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Pasta Bar
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Italian Restaurants Sandwiches Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches [Edit]
1530 Post Alley(between Pine St & Pike Pl)
Seattle, WA 98101
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(206) 621-7545
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Touristy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
43 reviews for Pasta Bar
Review Highlights
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"Located in the Pike Place Market you'll always have tons of..." In 3 reviews -
"Their spaghetti with meatballs is also very delicious and..." In 4 reviews -
"...and gave us a plate of unordered garlic bread, yay." In 8 reviews
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43 reviews in English
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Review from Hayley B.
Tacoma, WA
4/28/2012
This place is the bomb.
I just moved back to the PNW from the Middle of Nowhere, AZ. A long absence has given me a big new-found appreciation for all the dining options here.
This was my first visit to Pasta Bar. It definitely won't be my last.
Ordered the spaghetti with meatballs combo, which comes with a side salad, some garlic bread and a fountain drink, all for about 10 bucks (including tip). The guy who served me didn't seem to be one of the owners but was nonetheless very prompt and cheerful.
The food was ready within five minutes. It was nice to be able to watch him prepare it. I have to admit I was a little dubious when I saw the small cylinder of aluminum foil that contained the garlic bread, but that was some seriously good bread. Nice crunchy crust, and authentic-tasting garlic and butter (as opposed to, say, those pre-buttered loaves you find in supermarkets). And, to my surprise, there were two pieces instead of one. I hate when restaurants give you a microscopic piece of bread to go with your huge entree.
The spaghetti and meatballs were also delicious. The pasta, while not al dente, was not overcooked, the sauce was fresh, and the two meatballs, each about three inches in diameter, were moist and tender. Even the side salad was really good -- just a simple salad of greens, parmesan, another kind of freshly grated cheese, and the dressing.
The "small" serving is enough to cover an entire dinner plate, while the large will easily feed two people. I took my lunch outside, and even though I was right next to Pike Place Chowder, three different people stopped to ask where I had gotten my food.
Will definitely be back. I'll find a way to visit regularly, even on a tight budget. -
Review from Brian and Ann Marie E.
Seattle, WA
2/7/2012 1 photo
Best damn meatball sandwich on God's Great Earth. I wish my mouth was a tractor, and these sandwich's football fields in length. It should be on Leno, and Conan, and Jimmy Fallon. If the Victoria Secret Angels had Valentine's Day photoshoots wearing overalls soiled with the marinara sauce from this, the Best Damn Meatball Sandwich on God's Great Earth, both overalls and meatballs, would make a mightier come back than Joe Montana himself in the final seconds of any great game, be it football or water polo.
I don't care if you don't like downtown parking, get your ass to the Pasta Bar or, as a wise man says in Inception, "you'll die alone, an old man filled with regret." -
Review from T. S.
Tracyton, WA
1/27/2012
Just tried the new pizza!! Similar to the old pizza but the sauce is a little different. Definitely an upgrade! The pizza here is always fresh and the slices are generous! I can be finicky about my pizza, and the Past Bar has never let me down.
That being said, the customer service here is top notch! Even when they're busy, the staff always makes sure you have everything you need. The pasta is great, too, and if you're in the mood for a sandwich, try one of the Strombolis. I've had just about everything on the menu, and none of it sucks. That's for sure! ;) -
Review from Amanda M.
Seattle, WA
4/22/2012
This place is great! Went here for the first time with my boyfriend and his cousin who is in town this weekend. We seated ourselves and were helped right away. We ordered the specials with spaghetti & meatballs, tortellini, and fettucine. We also got extra garlic bread with sauce for dipping and a caesar salad. The tortellini were soooo good! The fettucine and spaghetti were good although we felt the sauce could have been a little more flavorful. The garlic bread was aaaamazing! The salad was good too, VERY good dressing. The owner gave us a complimentary piece of pizza and then started speaking italian to my boyfriend's cousin, sooo funny. She's all "Uh.....grazi?" He just laughed and refilled her water for her (even though water is self serve here). Great customer service, and goood food. Five stars!
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Review from Samantha G.
Seattle, WA
Why wait in line at Pike Place Chowder when you can go to Pasta Bar and get food that's affordable, fast and delicious? I've been meaning to check out this place for awhile due to the positive reviews here on Yelp.
The portions are big and worth what you pay here. I'm a big fan of their fettuccine alfredo ($7.50) and that was 2 meals worth of food for me. I like how the sauce was not heavy or too creamy. Their meat lasagna was alright ($10.50 for the large), I was expecting it to be more filling so I probably will stick to ordering the other pasta dishes.
The owners are super friendly and remember their customers. By my second visit, they were asking me if I was on my way to work again. This is a great place to go for an affordable filling meal at the market. -
Review from Tony G.
8/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
When I want some pasta and meat sauce and there is none around me, I get really angry. I will throw chairs, salt shakers, old people, no one or no thing will escape my wrath when I don't get my spaghetti.
I had to work in downtown one weekend and really had the craving. I mean, I was really going to do some damage to the city (which will probably just end up doing damage to myself). Then I remembered there is this tool called Yelp on the internets where I can do research where the closest place to me that had spaghetti.
I went there, ate it, it was delicious.
It was a little pricey, but I will be here again.
Zipzap Zubidy Bop! -
Review from Brynne H.
10/20/2011
Totally solid!
In spite of being just a bar/counter, which has in the past led me to walk right on by, coming here for lunch with a friend today was the best decision I made all day!
First of all, great food. Lots of choices, lots of potential combos and a daily special. I ended up with fettucine alfredo (a personal weakness) and a side of meatballs. Meatballs = heaven, and the guys behind the counter suggested a drizzle of pesto with the alfredo. Perfect suggestion, the effect was excellent.
Second, really awesome guys working. The man who served us was fast and friendly and efficient (and gave us a plate of unordered garlic bread, yay!). The other man sang along with Led Zeppelin and even busted out the air guitar. Italian food and air guitar? I might be in love.
Third, fabulous prices. Less than 12 bucks with a soda and tip!
Fourth, as the line for Pike Place Chowder meandered sloooowly behind us, friend and I commented that we didn't know why they'd go there when they could be getting fast, bomb (and not the gut kind either) Italian food from some very cool dudes. Not a minute later did Air Guitar comment basically the same thing, letting us loudly agree with him!
All in all, a great place to eat. I know I'll be back when I'm looking for good, affordable and very friendly food in the Market. -
Review from Al M.
Riverside, CA
10/17/2011
One of the best places to eat at Pikes Place. I enjoyed the spaghetti with meat sauce. Their tomato sauce is excellent, made from scratch every day. It was seasoned very well and not too salty. The garlic bread was very tasty. The owner took some of their fresh sandwich bread, piled on the garlic butter, and put it in the oven.
I also recommend their ravioli, which was stuffed with meat and cheese. They close earlier than the posted time, so make sure you get their during lunch. -
Review from Dave H.
Seattle, WA
4/3/2012
If you haven't tried the Stromboli sandwich, you don't know what you are missing!! The handmade raviolis are aweseme as well...get your butt down there pronto. :)
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Review from William H.
Seattle, WA
6/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Craving pasta I pulled up my yelp app and looked for something nearby. Forgetting that the market is really busy on fri-sat I ended up heading that way. Located in the Pike Place Market you'll always have tons of entertainment getting to and from this place.
Layout:
It's right in the market and consists of a kitchen with bar stools lining it. Can seat about 12 people at the bar so if you're going for a quick bit try to go off lunch time hours. There are a few tables next to it and a few outside but always seem to be taken.
Food:
Step right up to the bar and order your food choice. Daily lunch specials will run you under just under $10 and you'll get a small drink, garlic bread and your pasta. Good size pasta portions good enough to put you in the lunch time food coma. Pasta is fresh and you tell in the flavor. Hard to go wrong with any of the options. I went with the daily special of Linguine Alfredo, rich sauce and great pasta.
Service:
The owner is always working and definitely entertaining. If you pull up to his pasta bar you're an honorary pizano
If you're craving pasta and want to be in a more entertaining environment then this is your place, you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Charlie L.
Seattle, WA
12/23/2011
I'm a fan. Easy, quick... would be a more regular lunch spot for me if I was a little closer to Pike Place.
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Review from Elizabeth R.
Seattle, WA
4/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
My boyfriend and I decided to hit up downtown on a beautiful Saturday spring afternoon, which was very rare. So we took advantage of it. Since I hadn't eaten anything, my boyfriend wanted me to try this pasta place he used to go to a lot. He said it was really good and that the owner was really cool.
Just down Post Alley by Pike Place Market, it's a little place with bar stools. So many choices of pastas, pizzas, sandwiches. I ended up going for the tortellini combo, which consists of your choice of pasta, salad, bread, and a drink. My boyfriend went for the ravioli combo. I couldn't believe how big the portions were for only $7.99! OMG... the food was delicious!!! The owner is so happy while he's preparing the food and makes sure to interact with his customers. I was definitely savoring each bite and when the owner noticed that we ate all of our bread, he gave us more!
I have to recommend this place to anyone who's visiting Seattle or even to my fellow Seattlites that hit up Pike Place Market and want a delicious and inexpensive full meal. I'll have to make another visit to try out the other pastas. -
Review from Rebecca S.
Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA
Now the Pasta Bar is where to eat in the market.
I ordered the cheese tortellini with vegetarian sauce and garlic bread for about $8. Brian greeted us and thanked us for coming in, our food was served quickly, and the portions are huuuge!
I'll definitely be coming back and taking advantage of their lunch specials! -
Review from Dennis S.
Seattle, WA
2/28/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Oh my, I love this place! My favorite place to get pasta, especially their raviolli with tuscan sauce. So devine, there must some drug in that sauce because it's got me wanting to go back for more and more.
Pasta Bar is where I go for lunch most of the time that I'm at Pike Place. It's located in Post Alley next door to the Chowder House.
The owner is super friendly and especially conversational when he's not very busy, which is not often because of all the customers that frequent this place. Their spaghetti with meatballs is also very delicious and so is their lasagna. You can't go wrong with most any order at this little Italian gem.
If you've been going to the Pasta Bar long enough, you soon start to realize that both customers as well as Pike Place Market employees and vendors are drawn to this place for their yummy pasta. I always chase my delicious lunch at Pasta Bar down with a refreshing cup of fresh squeezed lemonade. -
Review from Faith Y.
12/31/2010
As I impatiently waited in line for Pike Place Chowder, the sight of happy spaghetti-slurping patrons caught my eye. They were perched on bar stools and digging in with utmost contentment into their plates of fettuccine, spaghetti and meatballs, pizza or hero sandwiches. Suddenly, a $6 bowl of chowder didn't seem as appetizing as their crazy good lunch special: spaghetti + garlic bread, $4.99. Um, yes please. And their other lunch special combos were $9 or less including big plates of pasta, crust garlic bread, green salad and a soft drink.
The Italian-American owner was a show in himself. He sung along to random tunes in his head, called all the female customers 'sweetheart' and randomly plunked down a saucer of spaghetti sauce in front of a guy eating pizza saying 'dunk the crust in this, you won't regret it.' Loved how genuinely happy he was doing his thing and the food was very filling and comforting for a cold Seattle day. Definitely a randomly good choice!
I'll have to come back on another vacation day (they close early) and indulge in the full combo action. Mmm dive-bar esque pasta is the way to be! -
Review from Bruce T.
Lynnwood, WA
4/10/2011
Hold on let me finish my food first!
I saw all the great reviews and knowing me with pasta and pizza, I had a good feeling. I wasn't wrong. After looking around a bit I found a little backway to the shop so look carefully for this place. It's hidden in a back alley with other stores.
As soon as I walked up I was greeted by a guy with one of the friendliest smiles i've seen this week. Brian better be reading this because this made my day. I ordered the stromboli to go and you know its a cool place when the guy making your food is happy and humming to the music.
The food came out to perfection. Not too greasy, meaty, fresh, and altogether happy food. I'm definitely coming back and trying their pasta when I get a day off.
"I'll be back". Indeed! -
Review from Sarah R.
3/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love it!
My best friend was in town and we were shopping it up at Pike Place when we began to feel a bit peckish. We decided we would just wander around and see if any particular place struck our fancy.
We walked up to the Pasta Bar and after seeing how great the lunch special was, we had to take a seat! We had fettucini alfredo, caesar salad, garlic bread, and soda for $7.99!!
The sauces are all made in house and the ingredients were very good. The portions were huge! They even offered us more bread when we polished off the first batch.
Friendly service, great location, fantastic prices, & good food. I'll totally be back there. -
Review from Sarah M.
1/9/2011
I don't know how I've lived in Seattle for 4 years without having ventured to Post Alley. This little hidden gem of an alley has so many wonderful restaurants and cute little shops. I had a hankering to come to Pike Place and my husband had a hankering for Italian food...so we both won.
I was skeptical of the fact that this place had almost ALL 5 star reviews...but I need to agree. This place is pretty awesome. So it's not the BEST spaghetti that I've had on my life, it tastes kind of like what I could make at home, but it was still ridiculously tasty and I loved the meat sauce. My husband and I both had the spaghetti and meatballs with caesar salad, garlic bread, and a soda for $7.99 each. What a steal!
The vibe was awesome, the food was served quickly, everyone was friendly, and I loved sitting at the bar there. It was a little chilly and there was nowhere to hang my purse and had to hold it in my lap since the floor was dirty, but I didn't even care. (Just an FYI, this place is not great for huge groups but great for 2-4 people.)
Great all around.I can't wait to come back. -
Review from Sarah V.
Seattle, WA
8/27/2008
So, what if it isn't all that authentic? It tastes good, so who cares... right? Right.
I have never been disappointed coming here. It's hands-down my favorite place in the market. They are cheap (for the amount you get) and I ALWAYS have a LOT of leftovers. The guys are really nice and it's extremely quick service.
Their chicken fettucini alfredo is the best bit of pasta I have ever had the pleasure of placing in my mouth. The chicken is sweet, tender, and succulent, and the alfredo is cheesy, creamy, and smooth. The pasta has the perfect texture. They also add a bit of pesto and that gives it even more flavor.
Every time someone comes to visit me in Seattle (and this is more often than one would think... in the past year since we moved here we have had 5 different visitors!) I have to take them to the Pasta Bar.
It's in the Market, right next to Cafe Yarmarka.
Get there early-ish though since they close at 3.Listed in: Best Eats
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Review from Marc M.
Watched as a friend ate a very mediocre slice of cheese pizza, certainly not up to the acclaim on Yelp. Pass this one up for one of the many other food options within spitting distance.
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Review from Tim D.
6/25/2009
As the name implies, this is in fact a bar with stools (and a couple tables offset.) inside a building in Post Alley. It's inside right behind the Seattle Clam Chowder, and across from the Made in Washington store.
I love this place. It's real, laid back, unpretentious, and a great place to grab a quick lunch. A slice of pepperoni and a large Arnold Palmer set me back seven bucks and change. (It's a big slice of pizza.) I've been here twice since I started working near the market, and I'm so very glad I found it. The guys behind the bar and really friendly and fun to talk to.
Don't miss this gem in the market! -
Review from Mark K.
Burlingame, CA
6/1/2010
I was on the Savor Seattle Food tour and we stopped at Pikes Place chowder. While we were walking around I noticed a great looking meatball sandwich at this pasta bar right next door. Yep, it looked that good and I wanted to come back and try it out.
The meatball hero is excellent and its big but I devoured it. Great meatball hero. A little sloppy but those are the best kind.
Its the only thing I've had here but it is really good and if I lived here I'd eat more of it. -
Review from Elaine A.
Everett, WA
12/2/2011
Nov. 30th- After a cold morning's shopping in Seattle, we were starving, tired and chilled to the bone. A look a recent reviews of Sisters had sapped our desire for Euro sandwiches... then on chance, we spotted The Pasta Bar. After a hearty greeting from the Pasta bar-man and quick perusal of the hand-written menu, we ordered up: a small spaghetti with marinara (a dish which very succinctly predicts the fortunes of an eatery's culinary ability), a small tortellini with alfredo and pesto, and two slices of cheese pizza. Food appeared momentarily as if by magic. "Small" in the Pasta Bar translates to "hubcap heaped with pasta, lovingly ladled with delightful sauce beneath a snowfall of parmesan". I wanted to curl up in my plate and nap while chewing my way free. The pasta was absolutely perfect, and the sauce... oh my good night, the sauce... tomatoes and peppers and onions practically made love under the influence of heady oregano and a hint of red pepper. The only thing that kept me from drowning under the influence of marinara were the chunks of hot, fresh garlic toast, which I wisely used as flotation devices. Dear Heart's cheese tortellini made him swoon: delectably light, multi-colored curls of cheesy heaven tucked beneath a not-too-rich, perfectly balanced buttery alfredo. Swirls of fresh pesto gave the dish a festive holiday attire. Accompanying cheese pizzas were delightfully yeasty and cheesy, but unnecessary accompaniments. Our bellies full and our wallets happy, we tumbled back into the nippy last day of November, heedless of the chilly winds. We were Pasta-Powered, baby!
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Review from Henry R.
Seattle, WA
4/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good Italian food. Served quickly and cheaply.
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Review from S W.
7/3/2011
Had 2 slices of pizza on a Sunday afternoon. It was alright. A bit too greasy, and expensive. Service was iffy, even though we sat at the bar. Probably wouldn't go back.
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Review from Travis W.
Federal Way, WA
5/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Stop in during lunch, they have good pizza by the slice. This is a hidden gem.
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Review from Chika A.
Seattle, WA
4/23/2011
So this place is a small pasta & pizza joint in a market. Cheap, Fast & Yummy. Super Super Super Casual...err maybe bit of a dive. So don't expect an authentic family owned Italian place because the rating is high. If you want your pasta done perfect "al dente" and your pizza baked in wood fire oven, go elsewhere. This is a hidden gem to me because... 1) I like their food. Not salty and not overly greasy. 2) Food comes fast and in decent portion. 3) They don't charge tourist prices in the market. 4) I am addicted to their lemonade.
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Review from L E.
Seattle, WA
3/3/2010
Discovered this place while waiting for a client to show up for a meeting. Thankfully they were late. I couldn't have been more happily surprised and well fed.
I ordered the small spaghetti with meat sauce. The portion was bigger than expected but as it turned out if it had been less. I probably would have ordered more.
The owner was there and served my meal which came with a piece of garlic bread. At no additional cost I had a great conversation, great authentic freshly made to order food and reason to go back.
You should go. -
Review from A T.
Greenlawn, NY
8/7/2011
Got there just before closing today. Counter man was very nice and said had to give us pie to go but told is where we could sit and eat nearby. Pizza was thin crust so ready quickly. Was hot and just bright amount of cheese. Great value for $13.
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Review from taylor m.
Bellevue, WA
5/1/2011
Decent price, love the location and good food. Have had only a handful of better tasting pasta, otherwise it would be a 5 star. Don't get me wrong, it is good, just not "knock you off your feet". I have been there a few times and will always grab more when we hit post alley.
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Review from Jose B.
Seattle, WA
10/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
homemade pasta hidden inside of pike place. great food! small portions. Everything is a family recipe though... true italian owner
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Review from DeAnne E.
8/18/2010
I like to come here because it's the closest place to Westlake that serves pasta. I travel from the ID just to come here for lunch. I like that it's quick service and the guys at the counter are very friendly. I always get the lunch special: Spaghetti with meatballs, salad, bread, and a drink. You can't beat that.
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Review from Henry P.
Seattle, WA
I really like this place. The qualities of this place are the neighborhood Italian dive place with the good food and great memories associated with it! They actually know how to use oregano and other spices in their pizza, meatballs and sausage heroes! They even have great bread for the heroes! The service is always good and as another reviewer posted, they are not shy about telling you what is great that day! If you want a bite of Italian and your at the market, check this place out!.
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Review from JEsse B.
Seattle, WA
1/29/2009
Always fast, always good service, always tasty, and always Sinatra playing in the background that the guy pulling slices sings along to. Awesome.
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Review from Brad B.
Edmonds, WA
8/23/2011
Fast, friendly, and fresh. Great place to grab a quick bowl of pesto pasta.
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Review from dana m.
Kent, WA
Yum! Big portions, my husband and I shared a large for 10.00. We had the spaghetti with meat sauce! Owner very friendly...
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Review from Melinda N.
Seattle, WA
4/4/2011
Seriously? This makes me feel actually insane. I can't believe this place has such good ratings. The people who run it seem really nice, and I love pasta so i want to like it, but its honestly been some of the most mediocre food I've had. I agree you get a lot of food for the price, but every time I've tried it (mostly after reading how good the reviews are and questioning my memory), I haven't even finished my food. Anyway. Maybe I've been there on bad days, or maybe I have terrible taste in pasta, but this is crazy.
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Review from Sven G.
Olympia, WA
9/10/2010 1 photo
Fast, friendly service. Tasty spices and sauce on the meatball hero. Good, classic thin pepperoni pizza. Wear a coat! (Not because it's formal, but because it's cold in there.)
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Review from Talbot S.
Seattle, WA
12/23/2009 1 photo
Great food fast! Ask them what's good today and they will never send you astray. Delicious food and great proprietors!!!!!
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Review from knicole a.
Kent, WA
4/20/2011
well i liked the pizza and pasta but the meatball were not all that great i guess i had my hopes up to high. im not sure yet if ill go back yet unless im craving some pizza in post alley.
