If you are ever in Strawberry Creek Park, you have to stop by here. Long-standing institution with amazing seasonal pastas. Olive bread is outstanding as are the desserts! read more

Found this incredible lil business at the Oakland Grand Lake farmer's market and it made the BART+bus trip worth it. They have a large assortment of handmade pastas, home-baked treats, and beautiful breads. My friend and I split the pecan chewie and wish we bought 10 more. Find a farmers market or business that has Phoenix Pastificio: they know what they're doing. read more

The Phoenix Pastificio - my friend & the glorious PECAN CHEWIE - Pasta Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

This year, I am making it a conscious point to be more of an Ethical Omnivore, which includes eating: * Local * Sustainable * Cruelty-free * Food from people, not corporations. I love going to the Grand Lake Farmers Market every week and buying goodies from The Phoenix Pastifico - more specifically, from KEITH. He's kind, remembers his customers, and is a happy, familiar face I look forward to seeing when making my rounds. A few weeks ago, I bought some fresh-made sweet pea tagliatelle, an olive loaf, some basil pesto and a cookie from Keith. I bagged my purchases, and went on my merry way. The following week, I stopped by to re-supply, and was greeted with, "Hi! I'm pretty sure you forgot your pasta last week." What? I laughed but was completely embarrassed. And grateful. He gave me another package of pasta along with a sincere, sunny smile. I honestly hadn't noticed that I was short that pasta. Keith's integrity gave me warm fuzzies and so of course, I'm forever loyal; it's little things like that that make a big impression upon me. I'm simple and uncomplicated like that. Childrens, back in 2003 there was a Big Ol' strike by the Grocery Clerk's Union. At the time, when I bought Big Ol' groceries, I went to the same store and frequently saw the same checkers, who greeted me politely, but with indifference. I spent thousands and thousands of dollars there every month (I was shopping for a household of 4: my nanny and her son + Cadet & yours truly). During the strike, these same people blew whistles in my mini-Cadet's ear, and blasted us with air horns as we crossed the picket lines to pick up fundraiser supplies for one of mini-Cadet's school events. I went back, just once after the strike ended and was unsettled by now nonchalant everyone seemed. Business as usual. I did not return after that, and have made it a point to shop smaller and Know My Food and Farmers. I consider The Phoenix Pastifico a friend of my family. Their goods feed the Cadet on a regular basis, and nothing nourishes my soul more than when he blisses out on a snack of fresh bread, studded with savory olives or enjoys his meal of pasta + meats and veggies from the Market. I have been delighted by the slightly chewy (not brittle) biscotti that are bursting with flavor and baked with pastured eggs. The gluten-free macaron are big enough to share (but you won't want to!) over coffee and just the perfect feel-good treat. These are the things I *always* have on hand from TPP for an easy/impromptu meal or social get-together: * Olive Loaf - fragrant, savory and absolutely ethereal * Assorted Pesto: Basil, Arugula, Tomato - they double as great dips, add-ins and toppers for all kinds of apps and crudite! * Lemon or Sweet Pea Pasta - easily serves 4 as a main and 6+ for a pasta course - I add sauteed greens, Prather Ranch sausage, or Boccalone Pork Ragu and seasonal vegetables for a quick and easy Farmers Market Meal. * Macaron - gluten-free and super-tasty * Biscotti - huge! Easy to share and the perfect coffee dessert or snack I am also a fan of the fresh cookies and lovely assortment of seasonal ravioli that highlight what's tasty and fresh every week! Find them at your local Farmers Market, or stop by their brick and mortar location for an expanded menu of deliciousness. Yum! read more

A couple years ago, I stopped eating pasta. I was on a diet and pasta simply wasn't worth the carbs when I liked bread so much more. I should have known then that I had never had good pasta in my life. They boy was in town two weeks ago and we decided to have something special. Not fancy, mind you, but homemade and special. I had read great things on yelp about Phoenix and since it was only 4 blocks away from my house, I decided to check it out. It's located in a strange building behind Cafe Zest. There is no storefront really (or there wasn't that day because Cafe Zest was closed for a private party). We called Phoenix and the owner let us through the back door to sell us the pasta. We ended up with a porcini mushroom pasta and the kalamata olive bread. He even gave a small container of porcini mushroom infused olive oil for free and gave fantastic recommendations about sauce accompaniments. He told us cooking times and recommended a spaghetti or bucatini over an egg based pasta because the flavor would be brighter. Right there, they get an A+ for service. The following night, we had heirloom tomatoes with basil and sea salt to start, following by our perfectly cooked porcini mushroom spaghetti with a homemade pancetta, garlic and oyster mushroom cream sauce. The spaghetti was toothsome and the umami of the mushrooms came through like small explosions. Even the olive bread (which I normally do not like) had a perfect crust and was lightly studded with olives, leaving only a slight briny flavor. It paired absolutely perfectly with the mushroom olive oil. The pastas are all around $7 per pound. The porcini is $8 and though it's a bit steep for pasta, you will not find better fresh pasta. Next time, I'm trying the squid ink pasta. read more

The olive bread is crippling. The fresh pasta is addictive and dangerously delicious. The pastries and suaces are to die for. Ask for a sample - they're the friendliest people around... Watch out - this pastificio will kick your taste buds into the next centruy... and there's NO LOOKING BACK. read more

This review is for the Kalamata Olive bread: I love you Kalamata Olive bread Oh yes I do I love you Kalamata Olive bread your are so good When you're not in belly I want you in my belly Oh Kalamata Olive bread I love you. This is not bread with olives in it, it is olives with bread around them. I like to buy this bread at the Berkeley Farmer's Markets (either the one near BHS or the one on Derby) along with some goat cheese and some ripe fruit and devour it immediately. Sometimes, the bread doesn't make it to the car on one piece because my sweet husband loves it so much that he starts ripping pieces off and shoving them in his cute little face before we even pay for it. He's adorable. Their cookies are good too, and I can't wait to try their pastas. read more

Phoenix Pastificio is also at Jack London Square Farmers Market!! If you love love love Macaroons YOU MUST TRY THESE!! Enjoy! read more

The Phoenix Pastificio - Macaroons ; ) - Pasta Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

I planned a picnic at Strawberry Creek Park with a friend on Saturday, expecting the usual Trader Joe's standard sandwich food stuffs. Out of his bag pops a loaf of Rustic Olive Bread from The Phoenix Pastificio. Mind you, the loaf was still warm when he took it out to start making sandwiches. The loaf was apparently fresh out of the oven, because we had decided to picnic right outside of their store in the park! The store looked like it was being renovated, and my friend just popped his head in the kitchen and asked if they were selling. No hassling from the baker at all - truly real people making this stuff. As for the bread, I thought I loved olive bread (I've only had ones from Trader Joe's and Safeway), but I did not actually know what olive bread was until I had a piece from The Phoenix Pastificio. It was soft and dense but not so much that it chokes you as you try to eat it. It had that perfect texture along with a rich taste of olive. Unlike the other olive breads I've had, this loaf had juicy, whole olives with a tinge of salt that truly made it spectacular. I have always had bad experiences with whole olives, but I think my opinion has been changed. I ended up taking the rest of the loaf home and eating it as it was. No shame there. I have not tried anything else yet, but I will definitely be back for their pastas and other baked goods based on other reviews and what they have listed on their site. I'm just glad to have found this little gem so close to where I live! On a side note, the front of their store is the perfect place to sunbathe and to picnic on a warm, sunny day. You not only get to view their beautiful shop and the trees surrounding the green, you get to smell the wonderful food cooking too! Just be sure to bring an appetite. read more

It seems my sandwich-making capabilities are falling under direct scrutiny from the discerning eye of an individual I know only as "Warren". Apparently said individual is a fourth grade boy at my sons' school who feels it is his duty and responsibility to offer critiques on others' lunches. Lucky me!! It seems my sandwiches have been deemed worthy and I have been duly instructed to "pack an extra sandwich for Warren, please, Mommy"...Hmmm...well, I suppose I can take this as a high compliment, and with that said, I must give credit where credit is due: The olive bread from The Phoenix Pastificio is simply the A-#1 bread going and I have been guilty of eating more than my fair share. I buy it at the Tuesday and Saturday Farmers' Markets as well as occasionally on Sundays at Temescal FM. This is addicting stuff. If churches offered this for communion rather than those silly wafers, well...things might work a bit more smoothly in the world of strife-filled religious orders. But, I digress... The baguettes are loaded with Kalamata olives, sea salt, WW flour that's organic and I think they even sneak in some bran...They cost $4.25 each and are so overwhelmingly delicious that I could easily put myself into carbo-load with no remorse. Today the sandwich in question consisted of this wedge of baguette, a little olive oil drizzled on it and a smidgen of maple-glazed turkey. Simple, straight-forward, and, apparently a hit with the playground set. Now, if only Warren could get them to eat all their carrot sticks... The pastas, sauces, and other baked goods are equally as tempting.It's a habit...I have no intention of ending... read more

I am delighted that I can trade lemons from my Meyer Lemon tree for their lovely products. If you have a Meyer Lemon tree and extra lemons, get in touch with them and ask them if they need the lemons, and when they do they will trade you lemons for lovely olive bread, macroons, and many other items. Nice to know my Berkeley grown lemons go to this good home. By the way, they are open now during the pandemic. Folks there are very friendly and helpful. read more

I haven't eaten in the attached restaurant but I love the pasta shop. Many wonderful flavors of fresh past in almost any shape you like. Definitely a step up from the prepackaged stuff in the grocery store (even the better, speciality brands). It tastes like you made it from scratch in your own kitchen. Phoenix lets you make wonderful past meals without the hassle of making the pasta first - and it is not even expensive. Also, they sell delectable Italian desserts that you won't be able to resist even if you tell yourself you are just running in for a pound of lasagne noodles. read more

Phoenix Pastaficio really is as good as it gets. I started out by buying their whole wheat spaghetti at Bi-Rite in San Francisco. I expected it to be good but boring. I was wrong. It wasn't just good, it was spectacular! It's so fresh it cooks up in about a minute and the texture is chewy al dente and perfect! Even the freaking whole wheat stuff! I then discovered they sell their products out of a nondescript door on the edge of a little park in Berkeley. OMG---here they sell a much more expansive pasta menu (dozens of fresh pastas) and the cookies! Good lord the cookies alone are going to kill me. They sell these chocolate pecan chewy cookies which I believe are flourless and these are pretty much my favorite cookies. And it's not like I'm some gluten-free eater. I eat everything! Their almond macaroons are also fantastic and beautiful. I've gone there before and the guy assisting me will tell me he's made some interesting new cookie flavor and I always buy one of those too. Today I bought mushroom stuffed ravioli. I also want to try their crab or lobster stuffed ravioli. Basically I've LOVED everything I've purchased from this place. And I haven't even tried some of their most popular products that people rave about (olive bread and pizzas). Phoenix Pastaficio are a Bay Area treasure and I often wonder why they aren't even more popular and acclaimed as other Bay Area food treasures. They should be as renown as Tartine. I guess, because they are mainly a purveyor of ingredients (pasta) rather than prepared foods, but I feel like they have the potential to really be explosively popular. They are the best at what they do. Their products are made with care and it shows. read more

Warning: While the products from here are delicious, if you have a peanut allergy please be aware that the products are not labelled and peanuts are used in the making of some sauces. Thai sauce and peanut cookies. Our 10 year old nearly died from a cross contaminated pesto sauce and landed us in the emergency room with a terrified little girl in anaphylactic shock. The phoenix owner was very understanding, very nice guy. His insurance company were a disgrace. Implying that we made it up. Not his fault. Just be very very careful and always ask before you buy. People can die from this. read more

TAKE OUT POTLUCK #2 10-2008 1st Place Winner!! Dish: Olive Bread Avergae rating 4.9 Method: Invite a bunch of people over & ask each of them to bring their favorite take-out- then rate it! 5 people rated the olive bread. 5+ Perfect balance of white & whole wheat with the added bonus of chunks of yummy black olives 3+ not enough olives- JUST KIDDING :) 17+ perfect mixture of olives & bread 5 = goood! 5 = so good read more

This review is about Phoenix Next Door, the restaurant that's next door to The Phoenix Pastificio. It might be due to the location (north of campus), but when I went here for lunch, it was filled with regular Berkeley residents as opposed to university students. Pasta dishes change daily, and you can choose from about 6-8 dishes ranging in price from $9 to $13. I had their fettuccine with garlic, spinach, onions, and Russian fingerling potatoes. The seasoning isn't as in-your-face as Gypsy's on Southside, but it's delicious. Love their bread. The waiters are very friendly, but they're very slow at cleaning up the tables. Had to wait about three minutes after being seated until the waitress took away the old plates at my seat from the previous customer. It didn't really bother me, but it might bother others. Short hours (Mon-Sat, 11:30am-2:30pm), but it's a great cafe. And free drinks! read more

ITS GONE!!! I went by the other day and it was closed. I almost cried right there on the street. I just stood there confused... and very, very sad. Then, I went to the north Berkeley Farmer's Market and there they were. With a limited selection, but nevertheless the same marvelousness. Apparently they now operate out of the back of a restaurant, I forgot the name, and you go to the kitchen to place your order. Before... Tasty simplicity. I often stop to pick up fresh pasta... usually letting someone else go ahead of me so I can make up my mind which marvelous flavor to choose. Then you have to decide how you want it cut. Choices! My favorite so far has been the rosemary and black pepper as linguine, with a whipped up butter/cream/asiago sauce... that pasta needs no crazy sauces, though. It comes straight from the gods! read more

Yes, it's back. In a different place. You've heard how awesome Phoenix is- now I'll tell you how to maximize your experience. First of all, as a restaurant, it's pretty great. But this is not where Phoenix really shines. First and foremost, they are a PASTA MAKER. They make their own pasta, over 20 varieties of it. Exotic flavors and combinations you've never heard of or thought of- saffron, pea sprouts, rose, black pepper, meyer lemon. In pasta. Second, since they make their own pasta, they have it in sheets- which means, if you are a cook yourself, you can have them cut it into whatever width pasta you want- angel hair, spaghetti, linguini, fettucini, all the way up to big sheets for lasgne. And you know fresh pasta is infinitely better than the dried stuff. Al dente, please! Pick up a few types of pasta for later, keeping them in the fridge for use in the next few days, or in the freezer if it's going to be a while. If you're feeling lazy, you can grab some of their stuffed pasta, or some of their specials in the front. Make sure you make a nice sauce to go on your pasta! You can do it! Okay, I'm done now. read more

Best fresh pasta. Ever. There are so many different compliments I have for this business. First of all the quality is terrific. I've grown up Italian and around fresh pasta and this is nothing short of amazing. Great texture, flavor, and very well made. Super easy to cook and hard to mess up. I'm also amazed at how many homemade flavors of pasta they offer. There are so many unique flavor combinations like their rosemary or squid ink. I've had a few different kinds and each stands out. They also ask you what size noodle you would like them to cut it as, which is awesome. If you peek inside the kitchen (the storefront is basically all a kitchen with a door) you can watch them hand-cut your pasta. It's also very reasonably priced for high-quality fresh pasta. The prices range with each flavor, but all definitely fair. Not to mention, the staff is super nice. They're just a bunch of nice, humble people delivering amazing product. They are hard working and you can watch each and every one of them in the kitchen, which I think is fun. The only catch is that the place is tucked away and a little off the beaten path. Anyways, super yummy and worth it. I really want to try their homemade kalamata olive bread the next time I stop by. read more

We all LOVE The Phoenix Pastificio and we know that there's just nothing like it. It's fresh, handmade and organic! If you love their pasta, try the PIZZA! They make it on their delicious olive bread crust. It blows Zachary's and The Cheese Board out of the water! For $16 you get the most gourmet pizza around and on top of that it's guilt free, not greasy like most pizza, and they throw in an orgasm of the mouth. Try it! Kids love it, Parents love it, and I can guarantee you will too! Try calling earlier in the day to reserve a pizza because they sell out really quickly. They start selling at 2 pm Monday- Thursday 510.883.0783 www.phoenixpasta.com read more

The phoenix pastificio is a great place to purchase fresh pasta, baked goods and DELICIOUS OLIVE BREAD. Their products can also be found in Andronicos (North Berkeley) and the Saturday Berkeley Farmer's Market (Center and Shattuck). I've only purchased their squid-ink pasta, olive bread and macaroons. Personally, I like the texture and delicate flavors of their squid ink pasta. I think if you have a pasta-machine at homes, you could probably recreate their fresh pasta's. But I'm thinking of giving their other pasta types a try. Initially, I was a little skeptical about their rustic olive bread since the main redeeming quality is the fresh olives laced into the bread. Other than that it didn't seem very special. Overtime, their olive bread grew on me and now I just can't enough of it! I love the crunchy outside and chewy, delicious core. It's great for caprese tapas, croutons, garlic bread and probably other recipes. Honestly, their olive bread tastes great on its own, with a little dose of EVOO and rich, dark balsamic vinegar. I would definitely give this one or more tries. They sell out fast at the farmers market, so it might save you some waiting time by purchasing it at their store front or Andronico's. Their macaroon was also very good. It's not a traditional french macaroon. Regardless of its appearance, it has a perfect balance of sweetness and mochi-textured goodness. Now when I stop by the Farmer's Market, I always purchase some olive bread and some fresh pasta. Indulge yourself and try some macaroons too! read more

5/5 for FOOD -- I love this place, and I am so addicted to their pappardelle with meat sauce. The meyer lemonade is great, but overpriced. The bread and butter are always just right, never too crusty and dry and the butter is room-temp. 2/5 for SERVICE - The waitstaff are super nice, and I love the family feel (you'll often see the owners and their kids in the kitchen/cashwrap) but they have the SLOWEST waitresses ever. I need to constantly remind them to refill my water, ask for more bread, etc., which are things they should be doing already. read more

The phoenix is my go-to for olive bread. Bread itself was amazing and with the bits of olive, it was just perfect. I'd go again and again if I was in the area. Also got great almond macaroons. read more

The fresh pastas are great. I make my own pasta sometimes but frankly, it's a lot of work, I really don't mind paying $5-7 a pound for expertly made pastas. The key is not to overcook them. If you don't know how to cook fresh pastas, stick with the dry stuff. There's a reason why lots of great restaurants around the Bay Area get their pastas from Phoenix. And the olive bread! I would call ahead to ask when the loaves are coming out of the oven, then my husband and I would drive over there and get at least 2 loaves, fresh out of the oven, almost too hot to handle. Then we would start tearing at one of the loaves on our way home and finish it before we even get home. The cooled down olive bread is excellent, but there's nothing like the freshly baked and still warm olive bread. Again, I make my own bread from time to time, but this is my favorite bread. It's crunchy on the outside and soft and slightly chewy inside, with big chunks of olives throughout. Yum! read more

Best fresh pasta in the area. All pasta cut to order from sheets, reasonably priced at $4-7/lb. Owner is extremely nice and will do custom orders, or even open at odd hours for a repeat customer. There is also a small lunch cafe adjoining the sales area, but I have not eaten there. read more

Phoenix Pastificio is a fabulous store where one can shop for the very best in homemade artisan breads, fresh pastas, sauces and COOKIES! Sample any of the pastas here and you can get a real sense of artistry that is put into every one of them, from the Meyer Lemon to the Habanero. The owner is a former Semifreddi's breadmaker and founder, and his passion definitely shines through. Also, Eric's olive bread will make you an instant addict (if you can get your hands on it before it sells out... damn bread junkies). You can find wonderful Phoenix products at the store on Shattuck, or at various local Farmer's Markets. This place will definitely make your friends quit their low-carb diet! UPDATE: Very sad to learn about the closing of the old location. Very happy to learn that the Phoenix has arisen from its ashes and will still be offering retail and wholesale pasta and baked goods. read more

First of all, the chocolate macaroon is amazing. I can still smell that deep, rich, slightly alcoholic, almond paste scent from my fingers and it takes me to a happier time (a time when there was still some chocolate macaroon within hand's reach). Phoenix Pastaficio specializes in their home-made, organic pastas which they make on the spot. They offer a wild variety of pastas like meyer lemon, basil, buckwheat, as well as some really unique ones like squid ink, rose petal, beet and porcini though many of those are seasonal. You can choose the pasta width and thickness. I bought a half-pound of garlic parsley and a half-pound of black pepper rosemary and got a bonus quarter pound of garlic parsley for free! The lady was so nice and carefully explained proper cooking techniques. 30-45 secs in the water- no salt or olive oil needed! Even raw, the fragrance of the noodles were so strong and mouth-watering that my friends and I joked that we would just eat it as is. (Though less jokingly and more just testing the social boundaries of eating raw pasta) But, oh lord, the noodles were SO AL DENTE. Like the definition of al dente. Like I didn't truly understand what al dente tasted like until this moment. Just perfectly chewy and doughy and herb-y. Boyfriend and I looked at each other after a long pause filled with clinking forks and splurping before we finally looked up at each other and said "How can we ever go back to regular pasta after this?" You've ruined us from our previous diet of dry pasta forever! read more

(part of my) Facebook status of the day: "Today I went to a store, and didn't find out that the owner doesn't accept cards until I was already checking out. I thought I didn't have cash, so while I was fumbling around in my wallet, the owner told me "you could just pay me some other time; I never let my customers go without their food." I was surprised, so I asked, "do people actually come back to pay you?" and he responded with "yeah, every customer I've ever had has come back to pay me." The store was the Phoenix Pastificio (obviously), and the point of this is that if you're planning to come here, bring cash. I got 2 servings of Black Pepper Rosemary Linguini and a loaf of the famous Olive Bread, and it came out to $9.75. It is a bit pricey, but they use all organic ingredients and everything is handmade. The Olive Bread is great when it's heated up, and that means a lot coming from me, because I don't actually like olives LOL. I haven't tried the Rosemary Linguini yet, but I smelled the bag, and it smells amazing, so... OH and the pasta is in sheets, and the owner asks you how you want it cut. :) I got Linguini because I don't know my sphaghetti and that's the only classy pasta I know. Somebody suggest some great cuts I could get next time please so I don't have to get Linguini every time. If you didn't read this, just remember: bring cash to buy the Olive bread that you're going to heat up at home. read more

I stumbled on their olive bread at the Berkeley farmers market last May. Just thought it looked like a nice loaf of bread until I got home. Then--wow. I've had bread all over the planet. Chewy breads with crusty exteriors, soft buttery brioches, teff, naan, every bread I can get my hands on. I'm a certifiable bread junkie. But this bread is literally the best bread I have ever eaten. My spouse is a loather of all things olive--AND LOVED THE BREAD. I may or may not have even made a special trip from San Jose to Berkeley just to buy some loaves... read more

The best olive bread and bucatini anywhere in the Bay Area! The olive loaf is rustic - crispy on the outside, tender inside, giant olives sticking out all over - just incredible. They have great fresh pastas, but I think their bucatini are the best - and they always have a few vegan options. I adore Eric, the proprietor, and love to visit when I'm in the area. If you can't make it to his kitchen - be sure to get to the Berkeley or Temescal Farmers Markets *early* before the olive bread sells out! read more

Case study of just how awesome this place is: I basically managed to fool everyone into thinking I was a good cook, but really it was just because I threw some of Phoenix Pastificio's fettucine into a boiling pot of water for exactly 90 seconds and then tossed it with Phoenix Pastificio's roasted tomato sauce and then pretended it was all a homemade invention. Some tips: +It's located in an obscure location in the brick building. You have to walk all the way towards the back end of Strawberry Creek Park to see it. If you see a semi-creepy bunny in a gown through the window, you've hit the jackpot of all hand-made gourmet pastas. +Ask for recommended pairings! They know exactly what they're talking about! +Ask to take home a menu so you get the timings right for the different pasta widths (I believe they had fettucine, pappardelle, linguine, and angel hair.) +Get the Meyer Lemon pasta. +Thank everyone you see in the store for existing and thus allowing Phoenix Pastificio to exist. These kinds of specialty, old-fashioned neighborhood stores are truly rare local gems. read more

I tried this pasta from their booth at the farmers market in San Rafael. WOW! I went back the next week for more :) I love the porcini pasta as well at their meyer lemon pasta. I want to try their pizza next :) read more

Great Fresh Pasta The food is delicious The Cafe has a Myer Lemon Fascination I really love the chocolate truffles The owner is extremely nice read more

There was a time when their pasta manufacturing, bakery, and restaurant were on Shattuck Avenue, and was always a big hit. Today a friend brought to us a small loaf of Olive bread. This put them back on the map for us. Considering recent reviews, I am thinking about putting together family dinner with their Butternut Squash Ravioli with Basil Arugula Pesto. read more

Haven't been to the actual location yet, but were given a loaf of their olive bread. Load disappeared in less than a day it was so good. Thanks to a generous employee for giving us a loaf. read more

The first thing I noticed walking into the pasta shop is the smell. This magical aroma of fresh strands of pasta fills the air and penetrates your pores. Mmmmmmm ... picked up some great Habanero infused pasta and had them cut a pound of it into nice fettucinne (SP?) strips. Delicious. Haven't tried the restaurant yet but that's next on the list. Takes me back to Europe where you could still find all these specialty shops to buy your groceries at. UPDATE: I went there on a Sunday afternoon to pick up some pasta for a dinner party and they appeared to be shut (no hours posted). The owner came from out of the back and told me he was in a meeting but to come back in half an hour so I did and he was so friendly and accomodating. His policy is that if there's a customer outside he'll help you. What a cool family business to support. read more

Cash Only! Delicious olive bread right from the oven with plenty kalamata olives. No store front, just walk in the door and ask for bread, or pasta, or vegan cookies/other treats. read more

I also tried the ravioli and four other kinds of pasta. And my friends and I tried the chocolate macaroon and the pecan chewie. Communal reaction: FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU- like, it's so good that your mind is just filled with, "fuck, this is, oh fuck, fuuuck" read more

Awesome macaroons & lunch. For a while they didn't have a liquor license, so instead of not serving wine with lunch, the just gave it away! 5/30 update I just learned that they will be closing this shop and moving to another place, but unfortunately the won't have the space for the restaurant! Horrors! Say it isn't so! read more

This establishment has a special place in my heart. One day, about 11 or 12 years ago, we came in craving a particular tomato sauce ("Hardy Boys sauce," which is no longer made.) None was available, but owner Eric Sartenaer offered to stop by our place during the evening to deliver some! I've always loved their product, but the Pastificio fell off my radar screen when it moved out of their storefront at 1786 Shattuck to go down to West Berkeley. I've started buying from them at the Berkeley Farmers' Market, and I'm really delighted to rediscover some tastes. The Meyer lemon linguine that I had for lunch gets an A+. As other reviewers have pointed out, the Phoenix Pastificio makes breads and large cookies as well as sauces and fresh pasta. It's definitely worth making a detour for their stuff. read more

UPDATE: Eric himself came to deliver some pasta to my restaurant. . .. he said they are trying to settle into the new place and that soon there will be cookies, etc!!! YIPPEE!!! I will miss their little cafe but at least their stellar fresh pasta and his amazing baked goods will be available. OLD NEWS: no more restaurant. they are closed. lost their lease. They will still sell their pasta to the public, just no more restaurant. sad. Eric is the man. . . and I hope he gets to sell his great baking (bread, cookies, etc.) again someday soon. read more