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Big bowls of fresh pasta and a fun vibe – that’s what you can expect from Pasta Shop, a new casual Italian restaurant now open on Potts Point’s Bayswater Road in the former home of Sonora Mexican. There are a few other things to like, too. It’s BYO, for starters, the menu features 40-year-old family recipes – and nothing on the menu is over $30.
The casual pasta house is from Paola Toppi, the daughter of Giovanna Toppi, who opened the now-closed Sydney institution Machiavelli in 1988. With Pasta Shop, Paola wanted to create a delicious yet accessible eatery.
“People are doing it tough,” she says. “Pasta is for everyone, it was never meant to be exclusive.
“In Italy, it’s a staple that people of all walks of life can afford to eat every day.”
If you only order one thing, make it the spaghetti Machiavelli – al dente spaghetti twirled with just-cooked prawns, mushrooms, chilli and lots of garlic. It’s a recipe that was a firm favourite on Machiavelli’s menu.
But don’t stop there. Other menu highlights include house-made focaccia alongside burrata and roasted marinated peppers; meatballs in a rich sugo, and spicy rigatoni alla vodka.
Plus, there are classic desserts like tiramisu and cannoli, alongside Maybe Sammy cocktails – including the Maybe Margarita with Patrón, mezcal, passionfruit and mango – made just for Pasta Shop, with all cocktails priced at $20. Wines by the glass are $16 and it’s BYO wine for bottles, with a $20 corkage fee.
“We’re still using the premium ingredients we’ve always been known for, but by creating a more relaxed dining experience, people are able to enjoy them for less,” Paola adds.
Don’t want to get out of your trackies? No worries – Pasta Shop offers takeaway (pick-up only!).
And, it's walk-in only.
Address: Bayswater Road Potts Point 2011 Sydney
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