I still miss Jean Louis, his croissants, his black bean cilantro ravioli. RIP, you talented chef. You were a true gem who brought great joy to our little city. read more

Jean Louis' little store is a treasure that is big on love and flavour. It will make you want to never buy pasta from anywhere else. If you are new to the area have him show you some of his favorite things when you step inside. You will not be disappointed. It's also a great place to stop for a morning coffee and croissant to/from the Salem ferry. I adore this human and am so thankful he is in Salem. Jean Louis is part of the critical and unique fabric that make Salem so wonderful. It's a must on everyone's list! read more

This such a cool little shop. The guy who runs it was super helpful, gave me some recipe ideas and pulled some unique ingredients out of a secret hiding place. I went for the pasta, was pleasantly surprised with all the extras! read more

The sandwiches, if you got there in time, were divine. Sadly, Jean Louis died in 2023 and the store has closed.

"MOTHERFUCKINGTITS!" I thought to myself as I chewed a long ribbon of garlic and chive pappardelle. I made a sauce to go with it and it was good but a pasta sauce is like a dress: It's only as hot as the girl it's on. A dress could be designed by Armani but if you put it on someone who looks like she swallowed a UFO, it might as well be a tent. Put a potato sack on a CrossFit girl, though, and she looks ready to walk the red carpet. Jean Louis's pasta is Michelle Jenneke. This top-shelf pasta costs more than your average packet of Barilla because it's handmade and flavored well. I bought the sun-dried tomato fettucine and the garlic and chive pappardelle. The second I dropped the pappardelle into the water, it filled the apartment with a herby aroma that smelled like it should have been coming from a kitchen in Avellino dominated by a 300-pound mamma. It made my mouth water. The pasta took about ten minutes to be just a little over al dente. It tasted amazing. It would have been good just with some salt and a drizzle of olive oil. But I had some gently sauteing garlic waiting. I also toasted a chile de arbol for a few minutes, tore it up, and threw it into the hot oil with the garlic to infuse the dish with some heat. I saved some of the pasta water and immediately threw the drained pasta into the hot oil. I then threw in some homemade chicken broth and turned the heat to high. I tossed it well and then grated some Parmesan cheese over the pasta to thicken the sauce and flavor it further. Then I tossed in a few tablespoons of Calabrian chili sauce and the juice from a lemon. Not too much because I wanted the pasta to be the star of the dish. I reduced the sauce, thickening it even further, and gave the pan a couple of vigorous tosses. I plated it and garnished it with some chopped parsley. It was sex. The pasta held the sauce well and I tasted garlic and chive in every bite. Garlic and chive is a fantastic combination for pasta dough. It's going to be hard to go back to regular pasta after this. I would take the Commuter Rail to Salem just to get more pasta from Jean Louis. read more

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I went here this morning (note: you may want to call or just stop by to verify hours; google listing said open at 11, but I was right near there at 10, so I stopped by and he was open) -- amazingly delicious! I bought some fresh linguine. Very much looking forward to making that tonight. In addition, I read so many good things about his ravioli, so I also bought some goat cheese and portobello ravioli. I literally couldn't wait to try them, so I made some for breakfast (I LOVE portobello). I added just a touch of butter as the "sauce". Soooo delicious. I cooked 5 of the ravioli but I could have been fine with 2 or 3. I ate all 5 of course because they're that plate-licking (some of the filling had spilled out) yummy. Owner was so friendly too! I was going to buy the packaged linguine but when he learned I was making it tonight, he suggested the fresh batch he'd made for Christmas and had frozen. He said it'd look just like I had made the pasta fresh that day :D. Can't wait! So happy this place is in town! The ravioli (I'm guessing the linguine won't disappoint) is better than anything I tasted during my quad-city trip to ITALY! UPDATE: The linguine was just as yummy!! read more

Niche hand made pasta, cheeses and charcuterie in residential area of Salem. Who knew! Super Friendly and helpful staff. Small speciality items like hard to find vinaigrettes, truffle oils etc... B sure not to miss the baked goods and house made rotating soups. 5 stars no doubt read more

Love going there. Jean Louis a hidden gem. Real European style sandwiches made to order. Gelato, hand made pasta, the best baguette this side of the Atlantic. Just a fun stop. Cheeses, dried meats. read more

Save your Money....first the entire store is filled with cigarette smoke because I guess Jean Louis cares more about smoking in his shop than he does about his customers. Should have picked up on that hint right away but then we made the mistake of buying $30 worth of pasta. Brought it home and the pasta smells like an ash tray because of his constant smoking. Threw it away and wasted $30. No thanks Jean Louis. You should open a smoke shop instead. read more

Fabulous pasta, olive oils and sauces abound in this Salem treasure. Pastas are all made and frozen to go. Great for last minute dinner ideas. read more

While out today, my girlfriend and I stopped by Jean Louis Pasta Shop. She had told me about this shop about a month ago and we finally made our way there. And what I'm about to say will blow your mind! We bought the 6 cheese ravioli along with the creamy parmesan vodka sauce and our taste buds celebrated from the first bite to the last. No morsel was left on our dish. Not even the dog got to lick any of the sauce off. This was like eating in the North End at a chefs table! I highly recommend Jean Louis Pasta, you would be crazy to over look the place! read more

I decided to try out this place after hearing a recommendation from some friends. Originally I thought "Homemade pasta is nice, but can it really be that fantastic?" The answer is yes!! My boyfriend and I walked around, perusing the variety of colors, shapes, and flavors Jean Louis' pasta has to offer. We decided on a bag of Smoked Mozzarella and Asparagus Ravioli, a bag of Three Cheese Ravioli, and a bag of Lemon Basil Pasta (...thicker than fettuccine, can't remember its name). We also asked for a recommendation for sauce and got an Herb Marinara. The ravioli are both AMAZING. I'll be honest -- my grandmother has made homemade ravioli on Christmas and Easter for as long as I can remember and, while they're good (and she's even of Italian descent), his ravioli blew hers away! (Don't tell her!) They are giant ravioli, with lots of filling that is full of tons of flavor. I can't wait to go back and try more; he has a huge variety of flavors there, and from what I hear, they change occasionally, too. They come ten to a bag, which is enough for a good sized meal for two (and I like to eat a lot!), or for a smaller meal for three (though you'll have to fight over who gets that odd one out!). Jean Louis's shop is located on Derby St -- make sure you keep walking past all the other shops as it's slightly past the usual row of stores (across from the VFW and a laundromat). This shop is so good and I want them to do well and stick around -- so much so that I was finally prompted to write my first yelp review! Go give them a visit, you'll totally be happy you did. read more

I was surprised to find a handmade pasta shop in Salem. Call me foolish but the city just doesn't have that Italian vibe like say the North end or the Back Bay fancy shmancy feel. Who would know this hidden gem was here?. The store front is very modest with just a sidewalk sandwich board to announce thier specialities. When you walk in it looks and feels like Paris and the store attendant ( idk if this was the owner or pasta maker) had French accent! How weird is that ?! Loaves of yummy French bread stacked neaty along side tables of bagged and sorted pasta. All with unusal combinations of flavors. For example I bought garlic with chives and burbon garlic. Among others available - sea salt and onions..... hmm? Too many to list and I'm thinking they change the flavors as often as the variety of veggies seasons change. The only things I'm sad about (which is why I rated a 4 star ) was all the pasta is dry , nothing still moist with refrigeration. Maybe this is a more European style pasta shop ? The cost was reasonable. One bag 8-10 ounce is for two servings $8. I will go back, the flavor was great but very subtle. Best with a light sauce or we did french butter with grated cheese. I think a heavy tomato sauce would over power these delicate strands of very unique pasta. read more

Jean Louis Pasta Shop - a package of pasta sticks - Pasta Shops Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Best croissants ever. Ever. If I lived closer, Jean Louis would be my new best friend.

Yum! Jean-Louis Pasta moved into what had been an empty storefront for at least six years, at the end of my street. Yeah for my tastebuds, and boo for the waistline. All pastas are handmade in the shop, filled, and then frozen. The cook from frozen in under ten minutes. I've tried the five cheese tortellini, and the basil fettucine (great with fresh pesto). Both were excellent. Prices vary based on the fillings. Some are as simple as cheese raviolis, while some sounded extremely complex with multiple incredients. There is a seafood ravioli which will be my next try. The shop also sells oils and sauces. It's tastefully decorated, bright, with numerous plants in the windows. A great addition to the neighborhood. Give it a try! read more

I stopped in here to pick up some pasta, and I was really looking forward to seeing what they had to offer. I picked up several types of ravioli. Because I trust you, dear yelpers, to lead me in the right culinary direction. And yes, the ravioli are fantastic. This evening I cooked up the eggplant/sundried tomato/mozzarella ravioli in some homemade tomato cream sauce, and it was divine. It ain't cheap, that's for sure (the vegan variety costs $10 for 10 ravioli, though some of the other varieties were a little less), but this is good restaurant-quality pasta. And the ravioli are huge. read more

Fabulous pasta and home made sauces made and sold by a charming Frenchman . Better than any store can offer or made at home. read more

The pastas and bread are excellent. We liked the bison and wild mushroom ravioli best, but all the raviolis and Reid pastas we tried were great. The breads were also the best in town. read more

I have never written a review, but this pasta is so good, I had to. My co worker lives a few blocks away from this store, I read the yelp reviews for it and told her to check it out. She called me from the store and told me the flavors of raviolis in the case. It was almost impossible to decide on one, but I picked sweet potato, raisin and walnut with a bottle of Gorgonzola pear dressing. I just made it and couldn't believe how good it was. It was better than anything I've had at a restaurant that was not in France, Italy, New York or Boston. I am a food snob and this blew me away! My friend spent $80.00 there and she is addicted! She is raving about the artichoke and smoked Gouda ravioli. I will make a trip over there on my next payday, I plan to stock my freezer. I guess my friend and I will be joining Jenny Craig in the fall. BTW, for the quality you get, the prices are very reasonable. This is not the kind of pasta you get at the grocery store. read more

Jean Louis Pasta Shop - Sweet potato, raisin and walnut ravioli with Gorgonzola pear dressing! - Pasta Shops Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

The most delicious pasta and pastries that make you feel like your inEurope! The croissants were flaky and tender, not bready like you find in a grocery store. If you are visiting Salem you must visit this shop. read more

The pasta does not taste better outside of Italy. Jean Louis is creative and makes fabulous, fresh noodles and stuffed pasta. read more

Jean Louis Pasta Shop - So many flavors! - Pasta Shops Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

This is unquestionably the best pasta I ever had. We were on a Salem Food Tour with Karen Scalia and stopped there first. We didn't want to leave! The huge gourmet ravioli are wonderful just dressed with a nice fruity EVOO. And the chef proprietor, Jean Louis, so charming in his French accent, is very accommodating. Martha in Beverly read more

Wonderful! SO happy to find a handmade pasta shop not only in the North Shore but right in the middle of Salem. My sister lives on the wharf so we took the dogs for a nice stroll and found this corner store. The owner is very informative and they have a great variety of dried, and fresh pastas. Definitely a must if you're in the area. Just made my last batch of pasta and I'm itching to go back and get more! read more

Great shop owner and staff. Owner is from France and is so helpful. Can't wait to try all the ravioli types I brought home tonight.

5 stars? the pasta was all dried, not fresh and the sauce was all in jars(sealed, like in the supermarket). The sauce had a weird texture and not made with whole tomatoes.Very disappointing, we were really excited about a FRESH pasta shop. read more

Jean Louis' pasta is to die for. He hand makes his raviolis, and each is brimming with yummy ingredients. They are really beautiful. A perfect treat on a cold day or to impress a dinner guest. He's a great addition to the Salem food scene. read more

Jean Louis Pasta Shop - jean louis pasta shop - Pasta Shops Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Pricey but what you get it high quality fresh pasta for those extra special dinners. Try the sausage and roasted garlic ravioli if they have any left! read more

Artisanal pasta! A lot of variety and the ingredients are high in quality and flavor. The handmade ravioli is a must try!

Jean-Louis pasta is, without question, the best pasta I have ever had! It's made right in the store and cooks in only a few minutes. We have tried several varieties and all were great. I am very happy to have them here in Salem! read more

So happy to have a pasta shop in Salem! We tried the cheese tortellini and the seafood pasta. What's better, the way they look or the way they taste? It's a toss up; the look of the pasta is part of its charm, but it is really delicious as well. We had to get something special for a New Year's party and this was a great opportunity to try some fancy pasta. All of the guests loved it and raved about it. We served it with (our own) basil pesto. We are really delighted with this new store and can't wait to try some of the other offerings. Go check it out--you will be so glad you did. read more

This guy really knows how to make some ravioli and bread! Wow. Very very good food. Cute shop, too.

Delectable. Beautiful, pillowy ravioli with creative fillings. Great range of options for vegetarians, seafood-lovers, etc. I'd give them a 5 if it weren't for the prices--usually $10-$13 for a pack of 10 ravioli. I appreciate they're an art form, and I keep going back for more, but I feel the need to warn people about the prices. read more

I cannot say enough about the pasta-- truly awesome. I made some fresh pesto to go with the Swiss and asparagus ravioli and it was great. Love the lemon and basil linguini with shrimp scampi. Definitely a special place! read more

Diamond in the rough! Jean Louis is an old school master at making pasta, raviolis, pastery, bread, etc. Price is up there. But you are getting super quality. read more

Frozen, ready for me to make at home with any sauce of creation, fresh, and excellent. Best pasta I have ever had. Chef's from France read more

Could be my new favorite place. Pasta & sauce I purchased tasted like an expensive meal in the North End! Cannot wait to go back.

Delicious, fresh homemade pasta and sauces. A tad on the pricier side but definitely worth it!

We happened to walk by on the first day they were open, bought some sundried tomato ravioli and were were hooked. We've since been back four times and tried four different raviolis plus the fresh egg noodles, all were outstanding! The shop had been vacant forever and we wondered what kind of business could make a go of the location. Pasta Guy will do well here as long as we spread the word of his excellent product. I know we will be there at least once a week! He said as of Monday he will be accepting credit cards. read more

Spread the word! It's located slightly off the usual walking path so it's a bit harder to stumble upon but we are desperate for the shop to do well! The ravioli and pasta are all outstanding and obviously quite fresh (we've tried several varieties and have loved them all). Jean Louis will answer any questions you have about how to prepare it and what to prepare it with. One bag of ravioli easily feeds 2 adults. It's a godsend for those of us who are terrible cooks but love good food. read more

Absolutely delicious fresh handmade pasta. This is as good as it gets. I've been to The North End in Boston and New York and Italy. This stuff is the real deal and dare I say, it is the best handmade pasta I've had. There's an abundance of choices (escargot and pesto, vegetable and cheese, Alaskan king crab and mascarpone, as well as, walnut, gorgonzola and apple, and three cheese) and the list goes on and on. All seafood and other ingredients are real, no fake crab here! You can watch him make pasta which is neat. Pasta can be bought dry (Fettucine and Pappardelle ) or frozen (tortellini and raviolis). Ask Jean Louis what sauces go best with your type of pasta and you won't be disappointed. Prices are a little high, but when factoring in for the quality, taste, and customer service, very reasonable. Also, most ingredients are organic; a nice plus! Hope you enjoy as much as I did!!! read more

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