Okay, so it's been 13 years since my last update. Reading my first review brings warm, fuzzy feelings to my soul. This is a casual spot. The interior is the same. Parking is limited to about (6) 1 hour spots a block ahead of and in front of the door. Same posters, same menu. Prices have creeped up, but the portions are worth it and, as a parent of two now, quite shareable (unless you are the 2008 version of me). You may eat in, but unfortunately, alcohol is not provided here and you can't BYOB. And so, take out is a popular choice. Now for the real question. What does Shaina order at this venue after a decade? My personal favorite: Puttanesca with homemade fusilli. Why? Because despite living in a region of Greater Boston where Italian restaurants are fruitful, people don't serve Puttanesca! Literally can't find it in the four Italian restaurants near my south shore home. Only other place that I can order this same dish is Vinny's at Night in Somerville. Folks love their fra diavolo, but Puttanesca gives that same heat with the bonus of salty kalamata, capers, and a touch of anchovies melted in. And, guess what? Tasted the same as it had 13 years ago. Amazing! Don't get me wrong, they have many more offerings that I've been dying to try. There's pizza, garlic bread with and without cheese, mini arancini; they have sandwiches, too. They even have four (or maybe it was 5) options for risotto. And for proteins, there is calamari, shrimp, chicken, beef, and sausages. I just can't stop ordering this puttanesca dish and it fills me too much to have room for a variety order. read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Just introducing this guy to an old love of mine in Cambridge - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Mushroom risotto delicious Staff pretty rude Chicken parm was not half bad How they flip the screen and stare at you for a tip is intimidating read more

Wanted some Italian and this was nearby. So glad my friend and I came. It was relatively quiet and quaint, perfect place to catch up with friends or have a nice meal out. The staff was kind enough to answer questions we had about the menu. We ended up ordering the Chicken Ziti Fusilli, Bolognese Spaghetti, and Tiramisu. Everything tasted wonderful. The fusilli was also homemade which you can definitely taste! The portion sizes were great too! I would definitely come back here if I am ever in the area! read more

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Pretty good, authentic pasta. We were in search of a place for our track athletes to carb load before the New Balance indoor nationals and landed here. Pros: authentic Italian food, huge portions Cons: limited parking and very limited seating (the capacity for the establishment said 19 on a sign) read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Small but good - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Hidden gem of a spot! The homemade pasta was definitely worth it and portion sizes were generous. We got two pastas, a pizza, and a tiramisu for 4 people and were all happy. The pastas and pizza were very good, but the tiramisu was a bit disappointing. The atmosphere is a bit odd, but the food is delicious. Sauce is a bit heavy on the cream if you're sensitive to that, just a heads up! read more

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My default place for some authentic pasta!! Since parking is sometimes rough in the area, I usually order takeout since the food is always very hot when I bring it home. The place is pretty small with a few tables for sit-in. Service is great with welcoming staff. I've had their homemade meatballs, Calamari, Veal Parmigiana, and Shrimp Fra Diavolo. I'm pretty satisfied with all the dishes I've had here - the one I'd like to emphasize the most is the Shrimp Fra Diavolo!! This is the most flavorful dish at Basta Pasta. It is on the spicier end which adds a good kick to the flavor - you can ask for less or no pepper flakes if you can't do too spicy. I order here annually on my wedding anniversary, but the food's been too good to eat only once a year that I've gradually been back more often! Highly recommend Basta Pasta for a great pasta fix! read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Shrimp Fra Diavolo, Veal Parmagiana, Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

So good! This was so delicious, and some of the best pasta I've had in a long time. The vibe of the place is very vibrant, and the wait for the food wasn't that long. We took the homemade tiramisu for take out and the tiramisu had a very good coffee flavour. Order: * Shrimp Fra Diavalo * Homemade Meatball * Bolognese Pasta * Homemade Tiramisu read more

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The food was alright, and the staff was friendly. The main issue was that the caprese sandwich comes with balsamic, which I don't really like on my sandwiches, and it wasn't listed on the menu anywhere, so I didn't know to order without read more

Fast, casual but delicious. This is more for take out and no frills but the flavors are on point. Wish they had a better location

Friendly staff. Delicious food. Generous amount of food for the price. Ambiance is nice but a bit small. Luckily it wasn't busy when I arrived. Would definitely come back. read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Food is delicious as always. We got our usual chicken broccoli Alfredo (probably the best I've had anywhere), fresh, quality ingredients. We also had the shrimp fra diavolo and margherita pizza. All so good. read more

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Very neighborhood feel to the location, which is a plus. Parking on street wasn't hard to find despite the fact it was regular dinnertime hours. The food was very good, highlights were the putanesca dish, & the meatballs. Serving sizes were extremely generous, so it's a good place to take your teen kids. It has the feel of a pizza joint, rather than a restaurant (you order at counter & pick up yourself), so don't be surprised. For an affordable pasta/pizza/sandwich place in this area, we'd recommend it. The cooking is definitely a few steps above your typical restaurant in this price range. read more

Just want to come back and talk about their meatballs. Found out today they are rolled fresh there in their kitchen. Mmmmmmm My friend Jermaine put me on to here and I own him my taste buds for it. Guys go eat these meatballs and tell me I'm wrong? They are super sweet too I got chicken parm and asked them to chop the chicken up in tiny pieces for me so it's thru out the past and they said yes and they did it. Last thing....THEIR MEATBALLSSSSSS read more

Came here again last night and got the handmade fusilli with chicken ziti (and pink sauce instead of alfredo). Always love the sauce, but the chicken seemed very rubbery this time (almost tendon-like). Not every piece was like that, but a good amount. We also got the whole wheat radiatori which we enjoyed. read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Whole wheat radiatori - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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This is a little family owned place in Cambridge that is a hidden gem. The area is mostly residential and this is tucked away on corner of the main street. I got the Chicken Parmigiana and it was delicious. The chicken is not dry at all and the flavor of the sauce is perfect. I got it with linguini and you have the option to choose penne as well. I'm not sure if the store is only doing takeout still, but when I went in I did not see anyone dining in and have not really seen people dining in other than grabbing takeout (I usually just do takeout from here since I'm down the street). Overall, even for takeout it is still amazing! What steals the show for me are the meatballs. I have a family friend whose mom is Italian and these meatballs reminds me of the moms she would make all the time. The meatball is melts into your mouth and is seasoned to perfection. read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Chicken Parmagiana - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Ordered chicken Marsala to go and it was AMAZING!! The sauce, pasta noodles, and chicken were smothered in sauce, no pasta was left untouched. The portion was adequate for two meals (for me) and heated up great in the microwave. I'll have to go in person to try more of their meals!! read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Chicken Marsala - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Basta Pasta has amazing pizzas and pastas and is one of my favorite spots in Cambridge! I ate in the restaurant in previous years and loved their stuffed eggplant pasta (tons of yummy basil) and cavatappi con aglio e olio (great pasta texture). More recently, I enjoyed a takeout pizza! Their tomato sauce is great, and the topping:crust ratio is just right. Plus, you can get half-and-half pizzas if they have the same sauce base! Leftovers (if you have any) reheat well with about 5 or so minutes in a 400° oven. My friend got the stuffed eggplant over pasta and said it was delicious! I definitely recommend Basta Pasta for delicious pizza and pasta! read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Aglio Olio - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Wanted to try someplace new for dinner the other night and Basta Pasta did not disappoint! I ordered the bolognese penne pasta and some garlic bread and the portions were very big--the pasta literally was two whole meals for me. And the garlic bread was honestly fantastic, I highly recommend! I would say that this place is definitely is worth the price. The pasta was yummy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. I would definitely come back and try all the other pastas that they have. I ordered delivery and the packaging was done nicely but I think because my driver wasn't too careful, the pasta sauce leaked down the sides of the takeout container a bit. But other than that everything was amazing! Definitely try this place if you haven't already. And order the garlic bread! read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Verrrry good & fresh food for a take out place. Has a regular pizza place dine in area, nothing fancy buttt the food is delightful. Very fresh & the pasta is perfectly made; al dente & marinara sauce was muahhhh delish. def try it out; prices are decent $$ but worth ittt read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Outside - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Excellent homemade meat lasagna! Beautiful, thick slice made fresh for my order! Would return again to try other menu items if I visit Boston again! read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Homemade meat lasagna - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

3.5 stars. Have ordered takeout from Basta Pasta a couple of times and it usually doesn't disappoint. Portions are massive so you get your money's worth. Chicken marsala is a tad too sweet for me, but it's tasty and packed with flavor. Chicken piccata is very lemon-y, but it felt like it was missing something - maybe extra butter to bind it all together. The chicken is really nice and tender which I am picky about. I docked a star for the texture of the pasta - my fusilli is usually too soggy so the pasta sticks together by the time I bring it home. Also tried the turkey avocado panini which was very bland. Food usually takes the full 20-30 minute timeframe that is noted when you place your order. You can tell it's straight from the kitchen because it is piping hot. read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Chicken piccata - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Had a 7.3 score on the one bite app so I stopped in on my way home. Pretty decent pizza, a little less cooked than I normally like but also light on the sauce which I love. Asked the guy making my pie about techniques I struggle with at home with dough and he spent a good 5-8 minutes showing me what he does and how he preps the dough; couldn't have been nicer. Seems like a good neighborhood shop! read more

I stumbled upon this joint on Western Avenue near the bridge while walking aimlessly in the neighborhood, trying to accomplish the imaginary goal of 10,000 steps daily. There is apparently a wide range of Italian food on the menu, and the price seems reasonable. Ordered Chicken Parmiggiana and Calamari Risotto. The Risotto was one of the best I had and I can't wait to try some of the other risottos on the menu. read more

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Hidden Gem in a Cambridge neighborhood. Vegetarian options are clearly marked on their web menu. We ordered ministrone soup, Aglio Olio, and Squashed Olives. The pasta are prepared to order and were amazing. We shared the dishes. We all enjoyed the diverse flavors. The Aglio Olio has red chili flakes in it, so it is a bit hot but good nonetheless. If you like hot you will enjoy it. I enjoyed the linguine pasta. Both pastas were all dente - perfect. Water is available via self-serve along with napkins and table wear. We plan to return as the tastes are on par with the North End without the wait and parking hassel. read more

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Really great place to get fresh made pizza and pasta. Everything is made from scratch here. There are indoor seating and online ordering available. The service here is excellent and the food is phenomenal. I came here four years ago and had to come back Bc it was so memorable. read more

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The food here was AMAZING! I was pleasantly surprised with the size of the portions for the reasonable price. Both meals had a ton of flavor and meat. Service was very fast and friendly. You order at the counter but there are enough seats to dine in or take your food to go. Definitely will be visiting again soon! read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Chicken Chicken Ziti Broccoli, Garlic Bread, Chicken Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Terrible experience. One guest has a dairy allergy. Serious medical issue. Item ordered didn't have dairy as a listed ingredient. We wrote a note saying "NO DAIRY. ALLERGY". We also checked the allergen box for Dairy Allergy. The food, you guessed it, still arrived drenched in cheese. Does nobody take allergy warning seriously in this place? Food ended up in the trash and guest went hungry. read more

I've been meaning to try Basta Pasta for a while and when I was craving pizza on a Friday night I decided to give them a try for takeout. I didn't have any expectations but the pizzas were delicious! We got a margherita and a pepperoni pizza and both were excellent--chewy but slightly crispy crust, the perfect amount of cheese and fresh basil on the margherita, and not too greasy. I'm often disappointed by Boston pizza and was excited to find a good spot! The food was also ready exactly when they said it would be which I appreciated. My only qualm with my order was the Caesar salad--it was just plain romaine lettuce and plain croutons and didn't even fill the container it came in. I was annoyed at myself for spending 12$ on something I could have made exactly the same way at home for pennies. I'll skip the salad next time, but the pizzas are definitely worth it. read more

Ok, prices are kinda high, but it's Central Square Cambridge, so I bet the rent is sky-high. We eat here almost weekly. Chicken Marsala - the sauce is delicious. Could use more mushrooms (don't pay for extra, bc it's the same amount as if you don't...). It's a bit rich for some people in the family, but I *adore* this. It' sooooo goooodd. Shrimp Fra Diavolo - Nice big shrimp, Nice big portions, Nice flavor - just right amount of spicy, good sauce. Squashed Olives pasta WITHOUT OLIVES - just tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, chopped arugula, parmesan. Don't judge me, I hate olives. BUT, I love everything else about this light flavorful dish - thank god they offer a way to order it without olives (they must know...). When I want something lighter than the Marsala, this is what I order. Very light. Chicken Broccoli Ziti - loved by half the family, and liked pretty well by the other half. Tis reasonable. Meatballs Pomodoro, the appetizer - very tasty. Love the sauce it comes in. Just plain Red Sauce Pasta - kind of plain, but it gets eaten, so... The paninis do not live up to their descriptions? Very unflavorful for unclear reasons... We've tried them all - they're fine, but stick to the pasta, in my family's opinion. Avoid the garlic bread. The salads have somehow gone downhill - they used to have the most amazing Caesar Salad, but the last few times, the croutons were tiny store-bought things. Just stick to the pastas (+ meatballs). Of note, "linguini" as the pasta option is hit or miss - sometimes it's substituted, with no warning, by overcooked angel hair... The amount you receive varies wildly, and the done-ness also varies pretty wildly - if you're getting their default pasta, we suggest the penne - there seems to be a much wider window for done-ness - it's consistently got a good chew. We've tried their homemade fusilli, and didn't think it was worth it, but you do you. We eat here often, and will continue. read more

I travel back and forth between the coasts, and when I am in town, I love getting takeout and having leftovers in my hotel room. Portions are good. The red sauce could use a bit more gusto, but it's not bad. Fusili is great! Their salads are SOLID read more

So yummy! The portions are huge and pasta/pizza is so fresh. We watched them pull the pizza out the oven and we couldn't wait for it to cool down and burnt the whole roof of our mouths off. Delicious crust and nice cheese. Very classic pizza. Heated it up in the toaster over the next day and it was amazing as well. Also got the chicken marsala. I personally don't like it when I can taste the Marsala wine too much, I like it very reduced down. This was perfect and the sauce was very savory. Had enough for 3 meals!! Also got the Caesar salad. It was huge but the croutons were all soggy and stale. Coulda been my fault tho bc I left it in the bad for a while. The dressing was really good and could tell it was homemade (or at least not your average Caesar dressing) Yummy! Always good portions and good taste. Cant wait to try more items read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Chicken Marsala and Cesar Salad - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I ordered the Chicken Brócoli Zito. The mozzarella cheese on top was great. The portion size was great. And it was nice trying out a local spot that's conveniently located close to Harvard. However, I think the full flavor profile for the dish wasn't above average. If almost compare it to something akin to a microwave version of this dish. Perhaps I'll need to try some of the other dishes. Also, I was hoping for a bread roll or something with my takeout order. Unfortunately, no rolls were included. read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Chicken Ziti Broccoli - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Solid, dependable goto for home style italian. Don't underestimate the cheesy garlic bread; super simple but the kind your mom made. Fresh made Fusilli is worth the extra buck fifty. read more

My boyfriend and I were looking for a casual Italian place and stumbled upon Basta Pasta. Super casual place with a few tables if you want to dine in. We ordered at the register and sat at table. We ordered a large grilled chicken pizza. Decently sized pizza with a pesto sauce topped with cheese a few tomato slices and grilled chicken. Very tasty. We also shared the chicken piccata pasta; we decided on the homemade fusilli pasta. Decent pasta dish left something to be desired though. Overall a good experience would definitely back for the pizza. read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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The house pepperoni pizza was excellent, but the chicken Marsala was greasy and taste overpowering of sherry not Marsala wine. more veggies would have helped balance the dish. Also bought eggplant pizza. Eggplant was breaded and awful which ruined the pizza. This is overall a great place for pizza. read more

Came here for a late dinner and were able to grab a table. I ordered the Aglio e Olio and it was really delicious! The portion size was huge and was well worth the price. The pasta tasted really fresh and it was very well-seasoned. The atmosphere was super casual and comfortable and service was friendly and helpful. read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Pasta Aglio Olio - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

After a long day of delayed flights to Boston, yelp led me here from my Courtyard hotel. Loved the easy neighborhood takeout vibe, but with quality ingredients. I ordered the chicken Marsala based on the yelp recommendations, but the sauce wasn't quite as amazing as expected. It was a little light on flavor, but the chicken was great and the portion was huge. A bummer that they were out of the homemade fusilli pasta. Also got garlic bread with sauce that was really good. I would definitely come back if I was in the area and craving some easy Italian food! read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Try the Chicken Marsala with the fusilli - trust me! The sauce coating the pasta is delicious.

I ordered delivery through Uber eats. None of my food was good, it all reminded me of my high school cafeteria food. Baker and stuffed eggplant pasta was borderline inedible with a thick layer of burnt mozzarella on top. More breading on the eggplant than there was eggplant, nearly 4:1 ratio. Meatballs were bland. Bolognese was one of the worse I've ever had, tasted like they used cheap jarred sauce. Even the garlic bread was bad - looked and tasted like they got a leftover wheat roll from subway. $20 for each of those pasta dishes was ridiculous. Portions were big but 80% went in the compost bin. read more

I really wanted to give this restaurant a worse review when I arrived to pickup my order and they hadn't even started it. It took an extra 25 minutes and the restaurant was completely empty- so I was extremely frustrated. Once I got my pizza, it smelled amazing! Cooked well and gave me exactly what I was craving. Somewhat thin crust, the perfect amount of cheese, and the sauce was delicious. So happy they let me do a half and half with their specialty toppings! This restaurant is small if you are looking to sit and eat. read more

Basta Pasta Trattoria - Half Margherita Pizza and half Spicy Sausage Pizza - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts