Maybe due to some desperate times during our university years, we still think of pasta very much as a ‘budget meal’ – penne alla ketchup, anyone? No matter our love for the stuff, it is rarely our first choice when dining. Even at an Italian restaurant our go-to is either pizza or risotto. But aren’t we glad we broke that rule and recently dined out at Pasta Loco.
This small, intimate yet lively pasta restaurant sits in the heart of Redland – with other Bristol favorites such as Rock Salt, Bravas and Falafel King, among others, all on the same street. Dine here once, and your sad home-cooked carbonaras and bolognese will taste futile by comparison. These vibrant, seasonal and original dishes show how pasta should be done
Pasta Loco was Bristol’s first dedicated fresh pasta restaurant. And while it is no longer the only one in the city, it is still proving itself to be the very best. While the menu can change regularly – with plenty of weekly specials too – current favourites include rabbit ravioli in a cider reduction, a squid ink risotto, bucatini al limone served with in Kiev-style mushroom garlic butter. While in the past, the venison lasagne changed our life!
For starters, the Indian-spiced cauliflower arancini blew our socks off. But we also recommend warming up on a mouth-watering array of cured meats and artisan cheeses your main. It’s no understatement to say that Pasta Loco doesn’t do your average dishes! And the evolutionary nature of the menu that demands repeat visits.
For something that never changes, their take on Italian classic cocktail Negroni might be one of the best we’ve had outside of Venice. But a selection of both old world and new wines – handpicked to complement the menu – is available too. And don’t leave before trying the dessert menu, full of uniqute twists on Italian dolce.
To learn more about Pasta Loco head here.