Grassa
Italian restaurant · Downtown
1205 SW Washington St, Portland, OR 97205
Highlights
Handmade pastas, pork belly mac & cheese, garlic bread
Handmade pastas, pork belly mac & cheese, garlic bread
"The children’s singer-songwriter Caspar Babypants once wrote an entire song about how much kids love noodles and butter, and this local chain serves a $5 version for pasta-particular kids. For an elevated-but-non-stuffy take on pasta, Grassa serves house-made noodles in a casual, counter-service setting. The pork belly mac and cheese is a huge hit of course, but you can’t go wrong with a simple combo of cacio e pepe made with truffle butter, salt, and pepper, or the spaghetti aglio olio with breadcrumbs and garlic. Kids pastas spaghetti and (one) meatball, mac and cheese, plus — of course — noodles and butter." - Rebecca Roland
"Pastas come and go from the menu at Rick Gencarelli’s fast-casual pasta chainlet, but the restaurant’s pork belly mac and cheese is a mainstay. Made with handcrafted lumache noodles, pieces of smoky pork belly kick the dish up to another level. The mac and cheese carries on its barbecue vibe with a touch of heat from jalapeños, red onion, and cornbread crumbs." - Janey Wong
"Known for phenomenal cacio e pepe, a favorite pasta spot for Falcone." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden
"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."
"I’m also in Rick Gencarelli’s orbit an awful lot for simple sandwiches at Lardo or a quick bowl of perfect pasta at Grassa." - Eater Staff
