis--all of which were well-prepared and nicely presented, especially considering the price point. For appetizers, we ordered the baked feta and the beef tartare. The baked feta was excellent. The tartare offered a creative twist on a classic; while it was slightly underseasoned for my taste, it was still enjoyable. The raw egg on top was an interesting addition. As we relaxed and enjoyed our drinks and starters, we saw several dishes coming out of the kitchen that looked fantastic, which built up our anticipation for the entrées. However, before ordering, our server informed us they were out of the lamb chops and duck--disappointing, as the lamb in particular looked great. My wife initially ordered the skirt steak, while the rest of us chose the Bistro Tampiqueña. Shortly after, our server--who was very polite and professional--returned to let us know they were also out of skirt steak, offering ribeye as a substitute, which we agreed to. My wife then switched her order to whitefish. A few minutes later, the situation took a turn: the server came back again and informed us that they were completely out of all meat. On a Saturday night, around 7:15pm. That's a tough pill to swallow at any restaurant. At that point, we settled for our third and fourth choices. Two of us ordered the shrimp risotto, which was a generous portion, creamy, and well-executed with a good amount of shrimp. I had the seafood pasta, which also came with a generous portion of seafood. However, the arrabbiata sauce was very mild--almost bland. I had to add crushed red pepper and parmesan to bring it to life. It would have been much better if it had delivered the bold flavor you expect from a true arrabbiata. We asked to speak with a manager about the situation. After about 20 minutes, Chef Miguel came out to address another table experiencing the same issue. He took full responsibility for the ordering mistake and apologized sincerely. He comped us a tiramisu and a round of cocktails, which we appreciated. That said, while the food we did have was good, the overall experience was overshadowed by the fact that so much of the menu was unavailable. It's hard to return to a restaurant when you can't rely on the menu being there--especially on a Saturday night.

    Francesco's Hole In the Wall - Seafood diavolo

    Francesco's Hole In the Wall

    (655 reviews)

    $$

    Get this! We had a 4:53pm arrival, and 1/3 of the dining room was full! By 5pm sharp, I heard the…read morehostess quote a 45-60 minute wait time. So do what you will with that! My family has dined here twice now and enjoyed both meals thoroughly. A full bar is stocked, and I've enjoyed a strong lemon drop martini here, as well as a glass of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. Dining area has about 18 tables, so it feels very intimate and cozy. The menu is posted on a large whiteboard and can change frequently. Favorites we've tried are the ravioli (filled with spinach, mushroom, whatever is offered) and chicken picatta. We don't leave with any leftovers. Entrees can range from $25-60 at moderate portion sizes, so it is a spendy meal but worth every penny. Warm bread and butter are served before dinner and the fried calamari is a crispy appetizer that hits the spot. To touch on post dinner... save room because that butter cake is one of our favorite desserts anywhere!! It is crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, served with gelato on top/side, whipped cream, and caramel and toasted pecans on our latest visit. Because there is no dessert menu (just what the waitstaff verbally tells you), here's what I can recall from it on our last visit last month: carrot cake, tiramisu, gelato, Oreo cake, banana chocolate chip cake, butter cake. Skip the Oreo cake. It tastes just like chocolate cake (a tasty one with a lovely crumb, just not reminiscent of Oreo at all) with a scoop of chocolate gelato on the side. Can't wait to return!

    I'll start with a confession: I don't even like Italian food. And yet, this little hole-in-the-wall…read morehas earned a spot in my top five restaurants of all time. That alone should tell you how special it is. The Food: No matter what you order, it's consistently excellent. The artichokes are addictive--I could eat them nonstop. The branzino is perfection, cooked to a level that makes you forget every other fish you've ever had. The Atmosphere: Small, cozy, and charming. They've done a remarkable job maximizing the space without losing that intimate feel. It's the kind of place that feels like a secret you're lucky to know about. The Downside: They don't take reservations, which means the wait can be frustrating. Timing your visit is a bit of a gamble, but honestly, the food makes it worth it. The Service: Exactly what you'd expect from a team that's been doing this for decades--steady, reliable, no frills. The real highlight is the owner, who personally greets every table to make sure you're enjoying yourself. That kind of hospitality is rare and unforgettable. Final Verdict: Even if Italian food isn't your thing, this place will win you over. It's authentic, welcoming, and downright delicious. A true neighborhood treasure.

    Alex's Washington Gardens - Lobster fradiavlo

    Alex's Washington Gardens

    (198 reviews)

    $$

    Pizza was good and on time…read more Sadly no confirmation of order or any answer to our calls. Told it's an old established restaurant with great food and that they don't answer the phone or return messages. Not for seniors or technology challenged who like the human touch. But we'll give her another try.

    Highwood is known for its old-school, often multi-generational ownership Italian restaurants (as…read morewell as its Mexican ones!). I hadn't been here in a while, but I was glad to check it out again. It is hard to get used to how loud it is at first, but it depends on where you sit. The louder people near us left early into our dinner reservation, so that was good. Our server was super nice and eager to ensure we had everything we needed! Things take a while here, and it's such a long-running restaurant that you'd think service needs would be "well oiled" more than they are. It took us 10-15 minutes just to get water, and for me to get a club soda, it took about another 15-20. (These are estimates - I didn't pull out a stopwatch! That would be weird.) I don't think it was our server's fault either; she was running around the place very intentionally. I was a bit worried that this restaurant was coasting on its reputation and would have staid, bland food, but no! The minestrone was some of the best I remember having, and my friend thought the same of hers. She liked her spaghetti marinara with meatballs, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed my spaghetti with what was basically vodka sauce. I didn't eat all of it, to say the least, because I was getting full, but I enjoyed what I had. It was very flavorful - recommended! (Just be prepared to wait a bit...don't go before a show.)

    Pastificio - italian - Updated May 2026

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