The pandemic changed the dining game in Austin. I’m sure it has in other cities too. I never thought I’d have to add reminders to my calendar to book a reservation at a very specific time when they would open for the entire month. And pay a deposit! Is this even Austin anymore?! It’s not easy to get into restaurants these days without a reservation even in the laid-back ATX.
On top of the resy fiasco, within the last two years I’ve noticed more personal dining experiences – whether it be a chef + team coming out to your residence; or a intimate “chef’s table” experience in a private dining room with a small group of people, featuring up close views of the prep, plating, and detailed verbal description of each course. I’ve been to two of these “chef’s tables” and I will admit they are memorable experiences.
In this post, I’m going to document my Pasta|Bar experience! Note: this isn’t sponsored and all my foodie opinions are my own.
Pre-Meal
Pasta|Bar requests that you arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled time. Parking on the East side can get a little tricky so allow yourself time. The front of the house features a beautiful bar with modern lounge seating where you can enjoy a beverage on-the-house. Not to worry, they can also whip up a mocktail too! Then, you are shuffled into the back room where all the magic happens!
11-Course Meal
In the dimly lit open kitchen room each seat is assigned with your name card plus a menu. The sommelier offers wine pairings for those interested. Wine and pasta kinda go hand in hand! It’s a smart (and easy) upsell. Each guest setting has three small bites(all delish!) while getting drinks and trying the first course.
MENU from 06/18/2022
I believe the menu changes based on whatever is in season and fresh or hot at the moment. What you’re looking at is a menu from June 18, 2022. I know, it’s odd that the pasta isn’t called out on the menu…. seeing that they are called Pasta|Bar, but I digress.
The most notable courses were:
- Margarita’s Sourdough with cultured butter – this comes out PIPING HOT… I think it’s changed my mind about sourdough bread. And don’t get me started on the cultured butter!!! Save some bread for soppin up the sauces!
- Lobster with cavatelli pasta, roasted kombu, sea urchin (uni), and dolce – this was my favorite of the savory ones. It. Is. Rich. in a white cream sauce. And, I mean… have you had uni and pasta together?! And and… It has cavatelli. So I’m a little biased.
- A5 Wagyu with braised greens, truffle, aged cheddar, sauce preigourdine – wow. A5. While there were only two thin slices… oh my. They were amazing. So rich and fatty. AND with truffle? You think it would almost be too much but the flavors and richness mix so well. There were pasta pieces in this course but I don’t remember the name and sadly not listed on the menu!
The only course I was not a huge fan of:
Jolthead Progy with black bean, artichoke and tom yum. Jolthead Porgy is a fish, who knew? Something about fish and curry together just doesn’t taste right to me. Especially in tom yum which is lime and coconut based. Others enjoyed it but it was not for me.
Yes, there is a dish with chicken but don’t underestimate it. The meal finishes with two desserts (part of the 11-courses). I luckily had the option of both citrus-based, so ya girl was a fan. Not to mention it was a good palate cleanser after the A5 Wagyu!
Final Thoughts
I felt the dishes were a little on the heavy side (It IS the Pasta|Bar). There were actually a couple of dishes that didn’t have any pasta in them at all. I recall there were only 5-courses that had pasta in them. And most only included 1-3 pieces. You would think there would be more – both courses with pasta and pieces? The portions were small, as expected, but I left full (not stuffed or uncomfortably stuffed). In the end, it’s really a couple of bite-sized appetizers, a drink, and an 11-course meal. What I do like about these chef’s table experiences is that even when you think you’re a foodie… Nope, guess again! Places like these have you googling things on the menu since you have no idea what it even is!
Is it worth it?
The million dollar question (#punintended) is both yes and no. But I’ll list a couple of reasons for the Yes. Yes, if you’re into fine dining, personal experiences, appreciate quality > quantity. If you have dispensable funds or get overwhelmed picking dishes at restaurants. Absolutely if you have something to celebrate (it doesn’t really strike me as an everyday kinda thing). And yes if you can happily sit through a two-hour meal.
Would I go back?
No. Why? Solely based on price – $195. It’s a lot to drop on one meal. Don’t get me wrong, each course was very delicious and plated/presented to perfection using the best cuts of meats and ingredients. It’s something I would do one time for the experience and to see what it’s all about – which I did! But at this price point, I’d rather have Omakase over and over again.
Pasta|Bar Info
From the website: “Pasta|Bar is a bold new addition to the Scratch|Restaurant family. Our mission has always been to create and prepare ‘from scratch’ cooking, and nowhere is that better exemplified than in the preparation of fresh pasta, inspired by the flavors of Texas and the culinary techniques of Italy.”
- Website & Reservations: https://www.exploretock.com/pastabaraustin/
- Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 5-11PM, seating times are 5, 7:15, and 9:30PM
- Address: 1017 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702 (next to Fukumoto)
- Pricing: $195 per person – $25 per person deposit is required to reserve and applied to your final bill the day of, 20% gratuity is included in the final bill