Basta Pasta

Basta Pasta Restaurant in Boston was a spontaneous stop on the way after a long day of sightseeing in beautiful Boston. I saw the restaurant from the bus and spontaneously decided to eat here. Basta Pasta is rather small and specializes in order and pick-up, but there are still a few tables and the staff was friendly. I was pleasantly surprised by the food and it tasted even better than it looks in the pictures. A definite recommendation!

I was so surprised by this place! It’s fun and quick, but the dishes are surprisingly refined. Perfect for a student get-together. All prices are around $20, so YMMV depending on what you get.

The pizza is delicious. The first time we had the pizza it looked huge, I wondered how we could finish it, turned out the dough was so thin and pizza so good we finished the whole thing. I used to live close by, but found this place too late to enjoy it enough. Last time I flew back, this was a must on my list! Love this place!

Small shop, very comforting pasta. The garlic bread and the greek salad were so so, but the pasta was filling and delicious.

Had the chicken/broccoli/ziti with garlic and oil sauce. One of the best pasta dishes I've had in a long, long time. The broccoli was crunchy, the chicken tenders were little medallions of heaven, not sure how they make them so tasty. The sauce was unreal. Can't wait to go back and try other dishes. Ate in my car while I drove home, could not wait! Had the fusilli with bolognese today. Oh my, outstanding. The pasta was cooked perfect. The sauce was not heavy overly rich like some restaurants do.

By the taste of the food, there should have been way more people in the dining room on a Friday night. It's a pretty big menu to pick from with a good amount of vegetarian options. We went with the squashed olive and stuffed eggplant, AMAZING! We walked right by this place, it looked like there were changing the outside. Also the dinning room was minimalist and a bit old. Great food!

Nice staff and the best pasta we've had in ages! Pasta is cooked just right and the sauces are terrific. We had the calamari appetizer, the chicken piccatta and the chicken broccoli ziti with Alfredo sauce. We will definitely be back.

Off the street and great service. Loved the food. Will come back again!

Friendly staff. Delicious food. Generous amount of food for the price. Ambiance is nice but a bit small. Luckily it wasn't busy when I arrived. Would definitely come back.

Food is delicious as always. We got our usual chicken broccoli Alfredo (probably the best I've had anywhere), fresh, quality ingredients. We also had the shrimp fra diavolo and margherita pizza. All so good.

I travel back and forth between the coasts, and when I am in town, I love getting takeout and having leftovers in my hotel room. Portions are good. The red sauce could use a bit more gusto, but it's not bad. Fusili is great! Their salads are SOLID

Came here again last night and got the handmade fusilli with chicken ziti (and pink sauce instead of alfredo). Always love the sauce, but the chicken seemed very rubbery this time (almost tendon-like). Not every piece was like that, but a good amount. We also got the whole wheat radiatori which we enjoyed.

Just want to come back and talk about their meatballs. Found out today they are rolled fresh there in their kitchen. Mmmmmmm My friend Jermaine put me on to here and I own him my taste buds for it. Guys go eat these meatballs and tell me I'm wrong? They are super sweet too I got chicken parm and asked them to chop the chicken up in tiny pieces for me so it's thru out the past and they said yes and they did it. Last thing....THEIR MEATBALLSSSSSS

Ordered chicken Marsala to go and it was AMAZING!! The sauce, pasta noodles, and chicken were smothered in sauce, no pasta was left untouched. The portion was adequate for two meals (for me) and heated up great in the microwave. I'll have to go in person to try more of their meals!!

This is a little family owned place in Cambridge that is a hidden gem. The area is mostly residential and this is tucked away on corner of the main street. I got the Chicken Parmigiana and it was delicious. The chicken is not dry at all and the flavor of the sauce is perfect. I got it with linguini and you have the option to choose penne as well. I'm not sure if the store is only doing takeout still, but when I went in I did not see anyone dining in and have not really seen people dining in other than grabbing takeout (I usually just do takeout from here since I'm down the street). Overall, even for takeout it is still amazing! What steals the show for me are the meatballs. I have a family friend whose mom is Italian and these meatballs reminds me of the moms she would make all the time. The meatball is melts into your mouth and is seasoned to perfection.

Excellent homemade meat lasagna! Beautiful, thick slice made fresh for my order! Would return again to try other menu items if I visit Boston again!

The food here was AMAZING! I was pleasantly surprised with the size of the portions for the reasonable price. Both meals had a ton of flavor and meat. Service was very fast and friendly. You order at the counter but there are enough seats to dine in or take your food to go. Definitely will be visiting again soon!

I've been meaning to try Basta Pasta for a while and when I was craving pizza on a Friday night I decided to give them a try for takeout. I didn't have any expectations but the pizzas were delicious! We got a margherita and a pepperoni pizza and both were excellent--chewy but slightly crispy crust, the perfect amount of cheese and fresh basil on the margherita, and not too greasy. I'm often disappointed by Boston pizza and was excited to find a good spot! The food was also ready exactly when they said it would be which I appreciated. My only qualm with my order was the Caesar salad--it was just plain romaine lettuce and plain croutons and didn't even fill the container it came in. I was annoyed at myself for spending 12$ on something I could have made exactly the same way at home for pennies. I'll skip the salad next time, but the pizzas are definitely worth it.

Hidden Gem in a Cambridge neighborhood. Vegetarian options are clearly marked on their web menu. We ordered ministrone soup, Aglio Olio, and Squashed Olives. The pasta are prepared to order and were amazing. We shared the dishes. We all enjoyed the diverse flavors. The Aglio Olio has red chili flakes in it, so it is a bit hot but good nonetheless. If you like hot you will enjoy it. I enjoyed the linguine pasta. Both pastas were all dente - perfect. Water is available via self-serve along with napkins and table wear. We plan to return as the tastes are on par with the North End without the wait and parking hassel.

Verrrry good & fresh food for a take out place. Has a regular pizza place dine in area, nothing fancy buttt the food is delightful. Very fresh & the pasta is perfectly made; al dente & marinara sauce was muahhhh delish. def try it out; prices are decent $$ but worth ittt

3.5 stars. Have ordered takeout from Basta Pasta a couple of times and it usually doesn't disappoint. Portions are massive so you get your money's worth. Chicken marsala is a tad too sweet for me, but it's tasty and packed with flavor. Chicken piccata is very lemon-y, but it felt like it was missing something - maybe extra butter to bind it all together. The chicken is really nice and tender which I am picky about. I docked a star for the texture of the pasta - my fusilli is usually too soggy so the pasta sticks together by the time I bring it home. Also tried the turkey avocado panini which was very bland. Food usually takes the full 20-30 minute timeframe that is noted when you place your order. You can tell it's straight from the kitchen because it is piping hot.

Solid, dependable goto for home style italian. Don't underestimate the cheesy garlic bread; super simple but the kind your mom made. Fresh made Fusilli is worth the extra buck fifty.

The house pepperoni pizza was excellent, but the chicken Marsala was greasy and taste overpowering of sherry not Marsala wine. more veggies would have helped balance the dish. Also bought eggplant pizza. Eggplant was breaded and awful which ruined the pizza. This is overall a great place for pizza.

Ok, prices are kinda high, but it's Central Square Cambridge, so I bet the rent is sky-high. We eat here almost weekly. Chicken Marsala - the sauce is delicious. Could use more mushrooms (don't pay for extra, bc it's the same amount as if you don't...). It's a bit rich for some people in the family, but I *adore* this. It' sooooo goooodd. Shrimp Fra Diavolo - Nice big shrimp, Nice big portions, Nice flavor - just right amount of spicy, good sauce. Squashed Olives pasta WITHOUT OLIVES - just tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, chopped arugula, parmesan. Don't judge me, I hate olives. BUT, I love everything else about this light flavorful dish - thank god they offer a way to order it without olives (they must know...). When I want something lighter than the Marsala, this is what I order. Very light. Chicken Broccoli Ziti - loved by half the family, and liked pretty well by the other half. Tis reasonable. Meatballs Pomodoro, the appetizer - very tasty. Love the sauce it comes in. Just plain Red Sauce Pasta - kind of plain, but it gets eaten, so... The paninis do not live up to their descriptions? Very unflavorful for unclear reasons... We've tried them all - they're fine, but stick to the pasta, in my family's opinion. Avoid the garlic bread. The salads have somehow gone downhill - they used to have the most amazing Caesar Salad, but the last few times, the croutons were tiny store-bought things. Just stick to the pastas (+ meatballs). Of note, "linguini" as the pasta option is hit or miss - sometimes it's substituted, with no warning, by overcooked angel hair... The amount you receive varies wildly, and the done-ness also varies pretty wildly - if you're getting their default pasta, we suggest the penne - there seems to be a much wider window for done-ness - it's consistently got a good chew. We've tried their homemade fusilli, and didn't think it was worth it, but you do you. We eat here often, and will continue.

Basta Pasta has amazing pizzas and pastas and is one of my favorite spots in Cambridge! I ate in the restaurant in previous years and loved their stuffed eggplant pasta (tons of yummy basil) and cavatappi con aglio e olio (great pasta texture). More recently, I enjoyed a takeout pizza! Their tomato sauce is great, and the topping:crust ratio is just right. Plus, you can get half-and-half pizzas if they have the same sauce base! Leftovers (if you have any) reheat well with about 5 or so minutes in a 400° oven. My friend got the stuffed eggplant over pasta and said it was delicious! I definitely recommend Basta Pasta for delicious pizza and pasta!

Food was super good and came out really fast! Big portions and friendly staff! Great little spot

Wanted to try someplace new for dinner the other night and Basta Pasta did not disappoint! I ordered the bolognese penne pasta and some garlic bread and the portions were very big--the pasta literally was two whole meals for me. And the garlic bread was honestly fantastic, I highly recommend! I would say that this place is definitely is worth the price. The pasta was yummy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. I would definitely come back and try all the other pastas that they have. I ordered delivery and the packaging was done nicely but I think because my driver wasn't too careful, the pasta sauce leaked down the sides of the takeout container a bit. But other than that everything was amazing! Definitely try this place if you haven't already. And order the garlic bread!

This menu and the way the food is prepared is some of the best example of small kitchen Italian cooking you can imagine. The food feels like it's from the your friend's Italian grandma in neighborhood because it is a true neighborhood establishment, one of Cambridge's finest. The tables are few, but the place is quiet, unless you get there during the takeout rush. The real stars are the chicken broccoli alfredo, the cacciatore, and the shrimp fradiavlo. Grab a meatball or the calamari sautéed in a red sauce if you're extra hungry for a great start to the meal. The pizzas are primo and the sandwiches are solid. All of these are in generous portions for reasonable prices. The fellas who run the shop might be a bit laconic at times, but they're friendly and do food service extremely well. Also, if you ever want to watch an international football match, have a seat on the cozy dining area and watch a game while you wait for your great meal.

Really great place to get fresh made pizza and pasta. Everything is made from scratch here. There are indoor seating and online ordering available. The service here is excellent and the food is phenomenal. I came here four years ago and had to come back Bc it was so memorable.

Terrible experience. One guest has a dairy allergy. Serious medical issue. Item ordered didn't have dairy as a listed ingredient. We wrote a note saying "NO DAIRY. ALLERGY". We also checked the allergen box for Dairy Allergy. The food, you guessed it, still arrived drenched in cheese. Does nobody take allergy warning seriously in this place? Food ended up in the trash and guest went hungry.

Great place for pickup for a great variety of Italian food. I had the chicken Marsala which I enjoyed. A little heavy on the garlic but other than that some tasty food.

I stumbled upon this joint on Western Avenue near the bridge while walking aimlessly in the neighborhood, trying to accomplish the imaginary goal of 10,000 steps daily. There is apparently a wide range of Italian food on the menu, and the price seems reasonable. Ordered Chicken Parmiggiana and Calamari Risotto. The Risotto was one of the best I had and I can't wait to try some of the other risottos on the menu.

This is the best spot in Cambridge, MA...are all ok, but this place is sooooo different! First the Caesar salad was like one of the best I have ever tried, we added chicken and it was absolutely delicious! Then came the pizza with house pepperoni and somehow they made it look fancy. And the pasta with house meatballs was so good!! That said this place only has 4 stars but it should be 5 stars! This is the best place we have eaten in the area!

I ordered delivery through Uber eats. None of my food was good, it all reminded me of my high school cafeteria food. Baker and stuffed eggplant pasta was borderline inedible with a thick layer of burnt mozzarella on top. More breading on the eggplant than there was eggplant, nearly 4:1 ratio. Meatballs were bland. Bolognese was one of the worse I've ever had, tasted like they used cheap jarred sauce. Even the garlic bread was bad - looked and tasted like they got a leftover wheat roll from subway. $20 for each of those pasta dishes was ridiculous. Portions were big but 80% went in the compost bin.

So yummy! The portions are huge and pasta/pizza is so fresh. We watched them pull the pizza out the oven and we couldn't wait for it to cool down and burnt the whole roof of our mouths off. Delicious crust and nice cheese. Very classic pizza. Heated it up in the toaster over the next day and it was amazing as well. Also got the chicken marsala. I personally don't like it when I can taste the Marsala wine too much, I like it very reduced down. This was perfect and the sauce was very savory. Had enough for 3 meals!! Also got the Caesar salad. It was huge but the croutons were all soggy and stale. Coulda been my fault tho bc I left it in the bad for a while. The dressing was really good and could tell it was homemade (or at least not your average Caesar dressing) Yummy! Always good portions and good taste. Cant wait to try more items

I ordered the Chicken Brócoli Zito. The mozzarella cheese on top was great. The portion size was great. And it was nice trying out a local spot that's conveniently located close to Harvard. However, I think the full flavor profile for the dish wasn't above average. If almost compare it to something akin to a microwave version of this dish. Perhaps I'll need to try some of the other dishes. Also, I was hoping for a bread roll or something with my takeout order. Unfortunately, no rolls were included.

Pretty good chicken broccoli Alfredo with penne pasta. I'm always on the hunt for a good chicken broccoli ziti. You can tell no frozen items are used which is a major plus. Sauce is definitely flavorful and has the right consistency. Not watery like some places. They also give you a good portion of food for your money. I don't suggest dining in since it's very small.

Basta Pasta's pizza was probably the closest to a good old New York slice. I've lived in Boston for about 5 years now and haven't found anything so tasty! Reminds me of home! I also got the chicken marsala pasta with linguine and it was absolutely incredible. Sweet & savory -- highly recommend!

I've been going to Basta Pasta for 7 years now. The food is made fresh to order. The chicken parm is on point as is the prosciutto panini. The place was looking pretty rough the last few years but the just recently threw a coat of paint on it and it's looking better. My only complaint is that they have an option for Lavash bread for sandwiches but instead of genuine Armenian Lavash (UNESCO World Heritage food), they serve a flour tortilla. I have made the management aware of this but as of today they are still selling flour tortillas as "Lavash". This is an easy fix, there is even a Lavash bakery (House of Lavash) in Cushing Square, Belmont that could supply them. Once they fix this I'll bump them back up to 5 stars.

I ordered through DoorDash and the food was amazing! It was still super hot when it got to my place. Definitely one of the best Italian places I've tried.

This little Cambridge restaurant was such a good find. On a night that we were craving pasta but did not want anything fancy, we stumbled upon this little place. You order at the counter, but then they bring the food out to you. I ordered the chicken piccata, which comes with an option of linguine or penne (I opted for linguine). My friend ordered the chicken Marsala, which she also got with linguine. The food was delicious and less expensive than a typical Italian restaurant would be. I would definitely return to try more of the pastas.

BEWARE: I ordered a sandwich from Basta Pasta today through a lunch program called forkable. It was the "imported prosciutto panini." The ingredients listed on the sandwich were prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato and basil. When I got the sandwich, after eating part of it I realized there was a brown item on it that could have been caramelized onion or figs. I have a severe fig allergy, so I called the restaurant to ask what was on the sandwich. The man who picked up told me he didn't put anything else on the sandwich, which was obviously not true, but also told me that I should call after 5pm. He then proceeded to tell me that he was busy, had other orders and "he already told me to look at the menu." There was clearly something on the sandwich that was not listed on the menu. To make things simpler, I asked if any of the menu items in the restaurant use figs or fig spread. The employee refused to answer that simple question, again told me to call after 5pm and said "I already told you to read the menu" and then hung up on me. This is beyond unacceptable. If this establishment does not understand the importance of food allergies and refuses to answer simple customer questions when it puts items not included on the menu into its food, it should not be in business. This violates food safety standards and presents a massive health risk to the entire Cambridge community.

My go-to place for ordering in Italian food. No matter what we're ordering it comes quickly and piping hot. The menu is suitable for vegetarians and omnivores alike--everything is good, but I always find myself craving the chicken marsala with fusilli. Delicious, flavorful food in generous portions makes for leftovers you're actually excited to eat!

Great neighborhood spot. Perfect for the family. Awesome cheese pizza and homemade pasta. So happy to discover this place!

My boyfriend and I were looking for a casual Italian place and stumbled upon Basta Pasta. Super casual place with a few tables if you want to dine in. We ordered at the register and sat at table. We ordered a large grilled chicken pizza. Decently sized pizza with a pesto sauce topped with cheese a few tomato slices and grilled chicken. Very tasty. We also shared the chicken piccata pasta; we decided on the homemade fusilli pasta. Decent pasta dish left something to be desired though. Overall a good experience would definitely back for the pizza.

Basta Pasta is a great spot. I've had just about every variation of their pasta and paninis and they never disappoint. There are a lot of overpriced Italian restaurants in and around Boston and Basta isn't one of them. Everyone that works there is very friendly and they're always very fast and efficient. The chicken Milanese panini is my favorite menu item. Would recommend.

Came here for a late dinner and were able to grab a table. I ordered the Aglio e Olio and it was really delicious! The portion size was huge and was well worth the price. The pasta tasted really fresh and it was very well-seasoned. The atmosphere was super casual and comfortable and service was friendly and helpful.

Great pasta!! We got the chicken piccata, chicken cacciatore, and sauteed calamari. Both pastas were really really good! And came in big portions. I liked how the piccata wasn't too oily. The calamari sauce was yummy, but the calamari itself was kind of small. Would def like to order from here again and try another kind of pasta.

After a long day of delayed flights to Boston, yelp led me here from my Courtyard hotel. Loved the easy neighborhood takeout vibe, but with quality ingredients. I ordered the chicken Marsala based on the yelp recommendations, but the sauce wasn't quite as amazing as expected. It was a little light on flavor, but the chicken was great and the portion was huge. A bummer that they were out of the homemade fusilli pasta. Also got garlic bread with sauce that was really good. I would definitely come back if I was in the area and craving some easy Italian food!

I really wanted to give this restaurant a worse review when I arrived to pickup my order and they hadn't even started it. It took an extra 25 minutes and the restaurant was completely empty- so I was extremely frustrated. Once I got my pizza, it smelled amazing! Cooked well and gave me exactly what I was craving. Somewhat thin crust, the perfect amount of cheese, and the sauce was delicious. So happy they let me do a half and half with their specialty toppings! This restaurant is small if you are looking to sit and eat.

This place smelled SO good when I walked in, and then I was also really happy with the pasta's taste! I got the shrimp pasta with chili flakes, and I thought it had the perfect amount of spice. I do think that the shrimp were slightly overcooked and chewy, but I've rarely had shrimp where that isn't the case, so I don't really hold it against them. Portions were much larger and more filling than I expected. Seemed like 1.5 times larger than typical pasta portions. Overall, I thought this place was good! Nothing wildly special, but still a decent pasta spot to choose if you're in the area :)

Decent restaurant for some casual Italian food. I had the chicken parmesan sub which was good but too big for lunchtime. This is definitely not a sub you can eat on the go without making a mess. While the chicken was good they did burn the bread a little and it was crunchier than I would have preferred. Otherwise friendly service and tons of food for the price.

I was so excited to try this place, and walked over away from Central Square (where nearly all food establishments are located) in the cold, pouring rain to Basta Pasta on a Sunday evening a couple of weeks back. It was an hour before they closed when I left central, thinking there's plenty of time to get there and get a hot meal before they close. WRONG, when I got there, the doors were ALREADY locked and the guy was sweeping the floor eventhough their posted hour says they don't close for another 45 minutes. When I tapped on the glass, he looked up and back to sweeping. Seriously? WTF!

I really enjoyed this pizza. Delivery was swift and pizza taste very good. The only thing was I ask for thick crust and received regular. But overall very good.

What an awesome find!! Wow! Short walk from our hotel and loved the neighborhood setting. Everyone was so welcoming. The food was incredible!! Homemade pasta and portions very generous. We ate in but they had a constant stream of take out too. We also grabbed a couple of pizzas to go too - buffalo chicken and margarita

It's more an Italian take out, complete with on line mobile ordering, than a restaurant, but the few tables in front of the counter technically qualify for eat in service. From its exterior decor to the busy cramped kitchen in the back, the place excuses authenticity. The ordering process is a bit hectic, no prices on the board, busy staff, hungry patrons, but I don't think you can go wrong with whatever you order. Pizzas are excellent and large. We ordered two 16 inch as the staff suggested 12 inch where personal size. Great up selling, not true. We took almost a whole pizza home. The caprese salad also excellent. But the star was my linguini and clams with spicy red sauce. Over the top delicious and all of the pasta dishes being served looked equally as good. Not fancy, but some of the best Italian food I've had for sure.

Eating at Basta Pasta felt like eating in Italy. The staff was all Italian. The television was playing an Italian soccer game. The pasta was authentic homemade and al dente. This place is truly a hidden gem. My husband ordered the chicken parmasean sandwich and I ordered the chicken piccata with fussili pasta. The chicken parm sandwich was enormous. The bread was crunchy but had a soft inside and the tomato sauce was sweet. SO YUMMY!! My chicken piccata pasta was off the chain. The pasta was long and cooked al dente. The pasta sauce tasted of butter, wine, lemons and mushrooms. The capers had tartness. The service was great. The prices were affordable. The shop itself is small but dainty. It is clean and air conditioned and has a bathroom available. There is also tap water for customers to take. We will definitely be back here to try more delicious Italian deliciousness!!

Basta Pasta has one of the best quality to price ratios I've seen in all of Boston / Cambridge. Whenever I'm craving Italian, I find my way to Basta because the ingredients are incredibly fresh, staff is friendly, and, as I mentioned, the prices are truly unbeatable for the generous portions and fabulous quality. It's around $6 for a good sized portion of delicious, crunchy, refreshing Caesar salad with freshly grate pecorino, and all of the pasta dishes I've tried have been similarly great (most are around $10-14). I am especially a fan of the chicken and veal parmigiana, but I've tried butternut squash ravioli and a few of the other specials over the years. Their homemade fusili is nice, and definitely tastes fresh. I usually end up getting my pasta with penne or linguine because the fusili is a bit dense for my taste, but I love that they offer homemade pasta! It's counter service, so the ambience is super low-key and casual, which just makes Basta seem even more like a hole in the wall! I've never ordered takeout from Basta, but I've seen MANY people picking up, and from the doggy bags I've taken home and reheated with delicious results, I have no doubt the takeout is also solid.