Grassa

Food: Handmade pasta right here. It was chewy for the pasta. I had the pork ragu wouldn't say that it was the best k had as it had quite the porky taste. Over whelming pork I would say. The pasta was great for sure and the sauce too. Place to find the siting was alright there are benches to share and places to sit so not bad at all. Parking. There are places to park but since its near town its kinda difficult to find. Just park along the sides would do.

I've been craving really good pasta and I was recommended this place by a friend and boy did it not disappoint what so ever! The salad and both dishes were amazing! I wish I had more nights in town to come here every day! Will definitely be one of my next stops for dinner!

Came in with my brother and we both got the pork belly mac and cheese with a side of garlic bread. Absolutely delicious. I loved both dishes and I also like the semi-open concept of the kitchen, it makes the food feel prepared more carefully being able to see the people making it. I also really enjoyed the laid back manner of ordering and dining mixed with the high quality food. The only recommendation for the mac and cheese from me would be to have the pork belly in smaller pieces, but that's just how I would personally liked it. Thank you for a good experience!

I loved the restaurant and the vibes but I felt like the food was slightly lacking in flavor. I got the fusilli a la vodka and felt like the pasta was a tad undercooked. Overall it wasn’t a favorite for me

Best Brussels sprouts and burrata I’ve ever had! Pasta was good but not quite as exceptional as the appetizers. Still enjoyed the meal overall. Our collective favorite pasta was the rigatoni. Also excellent Coke 👌👌👌

This place was so nice and welcoming. The employees were great helping since it was our first time there. Atmosphere was so nice having seating outside on the street.

Good pasta, it’s is very chewy and nicely crafted. The bacon/ pork belly tastes good, and the fat/lean ratio is well balanced. The pork belly tastes like stewed, fried and then glazed. Sauce is good, especially the pesto sauce which has a nutty flavor! The waiting time is a little long but it’s worth it!

Quite amazing quality for a quick pasta place. Feels very PNW-chef-driven because it is. Food is much more notable than Pastini, but here you order at the counter. Caesar salad was very homemade (real anchovies on top if you want) and the lettuce seemed fresh out of a garden. Staff very helpful. Edit: April 2025. The beet salad is the best salad I've had this decade.

I've seen quite a few people mention wait times here... I find that interesting. So you don't want fresh food then? You'd rather have that food come out quickly, and be warmed up? Just think about it. "Made to order", means it's prepared after the order is placed. Do these people that complain think that's easy to achieve? In a restaurant that has customers in the dining room, and to go orders? I found this cute little place online. After asking several people at my hotel, I decided to have dinner there. I was pleasantly impressed! Pasta is my favorite, and I really enjoyed the Vodka sauce!!! Extremely tasty! The meatballs were almost as good as the ones I make. Delish! The garlic bread was just the way I like it. Nice and garlicky. Soft on the inside, and not too crispy on the outside. I can't wait to come back, so I can try other things. I was kind of bummed out that they did not have any shrimp dishes. Especially after seeing all the pics on Yelp. It's nice to have at least one seafood pasta dish. Hopefully they will have one when I am in town again. ^ The watermelon cocktail was really yummy... Grazie

I didn't expect to be yanked out of my pasta comfort zone -- but wow, was I glad I was. My kids picked Grassa, hoping for a classic Italian night. I came craving lasagna or fettuccine Alfredo. Spoiler alert: Grassa doesn't do the usual suspects. No problem. I pivoted and ordered the Pork Belly Mac & Cheese. Let me tell you -- that dish was next-level. The pork belly was rich and savory, the pasta creamy and indulgent. I kept going back and forth trying to decide which part I loved more. Honestly? It was perfect. Marlene went with the Fusilli Alla Vodka. The portion was huge -- she tapped out halfway through, so I "helped." One bite turned into five, and yeah... I finished it. Smooth, spicy, and ridiculously good. The space itself is open and lively, filled with families laughing and soaking up the evening. Big windows frame the neighborhood vibe, and every staff member greeted us with warmth and a smile. Grassa didn't just serve dinner -- it served a reminder that stepping outside your go-to order can lead to something unforgettable.

Grassa is a PNW chain eatery serving up some delicious Italian food. This location is in Northwest Portland where there is street parking all around the area. Inside, they have a modern and spacious setup with a good amount of seating. For their menu, they have a nice selection of different side and pasta dishes to choose from. Wifey opted for the Black Truffle Pappardelle, I got the Pork Belly Mac & Cheese, and we got a side of the Grassa Meatballs. Everything that we had tasted fresh and delicious. Overall, we enjoyed our dining experience here. All of the staff are very friendly and welcoming. This is a great spot to grab a bite with a date, friends, or family.

Five stars for the pork belly mac (btw when I saw Grassa at the airport I knew I had to order it again to go! I didn't eat it until I got home, and it was just as delicious)! I love the big pasta that they use for this dish, so much so I looked up what Grassa uses in this dish! Turns out it's ribbed lumache ("snails" style). Both times I ordered it, it was cooked perfectly al dente and the pork belly is chunky, and slightly sweet. I am a sucker for a sweet and savory combo, so this was the perfect dish for me. The watermelon salad was a memorable highlight too, refreshing and perfect for summer. I believe the salad is seasonal, but I also appreciate seasonal dishes as a way to mix things up for regulars. I also got a cocktail, the Pictures of Lily (gin, creme of violette, triple sec, lemon) but they ran out of lemon so I asked if lime would taste good in it. The server was so nice to say if I didn't like it he could change it for me. But it tasted pretty good, so I didn't ask for a new drink but appreciated the option. I thought the cocktail menu was unique, everything on the cocktail menu looked good! We ordered a few other dishes but they are already fading from my memory...but most importantly, I would highly recommend the pork belly mac and watermelon salad!

Yummy yummy place!! The pasta was so good, but the service was the most unforgettable part. Definitely worth the visit! The place is also super super cute!

Deliciously fresh pasta. Not too many choices, great vs cocktails. Overall a nice welcoming experience. We sat outside, it was a nice evening. Definitely stop by if you want some fresh pasta!

I loved the fusilli alla vodka! the sauce was bright, tart, and paired well with the italian sausage. there was a generous amount of sausage which I appreciated as I didn't feel the need to ration it. the pasta was cooked beautifully al dente. I love when my pasta has a good chew and bite to it. there was already red pepper flakes in the sauce but I prefer mine super spicy so I ended up adding a lot more. simple dish but perfectly executed :)

Pasta and salads as well as drinks never disappoint but 45' wait for the meals.... You decide if it is worth it. At least you can walk 10' and get some salt n straw as an appetizer,

Carbonara and vodka. Multiple people have recommended this place in the area and we found out why! This place is beyond delicious and I love the outside seating.

This place had a bright and warm feeling to it. Have to order at counter and they'll deliver food to you. Food was delicious.

I haven't had such mid (at best) pasta in so long. The black truffle pappardelle had no flavor. I tried my friends other dishes, carbonara, fusilli alla vodka, and pork belly max and cheese and it was all bland or too heavy. The pasta is also too hard, harder than al dente. If I had to get something from here again it'd be the pork belly mac and cheese.

Pricey, mid pasta. Come with low expectations. The cashier sounded comically unwelcoming, like he didn't want to be there or take our order. We sat ourselves in a cozy corner booth, ready to chow down our first ever meal in Portland. Garlic bread: Tough shards of bread. Not really garlicky. Calamari: Not much squid. Mostly fried thin onions and fried lemon slices. Black Truffle Pappardelle: Skimpy amount of truffle. Pasta strands stuck to each other. Carbonara: Lacking flavor. Rigatoni: Salty ragu. Pasta Alla Chitarra: Hazelnut pesto, basil, and whipped ricotta. The only good dish of the evening. We left dinner feeling dissatisfied. If you're on vacay or visiting Portland briefly, I recommend finding other spots for better service & flavor.

We stopped here because it was open late, and close to where we'd been, at a concert on a Friday night. Grassa is kind of a different type of place than I'm used to. When you walk in the door, you go right to the counter and order - like you would at a fast food place. They give you a number to set on your table and your food is brought out to you. You're asked for a tip when you order, which in my opinion goes completely against the idea of tipping. Tips are rewards for good food and service, and when you're asked to tip when you order, there's no way to adjust the amount up or down based on your service. There were five of us eating together, and we used the same number, even though we paid as two groups. The first three of us got our food in a very reasonable time. The last two were forgotten about. We had to go back to the counter and ask where the rest of the order was. The server looked at us like he was confused, and went back to the ticket to see what was on it. He found the missing order, and fifteen minutes later we had the rest of the food. Everything was tasty, but spicier than expected. While I enjoyed the food, I thought the quantity of meat was a bit on the skimpy side. The restaurant itself, once past the ordering counter, was nice. Tables are spread out nicely, and it's not too noisy. I would eat here again if I'm in the area.

We weren't super hungry so my wife and I spit a pasta and salad. The carbonara was kinda mid in my opinion; I think it was just too dry. However, we both absolutely loved the chopped salad. I'm not even a salad person and I still thought it was delicious. It is spicy though, there's a lot of peperoncino in it. So if you're not a spice person it might be a lot. The restaurant was clean and service was simple. It's like slightly elevated but at the same time fast casual. Almost like eating at an airport or something, which ironically they now have a location at PDX.

Had probably the saltiest pasta of my life. It was the truffle one we ordered and even after they replaced it, it was still so overpowering it was basically inedible.

Great inside and outside seating. We ordered 2 pastas and wine and everything came out really delicious and quick. Overall great vibe and would recommend.

GREAT little casual lunch spot. Good drink variety and ordered the meatballs and the Black Pepper Pappardelle. Delicious! This is our second time coming, instant favorite.

A beautiful awesome evening amazing people of the world. After walking around the city, then looking at flowers and landscapes at the Japanese Garden. One could work up an appetite for some pasta. Which brings us here at Grassa in Portland, Oregon. The first on deck is their Aglio Olio. A simple dish of noodles, oil and garlic. The olive oil is ever present and the garlic is like a pleasant swift kick in the mouth. 9/10 The second dish is the Carbonara with the fried egg. Smoke flavor is present. The richness from the egg and cheese is on point. 8.7/10 The place is quite wonderful. Service was very good. I highly recommend you give this spot a proper go at it and let me know what you think. If you like discovering new spots to smash hit that follow button. Share this review with a smash mode buddy and thank you so much for reading along.

I love Grassa, I endorse their food, simple good elevated pasta and a perfect spot for a date. Plus they change up the menu frequently. But man this spot specifically really turned me away. I ordered and waited for 20 mins and then was approached why I was waiting on their bench. It wasn't like there was a line out the door. So they forgot to make out food, I guess that happens. But at least apologize? Our food took under 10 mins to make after. And still no sincere apology. What a weird service interaction.. Go to their other spots, it's better!

It's good pasta. Not great pasta. But still good, it hits the spot. I love the pork ragu. The meat is so tender, and the sauce is incredibly delicious. However, the pasta is way too chewy and a bit of a strange texture; doesn't strike me as handmade. Overall a solid casual pasta joint.

The pasta was pretty good, I had the Black Truffle Pappardelle, if you like black pepper, I would definitely recommend. Garlic bread was good, it wasn't microwaved, it had a good crunch and didn't taste stale. My only critique is that is, at times, the black pepper was a bit overwhelming since you had portions of pasta with a lot and some with none. I ordered online, so can't comment on wait times or internal atmosphere, but it was nice when I walked in. Everything looked clean and well lit. There's also outdoor seating. The price is not bad at all. My pasta was $14 and the garlic bread was $6. I will definitely come back and I hope to try every pasta option with more garlic bread.

This place is mid so I'm surprised there is so much hype around it! Let's start with ambiance, I enjoyed the plants through out the restaurant but other than the the tile and metal began to feel sterile. I think that for the price you're paying you should be able to order at your table. That being said it was a little spendy for the type of "service" that is received and the food is just okay. The staff was very kind and I do want to give a shoutout to them for their hospitality .

Walked in around 6:30pm on a Monday and it was quite empty surprisingly because it was around dinner time. Lots of seating inside and straight forward menu. Grassa pasta is made fresh so I was really excited to try. You order at the front and pick your own table the staff will then bring the food to you. Ordered: Pork belly Mac & cheese $18 this dish was packed with flavors, creamy and savory from the smoky pork, it wasn't heavy at all this dish is a must try. Rigatoni pork ragu sauce is good pasta was cooked well, pork was tender. Swift cider blueberry $7 Garlic bread $6 hmm the toast was dry and hard to eat, it shredded the inside of my mouth a bit maybe I got a bad toast so this was a no for me. Grassa didn't really wow me but I would come back for the mac & cheese tho!

So I first came to one of their locations in 2015 when I had one of their squid ink pastas. I remember the ambiance being so nice - even with communal dining - and the pasta being so unforgettably delicious that I had to try them again when I visited Portland again 2021. I remember it felt a bit tricky finding outdoor seating, as the pandemic still felt new, but somehow my friend and I were able to grab a table. Grassa PDX seems to switch out their menu every so often, so while I did not get to have their squid ink pasta again, I did have this unbelievably delicious shrimp pesto pasta. I don't know how they do it ! I wish there was something comparable in the Bay Area of California. Would definitely recommend trying this place out if you're in the Portland area !

Never NOT a long wait for food. Even if the restaurant is 25% full. They don't prioritize seated people vs takeout orders, unfortunately. Bummer because food is pretty good!

Food as always is great at this place. Having fresh pasta is always the best. It's located on NW 23rd where all types of different restaurants are located. It has a great welcoming environment where seating is welcome inside and outside the restaurant. People were very nice and welcoming. We took a bit of time to figure out what to order since all the entrees sound so yummy.

Spacious seating, both indoors and outdoors. They serve Italian cuisine with homemade pasta. We ordered pizza and pasta -- both were delicious (though maybe I was just too hungry!). You pay when you order. It was pretty empty on a weekday, but don't let that fool you -- this place is definitely worth visiting if you're craving Italian food. I highly recommend it!

I love grassa so much! It's a great spot for a casual bite to eat. You walk in, order at the counter, and a staff member delivers the food to your table. My grandma is handicap and since there is a step near the entrance the staff was able to show us the accessible entry way around the corner! They also allowed us to move a table and some chairs to sit more comfortably. I got the rigatoni with pork ragu, my grandmother got the fussilli alla vodka, and my aunt got the pork belly mac n cheese! All the meals were great, I did add a few red pepper flakes to my rigatoni to add a little extra spice! My grandma noted the fussilli alla vodka was a bit spicy for her so be aware if you do order that one! I've also had the Campanella before and if you like olives, feta, and peppers that dish is worth trying!

My hubby has been ordering grassa via Uber eats for years and he has brought me a few leftovers, so I suggested we go in and sit since we haven't had a chance yet. What a lovely place clean and bright. Food is phenomenal hand made noodles that have the perfect bite. My grandson who believes he is a macaroni and cheese connoisseur stated that this was the best Mac he's ever had and he's had a lot ;) The wedge salad had the perfect dressing to complement it. Would return any chance we get. FYI self bus only

I had pasta alli vodka. Superb. Perfect sauce consistency and al dente pasta. Great meal. It was recommended and did not disappoint.

Wednesday 9/20/23 I had no idea about this place until my aunt told me about it. I was skeptical at first but after trying it it was definitely the right choice. The restaurant has a cool and interesting concept of new style American/ Italian meal and they make all their noodles by hand. The service was solid. You order your food at the front counter and then they bring it to your table. Our table got the pork belly Mac and cheese, fusilli alla vodka, baked occhi di lupo, garlic bread, and grassa meatballs. All of them items were pretty good but the pork belly Mac n cheese was by far my favorite dish. The Mac n cheese was creamy and the pork belly was flat out amazing and very flavorful. All in all, this spot was a pleasant surprise and the pork belly Mac n cheese is a must have. I would recommend and come back for more but I just wish they had fettuccine Alfredo since that's my number 1 fav pasta.

I did take out. The marinara sauce wand noodles were cooked perfectly! Usually with pasta take out it is nasty by the time it gets to you. My dish was yummy! Will order again!!

My go to location for when I want pasta pronto. I do avoid ordering during dinner (5-7ish PM) as I tend to run into a 30-40 minute wait. My fav is the fusilli. I noticed that the food quality and quantity can be inconsistent at times so I specify exactly how I want my pasta. For example, there are a few times where I ordered the mac & cheese to go and the pork belly portion was laughable. Then there were times when I ordered the fusilli and it was too dry (i.e., not enough sauce or the sausage was overcooked). When dining in, the service is nice - even though it's bus your own tables, I see workers asking to clear the tables anyway. Recently, they forgot the garlic bread on my to go order. :(

10/10 dining experience. We all absolutely loved our pasta!!! The ambiance of the restaurant and the service was also amazing. Truly good homemade pasta that was sooo fresh. I wish I lived in Portland simply for this pasta haha. Highly recommend visiting when you're in town!

My friend had a paste and wine date, and it was so much fun! We sat outside because it was warm. The pasta was amazing and the perfect portion! The service was lovely and the restaurant is so cute! I've been numerous times, I try something new every time and it never disappoints. Highly recommend!

Always a good time at Grassa! Had the Jockey Full of Bourbon as our drinks, and it is definitely the winner! Like other Grassa's...order first, then sit at your seats. This location specifically, not much distance from the counter to order and the front door, so it definitely gets a bit clogged up front. Ordered quite a bit of food for two: -wild mushroom alfredo -bbq mac and cheese -rigatoni -caesar salad All the food above was great. and made well. The dish that was bottom tier was the calamari, A bit too much batter and not much seafood. Mixed a lot with some greens. Ambiance is nice. Grassa is definitely a good spot for some value pasta eats! Street parking only.

This spot is great. The service is slow but the Mac n cheese is special. Worth the stop!

The ambience, location, and environment is wonderful. The pasta was cooked perfectly, but what we ordered (paparadelle) was too salty. I didnt finish the food. Otherwise, not too bad.

Every week at work I see their advertisements with delicious looking plates and I do love Italian cuisine so after an afternoon shopping at Adidas we stopped in for a late lunch the delicious aroma coming from behind the counter was amazing the staff friendly and A great atmosphere with big green plants huge windows to people watch the service is order at the counter take your number and relax which was what we did our food arrived the spaghetti and meatballs, rigatoni and carbonara along with garlic bread my spaghetti was delicious but definitely over salted the other dishes were perfect that's why only three stars the ride home and later my mouth was still feeling dry and salty besides that the experience was good I hope this helps and thanks for reading.

I have been to Grassa so many times but never at this particular location despite it being the closest to me . We were late for dinner and decided to try our luck , considering it was 30 minutes to closing time . The staff was more than accommodating and said that there was plenty of time still to have a sit down meal . We ordered the Carbonara and Pappardelle with a Negroni and the house Pinot Noir. The drinks were handed over to us right away and the food shortly after. Grassa knows what they are doing and the pasta is mostly A+ , however I did find my carbonara bone dry this time , the noodles were chewy and the egg on top was overcooked. The Pappardelle was just slightly better . I am still giving them 4 stars because my experience with Grassa overall has been good on majority of my visits. The staff was busy cleaning up and closing down but they were kind and courteous despite the late hour . Pricing is reasonable as are the portion sizes . The location is very convenient and popular and as a result parking can be tricky on weekends .

Although most places don't get it right, I ordered the squash tortelli with sage and brown butter. It was damn good!! The pasta was rolled to the perfect thickness, cooked al dente, and the squash filling was appropriately sweet. I am eager to try their other pastas.

Absolutely love this place! I get takeout from here all the time and it's always consistently delicious. I take anyone visiting to the location on 23rd because the ambiance is so great. It's in the heart of some of the most beautiful shops, bars, etc in NW Portland. The service is always great and the food is simple and amazing. I always get a side of meatballs with any order, they are too good to pass up!

So. Freaking. Delicious! This is the best pasta I've had in the entire PNW. Their pastas are all handmade! My goodness, I'm still thinking about the black truffle pappardelle. It was rich in umami flavor, and I was not expecting that, as it was such a simple looking dish. I also tried the spaghetti al pesto, which paired well with the chopped toasted hazelnuts, zucchini noodles, and mozzarella fondutta. However, I do think it was missing a touch of salt. No complaints here though! (The truffle pappardelle was on the saltier side, so this pesto pasta complemented my taste buds.) This isn't talked about enough, but I am so glad that I didn't have to be hosted because I am a HUGE introvert. You pay upfront, choose a seat, and a server will deliver your food. It was a busy restaurant, but I was still able to eat in peace and comfortably given that I have social anxiety.

BEST CAESAR SALAD AND BEST SPICY VODKA PASTA EVER You order and pay first at the counter then pick anywhere to sit, super casual spot with great food. The Caesar salad was perfection. There's an appropriate amount of parm dusted on top with anchovies (crucial), croutons (yum), but most importantly, the preserved lemon really did it for me. It sounds unusual at first but trust me just try it for yourself and thank me later. Their Fusilli Alla Vodka with handmade pasta.. you can tell it's handmade, the fusilli was huge and perfectly al dente, the perfect vehicle to carry the vodka sauce. Also their sauce is actually spicy, it's delicious. I tried Carbone's spicy vodka too and I can say Grassa really nailed it. Unfortunately, I don't live in Portland so I can't enjoy this as much as I want to but I'll make travel plans just to eat here again.

Walked in and were greeted by staff. This isn't your traditional Italian set up, it's very coffee shop ambience but it's a nice place just coffee vibes. The food was really good, we ordered the vodka pasta, pork belly mac n cheese, rigatoni, and the Caesar salad. I got the vodka pasta, it was really good but a bit too spicy for me. We ordered calamari as an appetizer and it was delicious! We also ordered garlic bread later on and it was really good. Caesar salad, pork belly mac, calamari, were my absolute favorites, but everything was really good! Also tried the lemonade was very refreshing. Staff was very nice, place was clean.

Start with the basics. Food. I never knew they serve spaghetti chewier than jerky and colder than your exes dirty looks. The music sounded as if the DJ was deaf. Beer was flatter than Madonna's butt. Service was decent, but so is 50* weather. And how you don't know the ratio to an Arnold Palmer people? It's flippin 2 ingredients Best part was leaving. Salud.

The food was very delicious and cooked well. Noodles were not overcooked and sauced just right. We enjoyed some tasty wine with our pasta.

I ordered the rigatoni pork ragu and it was delicious! The pork was so tender and tasty with fresh basil on top. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the sauce was amazing. I also had the Caesar salad which came with full anchovies on top which I loved! Just order at the counter and there is plenty of seating inside. Mouth wateringly good and so wonderful on a cold night!

The Caesar salad is fresh and balanced really well with the lemon. It comes with anchovies so it's not vegetarian but you can get it without it when you order. Our server informed me that the dressing had anchovies in it as well and offered me an Italian vinaigrette without me asking which was really thoughtful and kind. The spaghetti al pesto is delicious with a good mix of pesto and the nice pine nut crunch on top. It almost felt healthy with the zucchini in it but still very flavorful and unique without being heavy. The aglio olio is iconic, light and savory. I could literally go for that all day, and their garlic bread is fresh hot and crispy so goes really well with anything. I also like how we can order at the counter and sit at the table for our food to come, makes it easier to come and go as we please. Great place to try in the NW for sure!