The food is very very good. You always have to join the waitlist an hour or more ahead to be able to dine in there. But in my opinion it's totally worth it. They give you their famous stretch bread and hot tomato oil for free. Food is a little pricy, but I must say their portion size is insanely big. Even as someone that eats A LOT, I was completely full halfway through my eating. All the pasta is freshly made and all the dishes have been tasting very very good. Their cocktails are also amazing. Given how busy they are, they serve you food impressively fast. Definitely a cool spot to go in Syracuse. read more

We were visiting family in Syracuse and had seen Pastabilities on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and had to stop in. Parking is in the street, dont forget to pay the parking meters, we saw them giving tickets for unpaid meters. We ate lunch here around 1:00 and the wait wasn't bad at all. Being from out we were a bit confused at first- there was nobody greeting us at the door and nobody seating people. We saw a sign that said "lunch is self serve." We were still a little confused but after we found someone to get our questions answered we were good to go! We got in the cafeteria style line and when it was time to order, I asked the cook what his favorite dish is and he recommend the Hot Spicy Tomato Oil with fettucci noodles and a meatball- thank you!!! It was just amazing. Everything was fresh and flavorful. That was one of the best meatballs I've ever had. The prices were really not bad at all amd everyone was friendly. We got to pick our own table and it was a pretty chill experience. I loved it and am sad to go back home where there is no Pastabilities. read more

Pastabilities - Hot Spicy Tomato Oil with a meatball and fetachini noodles - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

This is Syracuse's best restaurant. I come here quite regularly, especially for lunch. Usually the guy Tom remembers me at lunch but people don't always remember me at dinner. No biggie. The spicy hot tomato oil is a must try. My favorite pasta on the menu used to be cheese tortellini and carbonara but they stopped serving the cheese tortellini so I get the cheese ravioli or lobster ravioli instead. My second favorite pasta is fettuccine and the spicy hot tomato oil mixed with the Alfredo sauce. Usually not on the menu but you can request it. If the spicy hot tomato oil is too spicy for you, the Alfredo takes the kick down a few notches. The bread is awesome too. They could use some new red wines. Maybe some from Vinomania. I love pastabilities! read more

See all

This place is overrated. I have been to pastabilities a few times and I think their food is average in terms of taste and originality. They don't take reservations and most of their dishes are not creative enough. The food is not bad, but not good enough for 3 stars. The inconvenience of having to wait so long for a table and not getting proper or decent service makes me not want to try harder to go back. read more

Food is not as great for the price. Service is good and the place is a bit crowded most of the time.

Went in on a Friday night, there was a 30 minute wait but the turn around at the bar was fast so we decided to just eat our dinner there. Started off with the complimentary hot tomato oil and stretch bread. The hot tomato oil was absolutely amazing and addicting! We ordered a second order! I then had the garlic clam sauce with linguini and the Bf had the burger. The clam sauce pasta was average, can't go wrong with garlic, oil, and clams really. I'd probably order something different next time just to explore the menu more. The burger really stole the show, oddly enough, something about goat cheese on a burger that never ceases to amaze me. And that port wine reduction...lawd. All in all I would definitely go back to try more and buy a bottle of that hot tomato oil, maybe on a less busy night next time. :) read more

Pastabilities - Sliding beer tap list. - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Prepare for long wait times, but believe me..well worth it.. Came in late night with some work friends, waited for about 30-40 min (large group).. servers and hostess are super nice, great cozy atmosphere and awesome wine selection. Please prepare to die and go to heaven. Their bread and Chile tomato sauce is absolutely amazing amazing... AMAZING. I had the Cesar salad with chicken, so good. My buddy had the pesto pasta, also amazing.. and my other girlfriend had the penne with meat sauce. Everything on the menu sounded phenomenal and everything I tried was Tasty! I will be returning! read more

I wish Pastabilities took reservations. The food is great. The drinks are great. The service is great.

I'll be honest - the first time I went here, I had pretty terrible service. My mom and stepdad were visiting from out of town and I wanted to take them here because I had heard good things and they had a decent vegetarian selection (the rents are veg). It wasn't crazy busy there for my first visit, but our server disappeared for about a half hour when we were trying to pay the bill. Finally had to just track down someone else instead so we could pay and leave. The food was really really good and for that reason, I gave them another shot. I'm glad I did, because I have been back here many times and had many great experiences! The food is definitely out of the box thinking and the Hot Tom oil is to die for!! While living in the area, whenever I had visitors, I always tried to take them here for an authentic GOOD Syracuse meal! I'm glad the food was yummy enough to return, because this has turned into one of my favorite Syracuse area restaurants. Keep doing what you're doing! read more

All I can say about this restaurant is sauce, sauce, sauce. If you have not experienced this restaurant at least once in your life you are missing out. Spicy Hot Tomato oil is sopped up with fresh Italian bread. Its not even funny how delicious it is. I would go just for the sauce but the menu items are out of this world, so unique and tasty its ridiculous. I had the lazagna made with everything that is light and delicious under the sun. It had butternut squash and chicken and veggies in it with sauce that was light. I have never tasted lazagna that sat so well on my belly. The unique items they offer are so delicious please do not be afraid to try something new here it is so worth it. This restaurant has a romantic atmosphere and also a cool night chill spot to lounge with friends as well. read more

Our family (from San Antonio, Texas) planned a visit here while taking our daughter to college. A highlight of travel for me is trying the favorite local eateries. Pastabilities is top rated and deservedly so. It's a cozy setting with impeccable service (our server, Elizabeth, was one of the best I've had). The food was divine. Not an eggplant lover, but my husband's eggplant lasagna is a contender the best lasagna I've ever had. I wanted to try a regional favorite so went with their Chicken Riggies. Very, very good but wish I had ordered the eggplant lasagna . My daughter had a fettuccini Alfredo; excellent. All dishes were perfectly made and the hot Tom oil was so good we took some back with us. Will be back and looking forward to the duck pizza. read more

I drove up to Syracuse. 3hr drive. Just for dinner here after seeing it on Diners Drine.ins and Dives 5 years ago. Was not disappointed. Not as much a dive as I had thought. It's a very popular place and glad I got there early. I was told the bar top had been replaced. I ordered two entrees. Chicken riggies which was rigatoni with grilled chicken in a spicy red sauce.. half order was perfect. Next came out the Duck Pizza. Not a usual pizza pie. Square. Thick. Cheezey. With duck and i think and... check the menu. Only had room for one delish slice. Brought the rest home. Great accommodation. Servers were awesome as were the other customers. read more

Pastabilities - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Simply amazing. Arriving around 11:30 we found a small line inside, moving quickly as other reviews note. My family of 5 ordered 3 bowls of fettuccini Alfredo, 1 bowl of linguini with Bolognese and a small cup of the hot tomato oil; the pasta bowls included a piece of stretch bread. Pasta was dropped after we ordered, sauced and plated in front of us. We couldn't eat it all, although my kids can pack in the pasta -- excellent value! Everything was excellent. The Alfredo was rich -- I bet an order of half Alfredo, half tomato oil would be amazing. The tomato oil with bread was just as superb as Yelp reviews led me to hope. Bolognese was meaty and slightly sweet, with the vegetables peeking through. The linguini was fine, but I'd go with fettuccini next time -- the wider pasta added more texture. While it's unclear from the online menu, you can choose your pasta and sauce from the lunch options. A menu on the wall clarifies which noodles are fresh and which are dried. I noticed the day's salads posted on Facebook, which is a good use of social media for daily options. read more

100% AMAZING place. Great staff, and food. Exceptional COVID outdoor dining, and takeout. Love this place!!

This is a great spot! You will have to wait though (I waited 2 hours) but there are bars in the area to pass the time and it's worth it! The spicy tomato oil is unique and has a powerful flavor, and the bread served with it (given at the start of the meal) is soft and delicious. You can also purchase the spicy tomato oil for home! I ordered zucchini lasagna (a special), and it was the best lasagna I ordered out (comparable to my Italian grandma's recipe- but don't tell her I said that). My boyfriend ordered carbonara and said it was the best he's had. He ordered a drink that he wasn't a fan of, and the staff was kind enough to take it off our bill. This place is totally worth the wait! read more

Went out of town for business...so glad I was referred to PASTABILITIES! This restaurant was fantastic! Staff was so friendly and attentive. The food was 5 star quality!...Had to make sure I had a meal to go for dinner. read more

Amazing food and desserts. Great service. Super hip. My coworkers and I were in town staying at the hotel across the street and we all kept coming back for takeout desserts! Highly recommend the addicting PEANUT BUTTER PRETZEL PIE - creamy smooth fluffy peanut butter whipped topping with a salty and savory graham cracker pretzel crust... all that doused in chocolate chips galore. read more

Pastabilities - PEANUT BUTTER PRETZEL PIE - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

A Syracuse staple that needs to be experienced. The hot tomato oil and the stretch bread are always a slam dunk, and the pasta dishes are fantastic as well. The service is usually pretty good (it can be a little slow when it's super packed, but that's to be expected). As far as Italian places go, it's got a lot of really solid competition in Syracuse, and some of those places top it just a little bit. Still- Pastabilities consistently lives up to the hype, so it earns 5 stars. I highly recommend it! read more

Wow! This place was so good. Came with a coworker based off some advice from the locals. The spicy hot tomato oil was very unique. It was like a warm, spicy tomato soup, but it was an oil that went perfectly with the bread it's served with. I ordered the braised short ribs with pappardelle. The was one of the best dishes I've ever had....period. The pasta is made in house. The short ribs fell apart at the touch. There was a wonderful brown sauce and oil on the dish. I also liked the pine nuts. The dish also came with asparagus, which were cooked well and had grated cheese on top. I'm afraid this place may have ruined me from enjoying any other Italian restaurants. read more

PROS Bakery Fresh Stretch Bread & Spicy Hot Tomato Oil - bread was fresh and chewy, but not served warm (not a problem); oil had just enough heat to call it spicy, but wasn't overly seasoned; this complementary dish makes ordering another appetizer unnecessary; bought a couple jars of the oil to bring home Winter Sangria - surprisingly tasty with allspice, cinnamon, and mint "Wicky-Wicky" Chicken Riggies - another spectacular treatment of this Utica, NY tradition; addictingly spicy; chicken was a touch on the dry side, though Caramelized Banana Fosters Cheesecake - heavenly (literally); every bite just melted in my mouth, though the bananas on top were a bit rubbery Service - prompt and friendly CONS Baked Hot Tom Tortellini "Mac & Cheese" - good, but not great; cheese didn't have a special enough flavor Dark Chocolate Layer Cake - okay, but the cake was dry and the raspberry flavor wasn't prevalent enough Atmosphere - not particularly relaxing as it was very busy and, therefore, noisy read more

See all

Stopped by Pastabilities on a road trip as per Guy Fieri's recommendation and was super impressed!! The homemade tomato sauce is spectacular.. I could have kept eating bread with that sauce and ordered nothing else!! Also tried the duck bacon flatbread and two of the pastas - everything was delicious!! I particularly LOVED the flatbread. Service was great and prices are very reasonable too. read more

Pastabilities - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Dropped by based on over the top enthusiastic review in Pinterest. Review was right on. Do not miss this gem if you are in the area. Suggest you try after 1 pm to avoid line but line moved quickly so no big deal. This is cafeteria style so you need to make up mind quickly since all selections look great and are great based on our party's experience. Meatballs were favorite. The fantastic bread is from across the street. We went over after lunch and bought sandwiches and salads to go for dinner. Again fantastic read more

Pastabilities - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

I always saw a long line outside whenever I passed by so I decided to go in right at 4pm on a Saturday. We were quickly seated and looking at the menu while the line got longer outside. The food looked really good and tasted just as good. Definitely a must try downtown Syracuse. read more

Pastabilities - The front of the restaurant - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Went there last night with my girlfriend for our 6-month. The restaurant was beautiful and creative (even the bathrooms had their own space theme going on). We ordered the carbonara and the chicken harissa - the harissa was incredible but the carbonara was relatively sub-par. This is an incredible restaurant, but I cannot give them full points due to long waitlist, long wait times when eating, and finally the sub-par carbonara. Despite these things I still highly recommend the restaurant and will personally be trying it again! read more

Nice place to eat. Great bite overall. For an appetizer we had the fresh mozzarella. It was fresh and tasty. We also had the spicy oil with bread. Delicious. For the main course we had the chicken sausage lasagna. Very good. Enough for two. Layers of homemade pasta, chicken sausage, yellow squash and a great white sauce. My wife had the sweet potato ravioli with creamy almond sauce. Very delicate yet succulent. Nothing like homemade ravioli. The service was top notch. read more

Pastabilities - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

So, so good. I have been here once before for dinner and it was awesome. Today for lunch, I had the carbonara with bacon and peas special, it was really good. The restaurant has great ambiance and the staff was very friendly. read more

Pastabilities - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Couple of interesting and VERY tasty items on the menu. My favorite is the duck and bacon pizza. The depth of flavors in this oven delight are a real treat to discover. From the salty smoke of the bacon and richness of the duck to the tangy creaminess of the Humboldt fog cheese to the sweetness of the dried cherries on top this dish really was a great surprise! This can be either a large appetizer or a small meal. And don't forget to try the hot spice infused garlic marinara in which you'll want to dip your bread. Only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the chicken parm was a bit disappointing. Maybe luck of the draw because the rest of the meal was wonderful. Wait service was fantastic. The place gets packed so show up early! read more

See all

Grumpy Gourmand (one-star review) is an a-hole. Pastabilities is Syracuse's best and most consistent restaurant. read more

Overrated and the hype is all BS. My rating is based on my overall experience here. If I should break it down, then it would go like this: Food 4/5 Service 1/5 It took my family and I two weeks to eat here. The first time we tried, we just showed up around 3pm. We were told that the wait time is 5 hours and we should get on the wait list. Not a problem, we left and ate elsewhere. Second time, I called to book a reservation but was told that they don't take reservations. They said we should show up and if they have empty tables, then we can sit. But if no tables are available, then we'd have to wait until one is ready AND after everyone on the supposed "wait list" gets their table. I don't understand how a restaurant so reputable could have such an unprofessional and miscommunative system. Third try, I called 2 hours ahead to get on the wait list, AGAIN was told that we should show up and hope that there's a table available, or to call later on. So I called 30 minutes before wanting to go out. Was told the wait time is 45 minutes. Okay, I gave them my name and 30 minutes later I get a text that says my table is ready and is reserved for 10 minutes. I live 15 minutes away, they told me that I would get updates about my table. At the end, we waited about 30 minutes for our food. It was good, can't lie. But overrated for sure. It's not special, and I won't be returning here. The only truly unique thing about this place is the name. I could see maybe 4 people waiting outside for over 25 minutes. Seen plenty of other reviews regarding this same issue, looks like the owner doesn't think there's any improvement needing to be done here. read more

My wife and I came here for the first time for an early dinner. It was a very nice summer afternoon so we decided to eat outside. They had tables on the sidewalk that were in the sun so we elected to sit on a small covered patio that set directly on the street which I thought was interesting and different. Our waitress was quick to greet us and told us about the menu and promptly took our drink order. I couldn't decide between 2 different types of craft beers so our waitress said I'll bring you a sample of both to help you decide. She returned with the samples along with my wife's glass of wine and I eagerly chose one. Once we gave her our order she returned with fresh baked bread made at their Bakery across the street, it was accompanied with a small plate of homemade sauce, it was totally amazing. My wife ordered the homemade ravioli and asked for it to be baked and topped with mozzarella cheese the waitress said that would be no problem. I order the "Wickey-Wickey Chicken" over homemade angel hair. Both arrived hot and and full of flavor, the sauce is my new favorite! The portions were perfect no doggie bag required! For dessert we chose the chocolate chip cookie sundae, a shareable dessert that topped off a great meal with wonderful service! We'll definitely add this to our list of favorites when visiting the Syracuse area! read more

If say this is a good choice for food and a fun meal. However, my pappardelle bolognese was a bit over cooked pasta, not toothsome enough. My wife's chicken rigatoni wicky wicky was too wicked spicy. My son's carbonara was quite good, but the waitress and I argued over the pasta description. It was said to be linguine, but when have you seen a 1/4" wide linguine... That's called fettuccine, which was also offered. Linguine is at most a football shaped spaghetti, perhaps 1/10" wide. Not a 1/4"! Best item tonight was the fall special: Apple-goat cheese-Parmesan salad with walnuts and an apple vinaigrette. That was delicious! I'd go back for more. The tomato hot oil sauce and bread starter is excellent and addictive. No doubt they've got a signature there. But our waitress clearly needed a bit more sensitivity training. She wanted to go home at 9:30pm. Sorry... read more

See all

Came here during a work trip and all my coworkers recommended it. It was absolutely packed on a Tuesday night and wait times were very long but if I ever come back to Syracuse, I will be sure to stop here! The tomato bread dip is AMAZING. I have never tasted anything so delicious for bread dipping in my entire life and I cannot stop thinking about it. It was a perfectly spiced tomato soup texture that went AMAZING with the bread. I also got the Bolognese and my coworker got the beef short rib, both of which were very good. Overall, very pleasant dining experience! read more

Pastabilities - It's so punny! - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Back when I was an undergrad in SU, we knew about Pastabilities. There was one place on campus you could get their divine Spicy Tomato Oil and, if you were quick enough, their fresh baguette. That was years ago, and even though I'm from New York City (where we have no shortage of fine Italian and pasta restaurants), Pastabilities remains one of my absolute favorites and a request every time I visit upstate. It has never let me down--which, let's be honest, is more than what we can say about some of our relationships. I've been here for both dinner (always worth the wait) and lunch, had everything from pesto and garlic oil to meatballs and sausages to penne and linguine. Everything is stellar: the service, the fresh bread and oil, the handmade pastas, and the sauces. Pastabilities also doesn't try to overcharge you; the prices are always fair and the portions hefty. Much like in life, after working my way around the menu, I've settled down with my go-to dish: Pastabilities spicy hot tomato oil with handmade linguine, and either meatballs or sausages. Pretty basic, yet consistently delicious. Trust me, this will be your ride-or-die bae. The neighborhood is one of the nicer areas in Syracuse (because let's admit, it's not all rainbows and butterflies). The only downside to Pastabilities is its hours. It closes from 2:30pm to 4/5pm daily to prepare for dinner service and I like my serious relationships at my beck and call. That's not too much to ask for, right? All jokes aside, it's just simply really, really good and I really, really wish it was in New York City. Don't forget to get the spicy tomato oil to go. It's special, it's nice, and it now comes in a sealed package that keeps for months. read more

Pastabilities - Spicy tomato oil with linguine (a hot top, I believe) and a giant ass meatball. - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Sat at the bar. Got a nice pour of Chianti and ordered the short ribs. They were only okay, really nothing to write home about, not a lot of flavor, and the house made pasta was also only ok. The place was packed. The wait staff checked in with me, and I said I'd love some pepper, and with my hands pantomimed the grinding motion of a pepper mill. They returned with a pepper shaker, which I was surprised about, because when you ask for pepper for a $32 entree, one would expect a fresh pepper mill. I figured oh well, and shook some pepper powder on my meal, hoping for improvement in flavor. Then a few minutes later, the customer next to me asked for pepper and was immediately handed a nice big pepper mill! Honestly? Fresh pepper would have really helped me enjoy my meal. It was really only so so, and I will not return to this place again. By the way, I saw what the folks on the other side of me ordered and it did not look appetizing at all. Huge bowls of glop. Not even any garnish. Yikes. Good service, friendly staff. read more

The best pasta in all of Central NY! If you're in town for just one night, go early to try to get a table. Wishing Pastabilities the best!

Love love love eating here lunch or dinner! Make sure you get there early for lunch or you are waiting in a long line but the food is worth the wait. Gluten free options available and done right! Dinner is also a wait but you can always go up to the bar which has great options! read more

Going back home to California, Pastabilities is one of the main places I miss most about Syracuse. It is literally the best pasta place I've EVER been to and the hot tomato oil is something I dream about all summer and winter break! One time, I had so much hot tomato oil, I couldn't even eat the pasta I ordered. My favorite pasta is the Wicked Chicken Riggies. It's a bit spicy, on some days its really spicy... but it's soooooo good. I highly recommend going for lunch because the wait /line is shorter, it's like a buffet style ( order in a moving line with complimentary bread), and it's cheaper!! read more

PastaBAElities Where do I start. well for starters I miss ya. Thought this joint was overrated my first two years as a Cuse student, but once I went for their lunch hours...oooWEE MAMA. Now we talking. Tbh, I think it's still overrated for dinner, especially if you have the patience of a 5 YO like myself and don't like waiting in lines. BUT, lunch is a quick in and out cafeteria style, and let's not forget CHEAP. I'm talking pasta, salad, bread for under 15$. Wow. great deal. Went abroad to Italy too and lemme tell ya when I am missing the al dente pasta, pastabilities got my back. UGH, love you, miss you shawty. read more

The food here at this establishment is pretty decent however I have waited many times to post this because I have been hoping perhaps my issues are only of that moment/service but unfortunately the last 3 times I have arrived and ordered the food takes a tremendous amount of time to arrive..... almost 50-70mins just for a pasta dish and this has happened several times. Besides the wait time this last time 9/3 the waitress was very rude and quick to say a witty comment- very unprofessional and won't be coming back. Very Disappointed. read more

Always a delicious meal and great service! Pasta's has even done an incredible job maneuvering the pandemic and offering wonderful curbside pickup and other options. We LOVE Pastabilities! It is always a consistent meal, never have ever had a bad experience. read more