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You’re probably aware that National Pasta Day (Oct. 17) and World Pasta Day (Oct. 25) are coming up hard and fast. If you didn’t know already, well now you’re likely to be salivating and planning accordingly. But such a monumental occasion deserves planning, and that’s where we have something to help you out! You can celebrate these two holidays with the best pasta in the Valley at the Italian joints below.
Tomaso’s
3225 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Named after and established by legendary Italian chef and the patriarch of the Maggiore family, Tomaso Maggiore, this upscale Italian restaurant features a wide variety of fresh pasta dishes. Guests can dine in the elegant atmosphere of Tomaso’s while trying signature pasta dishes like the Squid Ink Tagliatelle ($32) made with silky black handcrafted noodles, jumbo prawns, scallops on the half shell, San Marzano tomato sauce and e.v.o.o. Other popular pasta dishes include the Linguini with Clams Sauce ($26) with little neck clams, roasted garlic, white wine, and parsley and Seafood Medley Cioppino ($42) with shrimp, calamari, sea scallops, clams, mussels, sea bass, saffron herb tomato wine sauce, and spaghetti.
The Italian Daughter
23655 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite #120, Scottsdale
This lively piano bar and restaurant features an extensive Italian menu with melt-in-your-mouth pasta dishes and live musical performances to enjoy while you eat! While you can’t go wrong with any of the restaurant’s 15 fresh pasta dishes, pasta dish highlights include the Spaghetti Carbonara ($21) made to a creamy perfection with fresh spaghetti pasta, pancetta, English peas, Grana Padano and an organic egg yolk and Conchiglie Verde ($23) made with salmon, zucchini and basil mascarpone cream. As an added bonus, on National Pasta Day, Al Ortiz, an award-winning musician and Stevie Nicks’ bassist, will be playing live at The Italian Daughter from 6 to 9 p.m.
The Sicilian Butcher
15530 N. Tatum Blvd. Suite 160, Phoenix
3151 W. Frye Road, Chandler
9780 W. Northern Ave #1100, Peoria
The Sicilian Butcher, a nationally-recognized Italian concept, is centered around a build-your-own pasta dish experience where guests can choose from a selection of hand-rolled meatballs made daily, made-from-scratch pasta and house-made sauces. Beyond the build-your-own experience, The Sicilian Butcher features other signature pasta dishes like the Stuffed Shells ($19) made with ricotta, mozzarella, bechamel, tomato herb sauce and granna and the new, Massive 10-Layer Lasagna ($24) made with pasta rags, three-meat Ragu, Sicilian sausage, bechamel, ricotta and mozzarella.
Pubblico Italian Eatery
5813 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014
7001 N Scottsdale Rd #184, Scottsdale, AZ 85253
The chic, informal atmosphere belies the high quality in Pubblico’s dishes, including their wood-fired pizzas and of course, handmade pastas. In a strong combination of frutti di mare dishes and Northern Italian fare to boot, you’ll be able to enjoy a wide palate of pastas that come in stunning variety. Take their decadent ravioli, for instance: be it the taste of the sea you want, or a mouthwatering beef dish, you can take your pick with Lobster Ravioli ($34) or Short Rib Ravioli ($34), with the former tossed a lobster brandy cream sauced and the latter served with beef tenderloin. If you head there for a luncheon instead, try the Lasagna Verde ($14) or even the Butternut Squash Risotto ($14). Though it’s rice and not pasta per se, this popular gluten-free option is sure to evoke the flavors of fall we’re all craving right now.
Saint Pasta
1121 N 2nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Here’s something a little different: if you’re looking forward to having pasta, but you love the magic of food trucks, we’ve got a spot for you to try! Saint Pasta is a pasta food truck with a hard and fast menu of three affordable entrees meant to wow customers, and each one has a few options for toppings including a chicken cutlet (as well as sides like Garlic Bread or Cheesy Bread) that you can choose from when you order. If you look just outside the Pemberton, on any day but Monday or Tuesday from 5 to 10 p.m., you’ll find this hot spot for Italian-American dishes straight from New Jersey, like their signature dish, Rigatoni Vodka ($16), featuring creamy tomato sauce, chili flakes, and snow peas! Stop in to enjoy mouth watering pasta on World Pasta Day!
Adela’s Italian Restaurant
4041 E Thomas Rd #107, Phoenix, AZ 85018
This family-owned kitchen sports an outdoor patio and a number of traditional Italian dishes that are fitting for celebration of World Pasta Day. Whether it’s the number of veal dishes like the Vitello Cacciatora ($22) or a seafood pasta like the Scampi Fra’ Diavolo ($23), you can be sure that your visit to this no-frills spot will leave you with a smile on your face and a loosened belt.
Pasta Brioni
4416 N Miller Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
There’s a lot to enjoy at Pasta Brioni, an Italian ristorante featuring padded booths and a club-like atmosphere reminiscent of those classic New York style neighborhood bistros. But more than that, Pasta Brioni proudly offers — well, you guessed it — pasta! Appetizers include Toasted Ravioli ($11) and Zuppa di Mussels ($16), but the main event is their pasta dishes, or the many “Brioni Classics” that serve pasta marinara on the side of entrees like Veal Piccata ($27) or Eggplant Parmesan ($18). There are other pasta dishes to consider, of course, but Pasta Brioni’s signature dish, Shrimp Brioni ($28), is offered each night until sold out, featuring linguine noodles and flour dusted shrimp in a butter sauce made with lemon and white wine! Molto bene, si?
Featured Image Credit: Adela’s Italian Restaurant
