Grassa

Italian restaurant · Northwest District

Grassa

Italian restaurant · Northwest District

3

1506 NW 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97210

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Highlights

Handmade pastas, pork belly mac & cheese, cocktails, and Caesar salad  

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1506 NW 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97210 Get directions

grassapdx.com

$10–20 · Menu

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1506 NW 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97210 Get directions

+1 971 386 2196
grassapdx.com

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 13, 2025

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@eater

The Restaurants and Bars Opening in PDX’s New Main Terminal - Eater Portland

"Grassa will bring its renowned wood-fired pizzas made with 70-year-old sourdough starter to PDX's new main terminal." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden

https://pdx.eater.com/2023/4/12/23680703/pdx-next-main-terminal-new-restaurants-bars-2024-2025-opening
View Postcard for Grassa
@eater

Where to Find the Cheesiest Dishes in Portland and Beyond - Eater Portland

"At any of its three locations around Portland, Grassa draws you in with its refined modern aesthetic, eclectic background music played from old vinyl, and the irresistible smell of pasta that’s made fresh daily. Every one of the local chain’s Italian pasta dishes are delicious, but mac and cheese lovers will instantly gravitate to the pork belly mac and cheese. Made with shell-shaped conchiglie pasta and a secret white cheese blend, owner and chef Rick Gencarelli adds jalapenos, red onions, and cornbread crumbs for some spice and texture alongside the silky cheese. Then, cubes of tender barbecue pork belly land on top, adding salt and smoky barbecue flavor to the mix. It’s like the adult version of Kraft Mac with cut-up hotdogs, but so, so much better." - Zoe Baillargeon

https://pdx.eater.com/maps/cheesy-dishes-portland-pizza-kachapuri-quesabirria
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@eater

Where to Find Top-Notch Mac and Cheese in Portland - Eater Portland

"Popular local chain Grassa’s mac and cheese combines smokiness, heat, and cheesiness expertly.  Grassa’s mac and cheese is cooked on a stovetop with a béchamel sauce and a mixture of Tillamook cheddar and parmesan cheese, finished with barbecue glazed pork belly — the belly provides a fatty juxtaposition to the crispy sautéed red onions, jalapenos, toasted bread crumbs, and scallions." - Maya MacEvoy

https://pdx.eater.com/maps/macaroni-and-cheese-portland
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Raul Piscoya

Google
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!

Anna Brown

Google
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

Kevin May

Google
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.

Austin Buckland

Google
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 👌👌👌

Hak Williams

Google
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.

Tory Kennedy

Google
Got the carbonara and it was sooooooo bad. Fried egg on top of the pasta instead of mixed into the sauce. Garlic bread was mid- not bad but not good either. House white wine was quite good. Reggaeton was good. Service was good and cashiers were friendly. There are definitely better pasta places in Portland

Melia

Google
Great pasta place to take Portland visitors! Dishes are flavorful and indulgent. The garlic bread is very tasty on the side as well.

Daniel Lee

Google
When I first ordered the mac & cheese with pork belly, I thought, it must be the pork belly that’s really good since mac & cheese usually tastes the same. I was wrong - it’s the mac & cheese that was perfectly seasoned to my preference. Not too salty or creamy, perfectly balanced. The rigatoni was also good, with the beef being super tender and the pasta cooked al dente. Would visit again.
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Dylan Keith W.

Yelp
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.
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Ant P.

Yelp
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!
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Charles C.

Yelp
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,
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Tiffany D.

Yelp
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.
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Lena C.

Yelp
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.
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Gary H.

Yelp
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.
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Tiffany P.

Yelp
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.
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Rodrigo T.

Yelp
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.
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Ashley C.

Yelp
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.
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Don S.

Yelp
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!
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Hazel H.

Yelp
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.
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Grace D.

Yelp
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!
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Nikko G.

Yelp
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.
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Hop N.

Yelp
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!
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Tiffany M.

Yelp
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 !
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Savanah N.

Yelp
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!

Carissa E.

Yelp
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 .
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Frances L.

Yelp
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
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Xavier I.

Yelp
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.
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Michelle K.

Yelp
We've been long time Grassa fans but our most recent trip to their NW 23rd location was so disappointing. When we ordered, they informed us that it would be about a 30-minute wait for the pasta dishes. The Caesar salad came out within a few minutes - that was pretty tasty. 2 out of the 3 pasta dishes came out about 20 minutes later. The Carbonara was not very flavorful and the sauce had a watery consistency. The Spring Pea Tortellini was just okay - again, not very flavorful. What was really disappointing was we continued to wait for our last pasta dish, the Radiatore, to be served. We were sitting there for a while with the order number stand still at our table, indicating that we were waiting for another dish. We thought it was odd that nobody came to ask us if we were still waiting for something. After we had waited for about a total of 40 minutes since ordering, we went back up to the counter to get an update on our last dish. The staff member asked the kitchen staff where the Radiatore was and the kitchen staff pointed to a dish under the food heat lamp. The staff member then simply handed the dish to us to take back to our table..... The pasta was warm but we could tell it had been sitting there for a while as the noodles tasted overcooked. Again, not a lot of flavor. I would leave 0 stars if I could after this experience. We hope other Grassa locations still have tasty dishes and better service.
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Andrew L.

Yelp
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.
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Rosa N.

Yelp
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. :(
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Bailey C.

Yelp
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!
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Ligia S.

Yelp
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.
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Gilbert D.

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

Enrique P.

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

Yelp
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 .
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Gerald J.

Yelp
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.
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Sara A.

Yelp
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!
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Arthur T.

Yelp
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.
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Terry K.

Yelp
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.
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Aundrea Z.

Yelp
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.

Your M.

Yelp
Kids portions. After an hour wait we had to stop by another restaurant because we left hungry
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Sammie L.

Yelp
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!
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Jessica Z.

Yelp
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.
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Elizabeth C.

Yelp
We stopped by Grassa for a Wednesday dinner after seeing their handmade pasta sign while on the bus to the Nob Hill food cart pod (which ended up being kind of sad, hence the change in our dinner plans). They have a cozy industrial interior with lots of seating and you pay up front before sitting down with a number. They also have self serve water at the counter. It was pretty empty when we arrived around 5, though by the time we left there was a big line of people waiting to order. The cashier was also kind enough to offer putting my entire group's order in at once to ensure we all got our food at the same time and then separating it back out to charge us individually. The portion sizes were right in the middle - not too small, but not giant. I got the rigatoni which al dente. The sauce was not bad and the pork was tender. I also tried a bite of the aglio e olio which was nice and garlicky, and a piece of gnocchi which was crispy but soft. My friends said the parsley used to garnish their pastas was kind of bitter though. Overall a cute lunch/dinner spot with decent pasta at a very affordable price point. I would go back!

Wendy V.

Yelp
The pasta is good and reliable but the wait times are deceptively long for a fast casual restaurant. I wouldn't come in here expecting a quick meal, even on a seemingly slow weekday night. However, it's a decent spot if you don't mind the wait and have time to spare.
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Crystal L.

Yelp
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!!
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Ankit P.

Yelp
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!
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Julie W.

Yelp
Honestly, not my favorite! First of all , you walk in grab a menu and order at the counter. This is fine for a lunch spot, but we were wanting to sit down and have table service. Didn't know this until we arrived, by then it was too late and we were starving. I don't really mind ordering at the counter when I'm expecting it, but the meal was not inexpensive for pasta, and they want a tip at the end. For what?????? (Everyone wants a tip anymore....) Me ordering my own food, and having to request someone clean off my table??? Spent time tracking down parm cheese and black pepper as well. Ordered Caesar salad and it was waaaay too salty . I love salt being from the Midwest, but my tongue was raw once the pasta arrived. My meal was nothing to write home about. Beautiful presentation but lacked flavor and creativity. Not a fan of pepperoncini as an ingredient in a pasta dish as well . Meatballs were sizable, but chewy and the texture was off. The wine, meh.... save your money! Drive me nuts that we live so close to some of the most beautiful wines in the world, and restaurants serve crap like what I ordered. We will pay for it people!!! It would be nice to have decent options. Won't come back here again. Sorry.
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Kim D.

Yelp
This place is great if you want a yummy pasta w/ quick service! There're so many yummy choices to choose from the menu. We got the Cacio e Pepe and Carbonara, both were awesome! I'll definitely come back soon to try the other dishes from the menu.
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Benjamin C.

Yelp
Came in for nacho week, got my socks jacked. Enough pesto and protein to start CrossFit. Nice booths, good service.
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Brandon R.

Yelp
Came in here on a Saturday, was moderately busy but service was outstanding. We got our orders extremely quickly. Look, the food was awesome. But what I was not expecting was that a pasta place would serve such amazing cocktails. I'd honestly come back to this place for the drinks alone! Definitely a go-to place to take a date in downtown for some comfort carbs :)
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Jeremy L.

Yelp
First time here, and really liked it! We tried the brussel sprouts, ravioli and the pork belly mac. Everything was good, but the Mac & cheese was amazing. The cheese wasn't too heavy and the smoky pork belly was a perfect compliment. Will come back for that for sure. Not much to be said for the ambiance or amenities, but the food was amazing. (Lame complaint, but the warm water was a let down next to such great food).

Julian T.

Yelp
The food is bangin, especially the sauce which has a slight kick. Service is chill. Vibes are immaculate.

Kayla C.

Yelp
Maybe the best pasta I've ever had in my life. It's handmade and actually to die for, gonna pick up pasta making as a hobby now. The price is great for the amount of food you get and the vibe inside is nice. Lots of seating when I was there, overall SO SO WORTH IT.
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Adam Z.

Yelp
Legit pasta for $12-15/dish. I won't say that it was the best pasta I've ever eaten in my life, but it was legitimately very good. A fancy restaurant will have better pasta, but that'll run you $30+/plate for half the amount of food. This was incredible for the price point. I went with three other people and we shared four pasta dishes, meatballs with garlic bread, and calamari. Oh, and a ceasar salad as well. Two of the pasta dishes were taking longer so they weren't able to serve us all four pasta dishes together. The server apologized for this and offered us free stuff due to the inconvenience. Amazing! How often do you see that happen? Maybe at a fancy restaurant once in a while. And this is the sort of place you order at a counter, not a normal waiter sort of thing. So it's not like they were hunting for a tip or something. They gave us a free beer too in addition to the ceasar salad. Pretty cool. Ceasar Salad: Pretty good. Crisp romaine lettuce. The dressing was light and fresh. It came with slices of lemon too, which were really good! Calamari: I don't like calamari, but the others thought it was good. Y'know what I do like though? Fried lemon slices! They were insanely good! Why are they not more popular? Meatballs: These actually were not very good at all. I'd definitely recommend skipping them. They just were really lacking in flavor. Zero crispiness on the outside. The meat was kinda sponge-y, not juicy, and didn't have much flavor. The red sauce was lacking in flavor as well. Pesto Pasta: This was probably my favorite dish. The linguine (?) was on the thicker side and had a good bite to it. But the flavors, wow. Very good flavors. There were thin garlic slices cooked perfectly, and I know how easy those are to screw up. Hazelnuts toasted perfectly and a variety of sizes (some were crushed more than others) which I appreciated. Some sort of soft, fresh, amazing, Italian cheese that looked like fresh mozzarella but I don't think it was. The pesto was great. I'd definitely recommend this. Pork Belly Mac n Cheese: I was debating which dish was my favorite, and this was a very close second. As you can see from the picture, we dug into it pretty quickly, before I was able to take a picture. The cheese was perfectly gooey. The pork belly had a nice flavor and sweetness to it. The texture was pretty good, although I've had better "melt in your mouth" textured pork belly before. The little slivers of scallion were a perfect touch. Cacio e pepe: Personally I though it was solid but not great. The pasta could have been fresher. Actually, all of the pastas I thought could have had a fresher tasting flavor to them, but I think that's especially true of cacio e pepe, since cacio e pepe is a simpler dish flavor-wise that is more about the quality of the ingredients and freshness shining through. I also thought that it was underseasoned. Could have used more salt, pepper and parmesean cheese. It was still good though. Pasta with red sauce: We also got this pasta dish with fusilli noodles I think. It had bits of sausage and a slightly creamy red sauce. For the other people I was eating with, this was their favorite or second favorite dish. Personally I liked it but not that much. The spicy and meatiness of the sausage shined through into the red sauce, and it was good. I thought the red sauce could have had a deeper flavor though. One non-food thing to comment on is that the environment wasn't the best. It was pretty hot in there, enough where we were uncomfortable and it interfered with the enjoyment of the meal. Granted, this is late July where Portland is having a bit of a heat wave. Temperatures are in the upper 90s. The other thing is that water was serve-yourself -- they had cups and a faucet thing -- but there was nowhere to get ice! So we had to get up and wave down a server behind the counter a few times to get ice.
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Daphne S.

Yelp
I love grassa. I go several times a month. This location is nearby my office so I go all the time for lunch. If you go for lunch, I highly recommend ordering ahead so it's ready when you get there. The ambiance is beautiful inside but sometimes the music is a bit too loud and hard for when I'm sitting by myself enjoying my break. I love sitting in the windows in the sunshine. It's really nice. The food is amazingggg. I've tried a lot of the menu! The fusilli alla vodka is my GO TO. it's so good and perfectly spicy. The shrimp fra diavolo is a seasonal and it's very garlic heavy but worth it. Lots of big shrimp. The baked ochi di lupo is a bit on the expensive side but it's incredible and worth it for a dinner. The garlic bread is really great too but I don't normally get it. Sometimes the bread is a bit too tough. The pesto spaghetti is good too but I'm not the hugest fan of the cheese in the center. The pesto itself could be more fragrant too. Overall this place has probably seen $500 from my pocket or more. I will continue to be a faithful grassa fan.
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Liz P.

Yelp
Food was amazing. But... not having table service I'm surprised at the price. You order from the counter and bus your own table. The $15 glass of wine was only 4oz vs the standard 5oz and it comes in a cup. I ordered a top shelf vodka drink, an appetizer and an entree at red onion down the street and it was the same price... and I got table service. Surprised at the price disparity just a few blocks away.