This may be an unpopular opinion (as this place is consistently busy) - but we had a terrible meal here. The service was good - but the food was so bad we didn't eat it, and didn't have the heart to send it back. We ordered the frito misto - and it was so over cooked that it was too hard-chewy to eat, like straight hard rubber. The carbonara was soupy and tasted sour (not sure if that was due to the Brussels sprouts mixed in) but it all honestly it tasted like they had used spoiled cream - never had a sour carbonara before. The agnolotti was okay, a little dry. It was a really disappointing visit, our first time, and we won't be back. read more

This restaurant was highly recommended, but unfortunately I was so disappointed. It wasn't busy when we arrived at 7p. The staff was not hospitable or friendly. Our server was so pushy and I felt rushed. My entree I ordered smelled so bad and could not eat it. The server offered another entree, but informed me that I still would have to pay for the first one I ordered. They do not offer comps. The garlic bread was delicious and other entrees were good but not outstanding. Very expensive menu for mediocre food. Restaurant lacks ambiance and the music wasn't a vibe. I felt Frank Sinatra music would have been more appropriate. I won't be recommending this for Italian. There are far more better restaurants in Reno that are reasonably priced. Hopefully they improve. read more

Decided last minute to try this place out for my birthday because a lot of people told me how yummy it was. It is yummy but mentally prepare yourself to know that parking is tough and limited. As well as the seating inside. We went on Monday being around 7pm and it was already super packed. We got the last table for awhile...yay birthday luck! Cute little touch was the hand written menu. I personally thought it was cute because it made it seem more personal. For food we got the stuffed focaccia which was a delight and the chopped salad was very light but perfectly balanced with the carb heavy dinner. I got the beef stuffed noodles which were good. You could tell the pasta was homemade. There's something special when you can taste the added love into the meal. Service was fine, we were welcomed with some recommendations from the server and weren't disappointed with them. Definitely will stop by again but be prepared to either show up early or go in a small group since space is limited. Enjoy! read more

Willies Pasta Shop - Homemade pasta = yummy - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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This place is beyond adorable! What a great spot for a date night. All of the food we had was amazing and we cannot wait to try more of the menu. The staff was super helpful and very attentive. The Agnolotti and Seafood Posillipo were delicious! Make sure to order one of those! read more

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Not recommended. Poor service, food was very overpriced for what you get, we tried appetizers, entrees, desserts. Got wine and pre-dinner cocktails. There were four of us and we felt staff could care less about us, management included. Won't return. read more

Spectacular. Service and food are a delight. Ambiance is cozy but particularly placed. Recommend highly.

Was delighted to find this place on yelp after trying to find some new restaurants to try in town. Very discreet on S Virginia in midtown an older building but when you walk inside looks clean and modern. Food items on menu are really different from typical stuff at the Italian restaurants, but was let down that it was not typical Italian old school cuisine like you find at the traditional italian places. I would give them credit for being original, but my issue was the pasta seems like it has an aftertaste from water that isn't using a filter kind of like that tap water taste. To top it off it seems rather pricey for this kind of pasta, I wouldn't mind paying more than average prices if it wowed me but unfortunately that wasn't the case. Service was good waiters are all dressed fancy and polite but was a bit slow as well. read more

A pleasant surprise quality pasta prepared well, not over done or under cooked thank you for paying attention. Service is good and staff is friendly. Ambiance welcoming. read more

The food itself was excellent! we had the burrata, gem salad , baked ziti with duck confit , carbonara, orecchiette, and chicken Marsala. The favorite dish was the orecchiette folowed by the ziti, carbonara and lastly the chicken Marsala. The service was average..our server had a few mistakes along the way. The tap water tasted off..it needed a filter. The biggest problem we had with the restaurant was the lack of ventilation in the kitchen. The kitchen is open and unfortunately the entire restaurant smells like the kitchen. I had to leave my coat outside to air out and take a shower when I got home as my hair smelled very smoky. That will keep me from going back to a restaurant. We had gelato for dessert..very good. read more

A great Italian spot in midtown! All of our meals were delicious, I especially loved their appetizers the arancini was fantastic. Our waiter was also extremely kind, one of us thought their drink was strong for their preference and he offered to have it exchanged and the next drink was amazing! Will definitely be coming in again. We also learned that they are only open early in the week because it is the same owners as the restaurant Lulou's and a lot of the staff work at both restaurants! read more

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No smiles or warmth from the front of house staff upon entering. Thankfully we had Logan as our server who was not short on smiles, and quite knowledgable on the wine and menu, offering suggestions confidently. including a flight of red wines that paled to my palette for cabernet. What! Not one cabernet by the glass? Perhaps to push the Chianti, nevertheless, nonesense. The offerings were amazing and our choices were "perfetto! The cheese stuffed flatbread was a great starter followed by charred octopus then Agnolotti Dal Plin (brisket stuffed fresh ravioli). read more

Don't listen to their hours online. My girlfriend and I tried to celebrate our anniversary there, and they said they couldn't serve us. I asked what their hours were and they said "they just go with the flow". That's so stupid. read more

This is a small fine dining restaurant. We loved the calamari appetizer, we had the lamb and pasta dish which was good but agreed the duck ziti was the best. Our butterscotch bunion was yummy. House wine was good. Have been there a few times now and have not been disappointed. read more

Delicious food and great service! The pasta was some of the best I've had in Reno. I got an appetizer and pasta dish, which was just enough food. Next time I'll need to try dessert. read more

Willie's Pasta Shop is finally open!! The long-awaited Italian restaurant on Virginia and Arroyo did not disappoint with incredible dishes like the Veal Saltimbocca and the Mozzarella Arancini. The atmosphere was vibrant, with every table full, and the open kitchen concept gave us a look into the behind-the-scenes of cooking these great dishes. Service was a tad dicey, but I'd chalk that up to it being their second month open and still working out the kinks. I will definitely be back, there are so many more items I would love to try! read more

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We love this newest pasta shop in town! The "coming soon" sign is finally here! My husband and I are pasta enthusiasts, and we had been waiting to try this place for years. It doesn't disappoint- the pastas are fresh and the flavors are refined. The service is fast despite how busy they were. We came with our toddler for a casual dining, but this place is more a finer dining/definitely more for romantic/celebratory dinners. But the place is loud enough and they do accommodate children. We will definitely be back! read more

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Stopped in for a casual Monday night dinner and really enjoyed it. The layout is a carbon copy of Kauboi, a few doors down with the same owners, but elevated. The interior is crisp and clean with great tones. Music is similarly loud as Kauboi. Food and service were excellent. Waitress was a delight and attentive with good knowledge of each item on the menu, including the four specials. We enjoyed the burrata special appetizer, super fresh and crisp. A couple tri-colored salads and two pasta dishes. Every dish was excellent. A modest bottle of Chianti and dessert (butterscotch budino) as well. Literally everything was to our satisfaction. The restaurant is open, I believe, only Monday-Wednesday from 5-8:30. Great to have a Monday option when many others are closed. Highly recommend. read more

Willies Pasta Shop - Butterscotch budino - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada

We had a really great experience at Willies. The wait was not long, the server knew his stuff and was very informative, and the food was excellent. Definitely go for the Shrimp pasta! The vibe isn't as stuffy as LouLou's was and its more laid back like Kaboi. This is probably the best shrimp pasta in town and their tirimisu was perfect. read more

I had dinner there and was pleasantly pleased. Upon arrival we were greeted by an enthusiastic staff. Only issue, wine had turned bad but the staff dealt with it immediately. Good was excellent and reasonably priced. Carbonara has a hint of spice, very good. Music could have been a bit lower, hard to converse. I'll definitely return. read more

The atmosphere is exceptional! A hidden gem on Virginia street. The wait staff was attentive The food presentation was lovely and was very tasty!!!!! Yum. I'll be back! read more

Seated in a corner banquette which helped with noise level. Great food, service and tried dish I had never had before . read more

Like so many reviews we have been watching and waiting... I'm so sure they are tired of hearing that but we are wanting small well done food with clean and tasteful ambiance as well as the food.. Sooo good sooo worth the wait then and now..when you check it out plan to wait.. Do it you won't be sorry.. Will hanging out there because I want to experience the menu. Speciality drinks ..yep .. My dear friends highly recommend checking it out (they beat me to it) and my 2 other friends I went with lived Willies as much as I did. read more

This is probably the best pasta I've ever had. Nice smaller portion sizes which I prefer and a great atmosphere. Can't wait to go back again! read more

I really wanted to like this place; the atmosphere had potential and a few dishes were genuinely good, but my experience overall left a lot to be desired. The menu was confusing and disorganized, with many Italian terms left unexplained and little clarity on what each dish actually included. I don't mind a little mystery, but when you order something like a caprese and it arrives with no tomato, it's hard not to feel misled. That dish was especially underwhelming. To be fair, some items were delicious; the pasta, artichokes, focaccia, and polenta all stood out. But for the price point, the portions were noticeably small. What really soured the night, though, was the service. Our waiter was off-putting from the start. After serving me a cocktail (which I had already taken several sips of), he suddenly rushed over and demanded my ID, which felt unprofessional and oddly timed. Then, just seconds after I took a bite of food, he made a gesture at me to wipe my mouth; I hadn't even had a chance to grab a napkin. It felt intrusive and uncomfortable. There were some bright spots, but the awkward service and confusing menu left a bad taste overall. Not sure I'd return. read more

Ambiance is wonderful; clean, sophisticated and welcoming. Menu is diverse, so many dishes looked amazing! Excellent service and care the entire dinner from Erika and staff. Highly recommend, will definitely return! read more

Had a lovely dinner here. Tried a couple really great mushroom dishes, but the star for me was the ash-roasted beet salad. Our server told us that they cook the beets in the pizza oven. It was busy, but our server did a good job of keeping up and answered all our questions. Definitely worth trying out. read more

Willies Pasta Shop - New menu - December 2024 - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada

I have eaten here twice now and I my completely honest review is that Willie's pasta shop is just OK. In my two visits I have tried - arancini - spaghetti - ricotta gnocchi - fazzoletti - mezze maniche - Neapolitan cake? (if I remember correctly, can't find the menu online) - caramel budino Everything tastes very fresh. The pesto sauce in the fazzoletti and the tomato sauce in the mezze maniche are for sure made from scratch. So are the gnocchi (which had an excellent texture). But it seemed like everything was under seasoned. I felt like it all needed additional salt and pepper and I was questioning whether I had a sodium deficiency until others I dined with expressed a similar sentiment. The portions are also pretty small for the price but that's a standard experience dining out nowadays. The Neapolitan cake was probably my favorite thing I've eaten across both visits. Restaurant itself is small but cute, and definitely looks like an Italian version of Kauboi. Waitstaff were all very friendly but on my first visit our waiter seemed a bit confused about the menu when I tried to ask questions. That could very well be because this place is so new though. I think this restaurant has potential and I would still give it another try. I know it's new and is still getting up and running so I will update this review if I go back in the future! read more

Willies Pasta Shop has an unfortunate name where you ordinarily wouldn't give the restaurant a second thought with such a name. But this is actually a rare and really well done gourmet restaurant in Reno. The food is excellent and the service is professional. The wine list is good, and I'm fond of the chopped salad with blue cheese and the cioppino (seafood stew). I come to this restaurant frequently and really enjoy it. read more

Delicious pasta, great service! I love the staff, very attentive. Pasta is one of my favorite foods in life and these guys got it down!

I was excited to try this place because they also own Lulou's restaurant, which I love, and it did not disappoint. I got the baked ziti with duck and stuffed garlic bread, which was delicious. My girlfriend got a pasta dish, but I can't remember the name of it, but it was also really good. The ambiance was nice inside. I do wish some of the tables weren't so close together. So we sat at the bar, which allowed us to talk to the bartender and see the food coming out. The service was great; the staff was very friendly. It is definitely worth going to. read more

Superb flavors, great service, nice ambiance. The best octopus and tiramisu I have had. 5+/5 read more

Willies Pasta Shop - Tiramisú - Italian Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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Best pasta in Reno. This place would do well in SF. To my surprise, it reminded me of Flour & Water. If someone told me at the end of the meal that they had a Michelin star, I wouldn't be shocked. (Well only shocked that Michelin visited Reno). All of this is unexpected for a place called Willie's Pasta Shop. I expected sauce on top and creamy linguine nightmares. Not unique, fresh, dialed dishes. Supposedly they are short on staff with a team from Lou Lou's there half the week. Hope they can finally open up more than M-W (without losing the quality)! read more

Well we know now why Reno is as amazing as it is... this lil restaurant is gd amazing & the food is crazy good. Great atmosphere and IYKYK in galore read more

Another excellent restaurant by Colleen and Troy. Great atmosphere, music and decor. Professional staff as expected. Wonderful cocktails. read more

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If I could give it more that 5 stars I would. Ate there last night with friend. Fabulous!!!! Took us forever to decide what entree to have because every single thing sounded delicious. I had Fonduta Ravioli. Friend laughed at OMG look on my face after I took first bite. Asked wait staff if they find a scrap of bread for me to sop up last of sauce. 2 pieces of fire toasted ciabatta w/olive oil which were, in themselves, to die for. No dessert. Too full. Our server Quinn, wonderful, patiently explained every entree; was attentive. You need to go there. [Next time we'll sit at the bar so we can watch the cooks.] PS We arrived at 5p, seated immediately. PPS I wear hearing aids and blaring music is often an issue for me. Not too bad here. read more

Pleasantly surprised. Had a wonderful dinner. Too bad they are only open Monday-Wednesday. But it was definitely worth it.

They were phenomenal with the service for my birthday. They brought us two bottles of great wine. The appetizers were so well placed and seasoned. The Ziti I had remained hot the entire time and the sauce was unlike anything I have had in Reno so far. My new favorite spot!!! read more

Excellent food, ambiance and service! It is so fun to have a new restaurant in Midtown. read more

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Absolutely sensational. Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays only. Fantastic menu, gnocchi like pillows from heaven, Dover Sole to die for. If you're a large group (6 or more) Bisteca Fiorentina takes about 40 mins but worth every minute of your wait. Great staff, kid friendly, no reservations. read more

I highly recommend this restaurant is you're a pasta lover, great customer service and vibes!