The meatballs are not that great. The pasta is cook to perfection local pasta place where u can eat after you're done with shopping since the restaurant is located at a mall plaza. Very laid back ambiance. The service is friendly but they don't allow you to do substitutions on the dishes. They also have a good variety of desserts read more

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I've always come to this strip mall to dine at Nomad. However, due to recommendations from my friends, we decided to give Pastiamo a shot. Normally we stay away from pasta restaurants unless there's something unique to it. However, Pastiamo hit a home run immediately. From Chef Francesca being ever present in the restaurant - from serving to seating - to the homemade focaccia you receive as a starter, it was an impeccable dining experience. Then you add the nice plates and simple, yet warm decor. You just can't go wrong. We split the forza Italia as an appetizer to get more of a focaccia kick. We loved the homemade bread. The three cheeses were a nice and complimentary touch. Also, dousing this with some freshly squeezed orange juice didn't hurt. For the main course, we split a pesto gnocchi and a tagliatelle alla Norma. The pasta was truly homemade. Felt super fresh. The sauces were great and not too oily or salty. It was so good that we decided to bring some home to my parents. We will be back again! read more

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More of a 4.5. The pastas are incredibly fresh, cooked perfectly al dente, and are accompanied by rich sauces. The gnocchi and ravioli were probably our two favorites. Focaccia is also a great app. Service is friendly. I just wish the inside was a little more upscale, because although you can sit down, it's empty and there's more of a takeout feel. The food however, is good enough to justify a nice, sit-down restaurant. Overall, would recommend. read more

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TLDR: delicious foods with quality ingredients Pastiamo is a cute little sit down restaurant with bright decor and a modern, casual feel. I tried the burrata dip and lasagna, which were both beyond my expectations. The burrata dip was milky and rich with sweet / umami bursts of tomato. Paired with thin focaccia and savory crisps, the appetizer made for amazing bites that I still think about. The lasagna was rich and flavorful. Layers of rich meat sauce, cheese, and bechemal were savory, nutty, hearty - a satisfying bite on the colder days. The casual appearance had me fooled me a bit on the price, especially the burrata dip. I definitely had some sticker shop. The dip was $18 and the lasagna was around $24. Both these prices are reasonable for the area but were more expensive than I would pay for a casual lunch. It's also a bit too casual for me to consider for a nicer dinner, so Pastiamo falls in a gray zone for me on the pricing. I loved the food here and would come back more often if there were lunch deals or cheaper options I loved the food and would come back more ofte read more

Pastiamo Pasta Bar & Cafe - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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When we saw there was a pasta bar in the area, there was absolutely no hesitation as to where we were going to eat for dinner. How many pasta bars have you heard of or been to (crickets)? So when we had the option of multiple different types of pastas along with sauces and breads to dip, we knew we were in for a great meal! In addition to the plethora of choices, the sizes of the portions were also huge! We had an awesome time at Pastiamo and we think you will as well! read more

Pastiamo Pasta Bar & Cafe - Italian Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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Cute spot for lunch or a family dinner. Lots of appetizers and focaccia to pick from. Make sure to order the meatballs. They were delicious and served in their signature red sauce. The eggplant that comes with prosciutto and on the sandwiches is a bit spicy but good flavor. When ordering the pasta you pick which pasta you'd like and which sauce. They were all very generous portions and anywhere from $18 and up. The food is authentic Northern Italian food. The owners are a local Princeton family and you can tell how much love they put into their work! read more

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I recommend the food at Pastiamo. It was very delicious, but hope the service is better than we had two weeks ago at lunch. The server was working alone, busy indoors & out and confused. I can never fault a server under those circumstances. I look forward to another lunch there and an opportunity to have the food again. By the way, my gluten free sister said it was the best gf pasta she'd ever had & wants to back for the Norma! read more

It was empty when we arrived and that was in a thursday afternoon. We ordered one of the specials which is chicken cordon bleu. For appetizers we got the bruschette. We also got bucatini alla carbonara and fig salad. The carbonara was a bit salty for me and very peppery. read more

Pastiamo Pasta Bar & Cafe - Chicken cordon bleu, fig salad, and bucatini alla carbonara - Italian Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Great pasta, cafe atosphere. Had the Tagliere antipasta, Focaccia Genovese, Cacio pepe, and Carbonara. All was excellence. Will return.

We came here for Easter Sunday lunch and were so glad we did! As another reviewer mentioned, this is truly Princeton's authentic Italian gem--finally, a spot that delivers the real deal. We started with the Forza Italia appetizer, a vibrant trio of focaccia with pesto, stracciatella, and marinara. Beautifully presented and full of flavor. For our mains, we all went with pasta. I had the fresh tagliatelle with arrabbiata--spicy, bold, and absolutely satisfying. My daughter had the penne carbonara. While she's had better, it was still solid and traditional with the egg yolk. My husband ordered the daily special: spaghetti with limone and provolone. It was just okay, a bit mild compared to the rest. All in all, I highly recommend this place if you're craving a true taste of Italy in Princeton! read more

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A friend of mine who is bonkers for pasta told me to come here. So we did! A lovely Italian Family run business. Francesca Is the head chef . She is from Italy and she brings the authentic recipes from her birthplace. Fresh ! Delicious! Nice portions on charming dishware. The ambiance is so honey. I love the tile and the nature themed dishes. So very welcoming! I ordered fig salad as an appetizer. I ordered gnocchi pesto and for dessert we split tiramisu. Bonus is that it comes with a SPANGL dishware which is a local treasure and one of my favs. They feature special regional dishes from different areas of Italy. Each week. The staff is So knowledgeable. I enjoyed it!! I would come back. Had I brought my ukelele today I would sing a soft yet meaningful song about the simple and rich taste of my pesto here. Tender and cute pasta. The preciousness of sweet folks sharing their beloved dishes with us all. Make special memories . read more

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Pastiamo is my first adventure into custom handmade pasta, and it was a pleasant experience that had me come back a second time! The ambiance is very cozy and the colorful dishware reminded me of family and home. The staff are always welcoming and there to explain anything on the menu! You can't go wrong with any type of pasta. I personally like ravioli for the bonus of more cheese. This restaurant is the first place I've had a sauce like Alla'arrabiata which has some chili peppers and is much needed for me in pasta. It added a much needed kick without overwhelming the dish. The pesto is also delicious! I think I'll try carbonara next. For dessert, the tiramisu was a bit more coffee than sweet for my taste but the cannoli was a standout dessert as it made me want to order 20 more. The crunch of the shell was perfect and the cream was not too sweet. Our other favorite dish has been the Burrata appetizer. The cheese is very creamy and balances well with the tartness of the cherry tomatoes. The bread that comes with it is also flavorful. Pastiamo is easy to miss (along with other must go to's here) in this shopping complex tucked away in Princeton. But it ranks highly on my pasta list, and remains a spot that we'll keep coming back to! read more

Pastiamo Pasta Bar & Cafe - Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Despite limited Italian menu, food is great. Love the meatballs and pasta. Service leaves a bit to be desired.

The sandwiches were delicious and made for a satisfying main meal. We also shared the pesto gnocchi as an appetizer, and it was super good, definitely a highlight. Service was great too! From what I saw, one person (I think the girl at the front) was handling things and did a great job, very attentive. The space itself is simple, cute, and has a relaxed café-bar vibe. It's in a great location, not too crowded, and feels nicely tucked away. The affogato ice cream was divine, highly recommend trying it! Overall, a neat little café that's perfect for a quick lunch or even a casual dinner. Loved it and would absolutely recommend! read more

4.5 rounded up to 5. We went on a Saturday late afternoon/early evening. We sat outside with our little dog. The inside was quite small but cozy and cute. The burrata plate was so good it exceeded my expectations. Strongly recommend. The pastas were well made. Sauces were decent. We loved the affogato. The napoleon was very pretty and tasted okay. When we were ready for the check, the waitress insinuated that she would like us to tip her in cash (as opposed to by credit card). We didn't carry cash, so tipped with our card. She seemed disappointed. read more

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Unique experience with lovely diners sitting next to us comparing our first time meals here. Overall a very positive experience and the wait staff was terrific! read more

Great food! I had the fig salad and Cacio e pepe and both were absolutely delicious! The owner is pleasant and checks on the tables...much appreciated read more

My wife's friend recommended this restaurant to us, so we decided to go with her. We even joked that if the food wasn't good, she would be the one payin, but she was right. The food, service, and atmosphere were all excellent. We had a great time, and I ended up paying for everyone's meal. read more

Service was quick and bright. Layout was initially a little confusing - when you walk in there is a register so thought the format was to order and sit but they sit you down and have table service. Food. As people pointed out, their portions are small and expensive for the portion. Tagliatelle was ok. It was a bit on the thin side and almost had an egg noodle taste/feel to it. Had the ragu. i really don't think of it as a ragu. It was more like a bolognese. I think of ragu more like chunks of meat that have just fallen apart. I will also say that it was a little on the watery side - you can see in other people's photos a little bit of the liquid around the plate. Don't get me wrong, it had a good taste but just saying that it was different from what I've experienced at other places. I also liked that it wasn't overly salty. Pear salad. Kinda meager and small. The pear slices were REALLY thin. The Gorgonzola was also a little odd - they were cubes that were kinda rubbery opposed to crumbly. Tasted fine but the texture was a little different from what I experienced. It was a little small for $12 bucks. read more

Solid little Italian join making pasta and sandwiches. Great coffee and elegant yet comfy atmosphere. Lots of gluten free options for the celiac folks! They keep things separate and even have gluten free focaccia!!! Friendly service. Will be back for sure :) read more

Fig salad came with no strawberries, despite it showing strawberries on their website photo. Dressing on side was filled only half way with oil. Was supposed to be maple syrup, balsamic and olive oil. It was as if they didn't shake the dressing bottle before pouring it. Disappointed. My gnocchi was the size of golf balls, again, despite the normal gnocchi I saw on their website. Food was served cold, even though it was picked up and I live across the street. Was home in 30 seconds of pick up. Photo on website does not depict what I received. We are very disappointed. Will not return ! Especially being told we were wrong over the phone. Good luck with this business . read more

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Pastiamo opened up near us so we decided to check it out. It's located in the same plaza as Nomad's pizza and Taim. We ordered the Pesto trofie, spaghetti arrabiata, focaccia with mushroom, and Italian soda. The pesto pasta was top tier! It tasted so fresh. The spaghetti arrabiata was good, not great - would probably order another sauce next time. We really enjoyed the fresh focaccia with mushroom. We didn't get to chat with the owners but they were around and seemed nice! I can see this place doing really well! read more

Pastiamo Pasta Bar & Cafe - Spaghetti arrabiata and pesto trofie - Italian Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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This is it. This place right here. Best Italian in Princeton. Not an exaggeration. Don't read another review, just come here for real. The quality of food is unmatched. The flavors are authentic. The portion sizes are as they should be. I had the Rigatoni Arrabiata, Bucatini Carbonara, Meatballs and Burrata Dip. The pasta was cooked to perfection. The arrabiata sauce was the right balance of spicy and tart. The carbonara was gorgeously flavored properly with the guanciale and amazingly thick consistency without use of cream. The meatballs were tender, simple and hit the spot. The stracciatela in the burrata dip was smoooooth and delicious. The negative reviews I read here are ridiculous. Like if Olive Garden is your favorite Italian and you like to gorge yourself in Cheesecake Factory American chain restaurant portion sizes for $20 + unlimited breadsticks while leaving a $2 tip for your servers... just say that Overall this place is 100/10. Pastiamo is that girl, she EATS and so will you. read more

Dry pasta with very little flavor. Tried to let the server know, but she was too busy to flag down. Not impressed at all! Great fig salad. We won't be back nor would I recommend this restaurant. read more

Very impressed with the ingredients and freshness of the food. The atmosphere was friendly.

What Paisan doesn't love fresh pasta served through an Italian prism of delicious sauces and sides. Where Pastiamo falls short is value and atmospherics. Call me old school but when I'm paying a significant premium for dinner (let's be real, the margin on pasta is eye watering) I'd like to be seated in a formal sit-down restaurant where I can enjoy my meal and relax... not order at the counter and bus my own table like some Panera Bread refugee. But that's just me. Otherwise, I'm still doling out four stars for the quality of the meal. As Brian Wilson once said, "I just wasn't made for these times." Four stars. read more

Bottom line: Food good, but for portion/price ratio I'm not a fan, at all. I met a good foodie friend here based on the all 5 star reviews. Her dish came out first, bucatini carbonara. We both looked at the portion size and were disappointed. This was homemade dry pasta at over $20 for an appetizer sized serving. My own dish posted photo looks pretty good I'll agree( tagliatelle ragu) cute plate too. But keep in mind this is a small sized plate, one you might use for a salad or side dish if at home. There also appears to be a good amount of the ragu. That's deceiving as well, once it was mixed with the very good fresh pappardelle, I needed grated cheese to add flavor. When I make a meat sauce at home I'd use at least twice the amount of sauce for a similar portion of pasta. Hell, I'd probably serve myself twice the amount of pasta too. And it's a shame, the sauce was good. If the portion allowed I might have used the included focaccia sticks to sop it up. We inquired about the size of the over $10 salads and were shown a similar small plate and told they were probably not of a shareable size. I did get a slice of the potato focaccia at $6 I think. I liked it, garlic sauce underneath the perfectly cooked potato slices. It would have been better had it been heated to a crispy bottom. The space is open and casual, and service was friendly. Keep in mind that this is not fine dining. You order at the counter and take a number to your chosen table. Food came out quickly. But we both felt portions were not inline with other area places that serve similar fare. Those places also can boast of a finer dining experience. Maybe wealthy locals will overlook these flaws when shopping in this center, but we'll spend our money elsewhere. read more

Pastiamo Pasta Bar & Cafe - Tagliatelle ragu (good but very small portion) - Italian Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

The fresh pasta was outstanding.The gnocchi with the caccio peppen sauce and the ravioli with the putanesco sauce was beyond delicious. Both served with freshly baked focaccia bread. A pleasant addition to the local restaurant scene. read more

Pastiamo Pasta Bar & Cafe - Gnocchi with caccio peppe sauce. - Italian Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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Love this place. Great freshly made pasta and other Italian food choices. Kind and friendly staff. Decent parking. What more can we ask for from an eatery. Online ordering would ruin this place. This is good food and it takes a little bit of time. Call ahead if you must, but it's definitely way better when you have it in house. It's fast casual, but definitely not fast food. read more

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Ooh, this, THIS was nice. Saturday night, 7 of us roll up unannounced and our server quickly & graciously got us set up outside. No small feat on a Saturday night when a separate 8top was also expected to arrive! [Overall, service was *phenomenal*. Francesca, if you're reading this, promote whoever worked the night shift on 4/26/2025 immediately.] Should have snapped pics but was too busy shoving excellent Italian food into my head. Hot wash: * Meatballs: large, excellent to share, electrifying red sauce. * Focaccia in sauce: see prior comment. Cute presentation too in these little black handled-skillet looking things. (I didn't study Cookware Naming Conventions at Uni unfortunately.) * Focaccia with mushroom + focaccia with stracchino. Two excellent share portions, nice cheese pull on the stracchino. Warning though, the mushroom focaccia came out absolutely COVERED in fungi (he he he). * Pear salad: bright, lively, yummy. And was it goat cheese or blue in there? Whatever it was, it was sharp and pungent and yummay. * Gnocchi in pastiamo ragu: IIRC there was a parmesan/sage stuffing? Gnocchi was exceptionally round (quite literally spherical) and equally enjoyable. [attn big groups: consider getting one of these for the table to share - it was about a baker's dozen I think.] And GOD, that ragu was bright. Woke me the hell up. Seasoning, mouthfeel, color, ALL the above. I echo Jean-Luc's sentiments from 3/26/2025 - although I also enjoy my Olive Garden and Cheesecake Factory - PPBC is *the* Princeton spot if you want top-tier Italian. I think al fresco dining will absolutely slap during spring/summer/fall. Highly recommend. read more

I decided to try this place on a whim and it was delicious. Pasta is their specialty - you pick your own combo of pasta and sauce. The coolest part is they have pasta I've only seen in Italy! I ordered the butternut squash ravioli with butter sage sauce. The ravioli were very substantial and flavorful. It's pretty casual, but there's a nice seating area. You order at the counter and then get a table, kind of like Jammin' Crepes. I'm glad to have another convenient lunch/dinner place in the area! read more

Pastiamo Pasta Bar & Cafe - Butternut squash ravioli - Italian Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

I'm shocked this place doesn't have more reviews, the pasta is amazing, amongst the best I've ever had!! Very authentic, fresh Italian pasta. I highly recommend their lasagna, cacio e pepe tagliatelle, and foccacia, although I'm sure anything on their menu is delicious. Excellent, friendly service. Toddler / family friendly. read more

The food and service were great! The interior was really cozy so immediately our experience was positive. We each got different types of pasta and a dessert and it was all excellent! Adriana was our server and made great recommendations and was very friendly. Definitely would recommend!! read more

Better ingredients, better pasta, pastiamo. Authenticity speaks for itself, this spot is real real. read more

Pastiamo Pasta Bar & Cafe - Special (goat cheese, mint, figs, pistachio, honey) - Italian Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

First time I Stopped by today for a takeout treat. The salmon/burrata/arugula sandwich was perfect and the lemon tart perfect.....the service was friendly and I would go again. read more

I wanted to write a review so I could look back on it next time I'm craving pasta. First of all, I love the idea of a pasta bar. But the execution of this place leaves something to be desired. The food. Yes it's small batch and made to order. The ingredients taste fresh and the pasta is cooked al dente to perfection. But I've been here two times and for some reason I've never been blown away. The walnut sauce was quite bland; it could have benefitted from a meat add-on (I'm sure that's blasphemy). And the carbonara this time was too salty. I felt like Goldilocks - it was never quite right. And consistency wise - one time I got a focaccia bread slice with my order and the other time I didn't. I'm not sure if that's standard but for what you're paying, I kind of expect the small freebie. Anyways, ambiance wise it's cute. It's fast casual in a way. The staff is very nice. It feels very chef-owned authentic. But value-wise it's a hard sell and there's a lot of very good Italian restaurants near by. I'm sure I'll get amnesia next time I'm craving pasta but hopefully I'll read this and remind myself. read more

Best fresh pasta, best service and very accomadating. celebrated my birthday there in november and on friday, celebrated my husbands birthday there also!!! will be going back. everyone there made us feel special. no rush and no stress read more

This is one of the best pasta places in NJ! Everything was so fresh and brought to us in a timely manner. We have been to Italy - and this restaurant reminded us so much of the food! It is absolutely delicious and one of our new favorite places! Excellent focaccia bread and ambiance! However - ravioli's are really thick/doughy, they are not the traditional ravioli shape, so think before ordering! The filling was delicious though - I got the spinach and ricotta! Enjoy this gem! It's truly a special place!!! read more

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The service was great, the staff were welcoming and nice. The ambiance is relaxed/casual and perfect to have lunch with friends. Now for the food let's start with the good, the tiramisu shot was delicious and the perfect portion. I can taste the coffee and all the layers combined together were perfect. Now the lasagna was a let down it was recommended and it left a lot to be desired. It was underwhelming in flavors which at $22.50 a slice was not what I expected. I am always authentic to my reviews and always believe in second chances. So if in the area again I will definitely try them again just because their other menu options sounds authentically good. read more

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Family decided to give this place a try. "Italy, away from Italy", is the most suitable compliment I can give this place. After my trip from Italy, I never thought I would find an eatery so close to home, that could evoke the same wonderful flavors I had experienced back then; lo and behold, my search is over and my wish has been granted. Pastiamo's food embraces and represents some of the best of Italy's culinary delights, making the best use of its ingredients, keeping things simple, traditional, and utterly delicious with every bite (must try the lasagna, but they're honestly all great). Add on top of that, a naturally well-lit and comfy vibe room, with windows all around and very friendly service and interaction with the chef/owner herself, this has been a very worthwhile lunch. I will certainly return for more. read more

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