Just came here for the first time and my friends and I already picked out what we're going to try next time we come! The gnocchi was amazing, cooked perfectly, and I loved the Aurora sauce! read more

Il Pastaio - Gnocchi with Aurora sauce and added shrimp! - Italian Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

I've actually been trying for months to go here since I first saw it's rating on Yelp, but I could never make my way into town when the restaurant was actually open; they're not open on weekends. However, this July 4 holiday actually gave me an excuse to drive to Boulder and try their food. The restaurant is actually very close to the 29th Street Mall, so it's not very difficult to find at all. The restaurant itself is quite small and seems more equipped to do more take-out-orders, but there are about 8 tables inside that can accommodate small groups. That being said, it may be best to come in during off-peak hours or call in to ensure there is a table for you and your party, if you want to dine inside. The menu itself is a little small, but rest assured that most of them will taste very delicious! From what I could tell, their bread was definitely homemade and crispy on the outside and slightly soft on the inside just the way I like it! The only downside was that it was a little small, but I believe it is better that way so you can focus more of your appetite on the entree. For dinner, I decided to try the Linguine Mare Nero ($17), which had homemade linguine noodles, shrimp, and mussels smothered in this tomato garlic sauce. When I first got my entree I was shocked by how many mussels and shrimp that they had put inside the dish. The mussels and shells lined the edge of the plate to create a very appetizing presentation, and there was also a lot of shrimp with the dish, which I've found is rather uncommon here in Colorado. The pasta itself was very delicious and very satisfying without being too filling. My dining experience even convinced me to buy a Pollo Rumano to take home for my aunt to try. Quite unfortunately, I don't think she was as impressed as I was and commented that they use a lot of garlic in their dishes, but it didn't really bother me much. So, if you're not much of a garlic fan, then the food may not exactly appeal to your palate. Overall, I was very satisfied with my experience at Il Pastaio! Although the restaurant is a little small and cramped, they certainly make up for it in the quality of their food. I would definitely recommend this place to a friend in the future and will most likely make a return visit, when I can actually get a holiday off on a weekday. Bon Appetit! read more

See all

The best Italian restaurant in Boulder! This small, family-run restaurant is tucked away in a strip mall and unassuming in appearance. Don't let that fool you. The food is authentically Italian and delicious. For lunch they offer a buffet and for dinner you order off the menu. Everything I've tried here has been wonderful. The servers are the sons of the owners, and they're friendly and professional. It feels like you've been invited into the home of a great Italian chef. The pasta dishes are made with homemade pasta. The sauce, which defines how good an Italian restaurant is, is out of this world. The bread and desserts are scrumptious. This is my favorite Italian restaurant in Boulder. read more

So far- so good waiting 4 my Eggplant parm...always the deciding factor ..in my book.

Hands down in the top 3 best Italian meals we have ever had! We flew in to town for business today and after seeing the photos posted had a feeling it was authentic and good. Little did we know we would feel like we died and went to Italian Heaven! It passed good and went straight to insanely incredible, not to mention memorable. If we are ever for any reason in this area again, even if we have to drive an hour to get here, we will be back! This place is AMAZING! Everything we ordered from appetizer to the dessert was to die for incredible. The intimate, quiet Bistro style atmosphere was perfect and the service was excellent. read more

Il Pastaio - Italian Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

See all

We are in town for a Softball tournament and decided on this restaurant after reading the reviews. Il Pastaio definitely deserves all 5 stars. From the homemade pasta to the pesto cream sauce (to die for), everything was wonderful. I'm so glad we found this intimate, family run business to visit read more

This place would have been so great had it not been for the very slow service and unpleasant seating. Granted, I came here with a friend on a Friday evening without a reservation, so we were lucky to be seated whatsoever, but we unfortunately got the only tiny table outdoors, in the sweltering summer heat. We felt pretty much forgotten about, and waited over half and hour to be served. After we had paid, the waiter also forgot to give my friend the leftover food she had sent to be boxed. The food also was not as good as I had hoped. I got the mushroom ravioli with pesto sauce, and my friend got spaghetti and meatballs. I also had a tiramisu for dessert. The ravioli was pretty tasty, but writing this a few weeks later, I barely remember it. The tiramisu was very yummy, so no complaints there except that I was too full at that point to enjoy it to the max. The food here is fresh for the most part, but I'm left not quite impressed. read more

See all

My husband and I had our rehearsal dinner here before our elopement. We had a total of nine people in attendance. It was the perfect place to host the dinner! We had visited Boulder a few months prior to eloping and that's when we first ate at Il Pastaio and fell in love- we knew we had to come back. The second time around was just as great, even with a large party. The people who work there are so kind and helpful, you can tell they really enjoy their job. My favorite dish is the Goat Cheese Ravioli- I talked about it so much, I convinced most of our party to get it too. The restaurant is small so it was a little cramped but we knew this going in and it didn't bother us. Keep in mind they only take reservations for the current month. We had called several months prior and someone wrote down our name but when we called to double check closer in, they didn't have us down and the lady told us their policy is only same month reservations. I definitely recommend for a rehearsal dinner or just a fun date night! read more

Il Pastaio - Goat cheese ravioli - Italian Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Authentic Italian Experience The Good: -Family-owned & operated -Hand-made pasta & sauce -Inexpensive, quick buffet lunches with pasta entree, salad & bread -Cute, tiny, European-style hole-in-the-wall authentic gem The Bad: -Incredibly slow service -The minestrone, which used to be chunky, red & delicious -- now is just chunks of mirepoix (carrot, celery, onion) in tasteless gray broth. The Service: I loved my arrabbiatta (spicy red sauce) and wanted more for my cappellini (thin angel-hair noodles). However, no one bothered to stop by until after my boyfriend finished eating. Even then they ignored my full plate and asked if my boyfriend enjoyed his pasta. I'm sure he would have enjoyed it more if he'd not eaten it while watching me wait for service. I had several bites of mine but really wanted more sauce, so I patiently waited...and waited...and waited. I find it impossible to understand why our server, in a totally open, single room of 9ish tables, failed to see that one of us was not eating -- the entire time. Is it not standard practice to check on tables food within minutes of the dish being presented, to see if they enjoy their dishes or need anything else? Very disappointing. It only takes a second to check in, and it would have made a world of difference. The Food: I love their spicy red arrabbiatta sauce and homemade noodles. The tiramisu used to be good. Their minestrone soup used to be chunky & good but now is tasteless & bland. Overall, tasty & fresh pasta with lots of options, especially for ravioli! My boyfriend's veggie lasagna was tasty as well. My meatballs were pretty mediocre, really just bland with a too-smooth texture. Overall: I love supporting local business as well as their pasta, so I'll go back and ask for extra sauce in advance. read more

Great lunch special and top quality product. Can't wait to try dinner here. The people were great and super helpful. The portion size was awesome for the price. All of their pasta is made in house and you can tell when you wat there. I loved their spicy marinara. Will for sure go again. read more

Yes the décor reminds me of a deli. The bell on the door is annoying and the high tables and chairs can be uncomfortable. So if you want ambiance go elsewhere. If you crave good Italian comfort food you are in the right place. I had the tri color salad as a starter and it was a good portion, a little too much dressing for me but still good. I sopped up the extra dressing with my dinner roll! I had the eggplant Parm as my entrée with rigatoni and their spicy red sauce. Both dishes were hot too hot to dig right in. Once I was able to dig in, fabulous! Pasta was el dente and the eggplant was baked just right and topped with a generous amount of cheese. I pretty much cleaned up both plates. Il Pastaio has a decent wine list and some bottled beer as well. Service was spot on and I found the prices reasonable. Too full for desert but watched a few being served and they looked great. read more

Finally got to check this place out the other night - totally worth the wait! Pasta is good and plentiful, sauces hold up well and the bread was perfect. The lemon chicken was a bit weak - I like my lemon - but was good for supper and enough leftover for lunch the next day. The space is small and fills up quickly, but come a bit earlier and you will have your choice of a table and great service. read more

Never ordered anything I didn't like. They are really good..... love their Alfredo with papparedel pasta with shrimp.

I agree, looks like a small shop but the food and service is INCREDIBLE! 10 stars! Highly recommended the mussels & shrimp with black pasta. Everything is fresh & homemade. Best red sauce I can remember. read more

One of the very best Italian restaurants in Boulder. The lunch buffet is always super Delicious and very satisfying, with a very generous portion. read more

This place is a hidden gem! Quaint location and friendly staff that were extremely attentive. It feels like you're a part of the family as soon as you walk in. The food was spectacular! Everything tasted so fresh and flavorful, even the minestrone soup tasted like it was made that day. The cutest part is the raffle they do at the end of every night, every guest writes their name and number and at the end of the night they do a raffle to see who wins a gift card and a bottle of wine. They have great to-go package options if you don't feel comfortable dining in. Safety precautions were handled so we felt safe and cared for the entire experience. We were in town visiting and are so glad we chose to check out this amazing small business. Thank you for the great food and wonderful atmosphere! read more

Great food, fresh pasta, a tiny smidge over cooked, but overall great experience. Staff very friendly and knowledgeable. Desert amazing presentation and atmosphere is great. Short folks beware the high chairs. Recommend coming prior to sunset to avoid sun glare. Overall I would recommend and will be coming back. read more

In my opinion this place is the best Italian restaurant in Colorado. I've been to Italy 3 times for a collective month, and have to say that the food at Il Pastaio is better than 90% of the Italian food I ate in Italy! When I used to live in Boulder I used to go to Il Pastaio at least twice-a-month (for 3 years). Needless to say I've had everything on their menu and only thought one item as mediocre - the pollo rumano. Best things to get there - The daily soup (always amazing without exception), sausage ravioli with aurora sauce, chicken/veal parmesan, rigatoni amatriciana, the pork loin, and the flan. read more

Il Pastaio - Sausage Ravioli in Aurora Sauce - Italian Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

This spot is fantastic, the pick-up menu is perfect and the food is so fresh and delicious. So many great ravioli choices! So glad to Il Pastaio here in Boulder, reminds me of my grandmother's pasta. read more

Their pasta is absolutely delicious, everything is fresh and the menu is simple and perfectly executed. They do lots of different specials for lunch and dinner and holidays so keep an eye on their website. My only complaint is that I haven't found a service that delivers their food yet. :) read more

I ordered the Pollo Tricolore and a Gnocchi. The Gnocchi was fine. The Pollo Tricolore was horrible!!!! Along with the fettuccine alfredo that came with it. There was NO seasoning to the chicken, it was dry and very nasty! The pasta was just as bad, its homemade but it tasted nasty, they cooked the pasta fine so it wasn't how it was cooked but their noodles had a weird taste to them so much that the sauce couldn't even be tasted. To top it off they are over priced. 2 starts because the Gnocchi was fine, not great and still over priced for how much you get. read more

Boulder's Best Italian! This is a family owned joint where the kids are awesome, but their folks may be getting tired of working there. We have never had a bad meal or experience here. This is the type of place we hit up for special occasions and lucky days. Love the aesthetic and its homely feeling. Make sure to try the fresh made pastas. As long as these guys stay true to their roots in the ever-changing Boulder restaurant scene, they'll succeed. They've already proven themselves! You must try! read more

The homemade pasta, the wine on tap, the amazing bevy of sauces and dishes... this is the stuff you dream about at night. Just don't get your heart set on it, on a Saturday or Sunday -- cause they'll be closed and it's such a bummer. Nothing else comes close! 10/10 great date spot and also an excellent choice for pickup. They've got pasta by the pound, too. read more

My sister and I were so glad to find this little gem in Boulder! Great family owned restaurant with fantastic service from the owner's son greeting us at the table to go over the menu and told us they could try to customize anything! The wait staff was super friendly, very personable and attentive! The homemade pastas were delicious! We ordered the Linguini Mare Nero and the Pollo Parmigiana and the portions were huge! Definitely try this place out if you are in town! read more

Il Pastaio - Linguini Mare Nero and Pollo Parmigiana with side of Capellini with Bolognese Sauce! - Italian Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

You cant go wrong here! I do believe this is the best chicken Farm i have ever had. Everything g is top notch. Do yourself a favor, make time to stop in. read more

If I could give this 10 stars I would! Husband and I went to Italy last year and have been looking for delicious Italian food ever since- this place is definitely it!!! This place is authentic! Real pasta, quality ingredients, and amazing service. I wish I could remember our servers name but he was amazing and so kind! This place gets packed and with good reason. We went on a Tuesday evening around 715PM and they were full. I got the eggplant parmesan with a side of pesto alfredo with pappardelle pasta. Great portions and so good! My husband got the beef lasagna with the spicy sauce- it definitely has a kick so be careful but it's very very good. Even if you're driving through Boulder give this place a try! You will not regret it. The atmosphere is also very nice for a cute quiet date night :) read more

You wouldn't be able to tell from the outside, but this restaurant is fantastic! Amazing authentic Italian dishes from an incredibly friendly staff that makes you feel like family. Considering the size of the place and how busy it gets it is managed to a very high standard and I definitely appreciate that. read more

I have had several experiences with Il Pastaio which prompted a not so wonderful review previously. Mostly related to how crowded the place is. The food is good which is most important, so i will give it a four star this time around. I still had problems getting a table at 6:30 and went elsewhere. I guess having a crowd in the restaurant business is a good thing for them. You will need a reservation. read more

This is so highly rated for a reason. If you're looking for the best in Boulder for Italian, go here! The food is absolutely delicious. The smell from when you walk in is intoxicating. It's worth the price. The portions are not huge for the price but they're the right size in my opinion. The butternut squash ravioli with sage are a must-try. You can tell they take a ton of pride in their food. Its authentic, delicious, beautiful. It does not have a fine dining atmosphere, in fact the building has a very humble hole-in-the-wall feel to it, nothing like most of the other Italian places in Boulder. But I actually prefer that type of atmosphere anyway. Highly recommend!! read more

Wonderful! The food was amazing, some of the best Italian we've had sinceoving to Colorado. Every single staff person was charming, welcoming andade is feel like family. How did we not know about this place? read more

Greatest Italian food in boulder county Simple, home made and great service Get it to go now, but great place for quiet Weekday dinner in the future read more

Small and intimate, but very delicious. Had the lasagna with not spicy sauce and scalloped potatoes. The salad with beans was good as well. Very satisfied! read more

Good, although I prefer my pasta more on the al dente side. We made a res for 4 diners as the place is small. We ordered the tri color salad, fettucine arrabiata (very spicy and delicious), fettuccine Bolognese (noodles overcooked in my estimation) and eggplant parmigiana. The bread was a standout and we had to restrain ourselves from ordering more. This is a decent Italian restaurant in Bouder. read more

See all

Had an amazing dinner here! Although the food was a little but on the expensive end than expected also had smaller portions. Overall the staff is very friendly and helpful! Very much a family owned business, which I love the over aspect! read more

I thought most of you must be crazy because to me coming from Chicago who does better Italian. I was wrong. This is a very cute little place. I would rather they had tables close to the ground and not way up high but when you get food like this who cares! I was amazed at how good this was. I had the Gnocchi with garlic and pesto. My daughter had the gluten free Gnocchi with a red sauce. Son in law had Chicken Parm Sister had the black noodles with seafood. Every item on the plates was delicious! I mean great! Being a person who loves to cook I make Italian food and no it is not as authentic as this. I recommend this place 100% YUM read more

Looking for a last min diner due to another location taking way to long so I called and the got my wife and I a small table. They were extremely busy but thw food was soooooo worth the wait. I would come back in a heart beat read more

Delicious food !! Visited this restaurant on a tuesday evening. The place was not too crowded and the ambience was cozy. We ordered Spaghetti with arabiatta sauce and Linguini Mare Nero both of which were delicious and the quantity was abundant. The sauce was pretty good and as I asked to make it spicy it was perfected to my taste. The Linguini Mare Nero which has shrimps and mussels with black pasta was sumptous. For desert I tried cannoli which was nice. The staff was friendly and the chef personally came up to ask our opinion, they seemed to care a lot about the customer which is something we appreciate. Its a great place for casual dining not exactly fine dining as the seating is on bar stools which many may not find comfortable. But if you love good food that shouldn't be a bother. Looking forward to my next visit to this place. read more

Il Pastaio - Linguini Mare Nero - Italian Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

See all

The best Italian food we have ever eaten. And we've been to Italy. The owners are from Miami however the cook is Italian. And you can tell. Homemade pasta and absolutely delicious sauces. Every kind of pasta you can think of and every kind of sauce you can think of. I have a garlic allergy and thought Italian food was never going to be available for me but this place actually had garlic free Pomodoro sauce which was scrumptious. Fantastic service as well. I would get a reservation if I were you since this place is super popular. And with good reason. read more

Stopped here when I was in Boulder for the day because I heard it was the best pasta in Boulder. Did not disappoint, I loved the mushroom ravioli with pesto sauce. Service was incredibly friendly over the phone and in person. read more

Awesome. Excellent, happy service with our take out order.the chicken Parmesan was huge and delicious. The mushroom ravioli with pesto/Alfredo sauce was a stunning combo and I had shroom ravioli with mariciata Sauce. Can't wait to go back and try more combos as you get to pick your own pasta and sauce. I've been in Boulder a long time and embarrassed that it took me so long to try this place. Small inside seating. They also have bulk ordering which would make a family dinner easy as well as party catering. read more