Fare: Italian
Price: Moderate
Food Quality: 1 1/2 Stars
Service: 1 1/ 2 Stars
Decor: 3 Stars
Overall Rating: 2 Stars
Note: Four star Rating System from 1/2 Star = poor to Four stars = Best in Class
Attractive Tuscan Village atmosphere
The food and service are a notch below most of the many Red Bank fine dining Italian restaurants
Value: Excellent
Noise Level: High during peak time
Dress: Casual
Recommended For: Budget conscious diners who enjoy a BYOB casual style Italian dining with attractive decor at a reasonable price.
Not Recommended For: Diners who prefer more complex gourmet food in a quiet setting.
Recommended dishes: When available, Salsiccia Alla Broccoli Rabe; Penne Bolognesa; and Spaghetti Con Vongole.
Liquor: BYOB. There is a wine list from the nearby liquor store who will deliver the wine to the restaurant in a matter of minutes.
La Pasteria restaurant in Red Bank ( one of two NJ locations) is popular with diners who enjoy a reasonably priced BYOB Italian restaurant with attractive Tuscan ambiance.
The decor is attractive resembling a Tuscan village courtyard with tile floors and a mural of Michelangelo' Sistine Chapel with fresco's adorning the stucco walls. There are two dining areas separated by a frosted cut glass partition. Attractive windows complement the dining area on the right with arch shaped windows inset with stained glass.
Their is a huge flat screen TV in the dining area that seems out of place with the attractive Tuscan decor.
The tables are set with a paper covering over linen, and matching linen napkins.
On busy nights, the restaurant can be crowded with a high level of noise.
Owners Philip, Shari, and Emanuela Angelo offers a large selection pizza's, pasta's and dinner entrees that are well prepared from generations of family recipes. The restaurant makes their own fresh pastas.
However the serving of bread is somewhat disappointing. It's below par for an Italian restaurant and served without butter or a garlic/oil accompaniment.
The service is friendly and attentive, however, improvement is needed with accommodating seating and/or reservations in a timely fashion.
La Pastaria restaurant doesn't accept reservations for parties of less than six and on busy weekend evenings. The wait for a table can be very long if you arrive after 7 pm.
During the warmer months there is dining on the outside patio.
La Pastaria restaurant is open seven days/week.
For lunch: Monday - Friday 11:30am - 3pm
For dinner: Monday - Thursday 4:30pm - 9:30pm; Friday - Saturday 4:30pm - 10:30pm; and Sunday 3:30pm - 9pm
There is limited on-street parking. Proceed to the corner just past the restaurant and turn left into a municipal lot that has free parking. after 6 PM.
(updated: October, 2016)
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