Guys, I tried Pasta Mia on Friday and I am not sure what all the raving is about. I will admit that I was exhausted and starving and moody, but I was not that impressed.
For those who haven’t heard of it, it’s a little tiny pasta shop on 18th and Columbia. There’s a always a line, and everything I hear is that it’s worth the wait, authentic, homemade, and cheap. I gotta say that I don’t think anything is worth that long a wait (again I was starving!), and it wasn’t that cheap! Granted you get enough pasta to feed a family of four, but really, I’d prefer a cheap bowl of good pasta I can eat in one sitting.
We went to pasta mia on Friday night at about 8pm (probably not a great time), and waited for about a half hour for a table. I was still ok at that point, except once we sat down, I think it might have been an hour before we got our pasta — with the salad coming like 45 mins in. I cannot express to you how hungry and frustrated I was waiting – MJD really is a good man for sitting with me!
I ordered the gnocchi sorentina, and it was fine. I mean it was enourmous, but also too salty and the gnocchi was a little hard. But it was also $15 bucks, which does not seem that cheap to me, and I’m sorry but I don’t like microwave heated pasta the next night. So really it was $15 for one gigantic bowl of ok pasta.
So, now I ask you…did I miss something? I wanted to love the place, and will readily admit that my bad mood could have made that impossible. I would try it again – albeit at 6pm on a tuesday (or any tme that it would be empty!). Thoughts?!
That line outside Pasta Mia is the best example there is of the relentless herd instinct of many of our city’s diners.
Well, I guess that leaves the reservations for the rest of us!
I totally agree. Pasta Mia isn’t as great as everyone seems to think. I’ll go if I notice there’s no wait, but it’s not cheap and the pasta isn’t amazing. Waiting an hour or two for mediocre pasta is ridiculous.
I hear that!
They arent open on Tuesday.
Earlier on a weeknight is a better choice though, I have only been there once and I was very pleased with it.
I think they are closed on Sunday and Monday…I pledge to try it again earlier in the evening and after a snack!
I haven’t tried Pasta Mia, but that’s because I hate to wait for a table, I get very crabby when I’m hungry, crowds make me nuts, and I don’t think any pasta is worth that much hassle. I’d much rather spend my hard-earned money somewhere that takes reservations, so I can relax and enjoy my meal.
Continue on your path of reservations and do not try Pasta Mia under any circumstance!! The wait will ruin your evening as it did mine! I think that kind of experience is meant for someone with much more patience than yours truly (and maybe you!).
I don’t think $15 is a lot for a pasta dinner entree in DC. It is a lot if you’ve been waiting an hour and then it doesn’t even taste good. I’m guessing they didn’t bring you a basket of bread. A basket of bread (especially hot bread) makes everything all right.
Here’s wishing you hot bread in the future.
Well you got that right – hot bread makes everything better! As for the price, I don’t think $15 is a lot, but I wouldn’t call it cheap either. And I thought the place was going to be a “cheap eat” as they say!
I agree. And they aren’t (or at least weren’t when I went there) very kid friendly. It’s too bad San Marco closed down, because that place was worlds above Pasta Mia.