Pasta Garage Italian Cafe

Overall a 2/5 dining experience. The person taking the order was not friendly or welcoming. It took 30 minutes for my appetizer to arrive. The spinach dip was good but the chips were rock hard. The scampi took an hour from ordering to arrive and was bland and had more random vegetables than pasta. They also left the tails on the shrimp. In total I waited over an hour and a half for spinach dip, a salad, and a pasta dish. I could see that the issue was that there were five workers crowding the kitchen with only one, MAYBE two actually doing something while the others stood around talking amongst themselves. Not worth the $40.

The food was decent, but definitely cheap pasta for a reason. I ordered the Chicken Cacciatore and it was $16. I personally would’ve only paid like $13 for it. I tried the other meals of the people at my table and none were BAD, but definitely nothing special. Just pretty middle of the road, and 3 of 4 pastas we all felt were very lacking in flavor. The GARLIC BREAD was AMAZING. We all raved about it. We also ordered the Caprese Gnocchi appetizer, which we agreed was a fun addition to the meal. The pasta took 25 mins, which was not too bad, but just felt like we had waited a lot longer than it was worth in our opinion. Additionally, the LaMarca prosecco my grandmother ordered was $13 for a glass, which is disappointing since LaMarca is usually about $15 for an entire bottle, and $13 is not how a glass of LaMarca should be priced at a restaurant that isn’t necessarily a fancy restaurant. In summary, it’s not bad, but I won’t probably ever go again and there are other places I would recommend over this.

Quick, fresh, and delicious! Stopped on a roadtrip and got a little worried going off the beaten path in the dark through a neighborhood but then there it was! You order and pickup at the counter which accounts for the good prices. Would come back just for the Cacio e Pepe which was the best I ever had. Cheese breadsticks were fun for our fam of 6. Side salad nice for $4. Will come back when on the same route.

Atmosphere and service are good. No complaints there. We ordered the lasagna and the spaghetti and meatball. The spaghetti was so watery, it was like a soup on the bottom. The flavor was good, but it turned out looking like V8 juice by the time we left. The meatball was also very tough. I went to cut into it to break it up, and I was actually scared it was still frozen that’s how hard it was. My girlfriend ordered the lasagna and it was also very tough and hard. We didn’t eat the majority of it bc it just wasn’t good.

I recently visited Pasta Garage with my lady friend, and overall we had a really good time. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the staff made the experience even better — super friendly, attentive, and quick with everything we needed. The food itself was solid, but not mind-blowing. We tried a few dishes, including the chicken alfredo and spaghetti with marinara. The portions were generous and everything looked great, but the flavors didn’t quite reach the level we were hoping for — good, just not outstanding. I’d give the food 3 stars. Service, on the other hand, was excellent from start to finish. Definitely 5 stars there. The ambiance also deserves 5 stars, with a cozy, relaxed vibe that made the meal feel special. My only real complaint: the plastic Solo cups. With how nice everything else feels, real glasses would make the dining experience even better and more upscale. Overall, Pasta Garage is worth a visit for the atmosphere and service alone, and with a few small tweaks, it could easily be a standout spot.

We are staying at a hotel in Lexington. I got a craving for lasagna. Since we aren't from here (Lexington), I googled "best lasagna in Lexington". The pasta garage had the best reviews. I ordered lasagna and a side of Fried Lasagna. My husband ordered fettuccine alfredo and a side of cheesy breadsticks. My husband was not crazy about the fettuccine he said it was too dry. My fried lasagna was , but the lasagna was not. I was so hard to chew. The bottom 2 layers of lasagna noodles were so tough, I felt like I was chewing on leather. I only ate one small bite of the lasagna, so I got a to-go box to take back to the hotel. The next day I heated it up, because it is usually better the second day. Well.....this one was not. I cannot recommend this place. Our dinner was about $60.00 just for him and I (no alcohol). I think that's crazy since both of our entrees were tossed in the circular file (garbage).

I had no clue this existed! A quaint secret gem of Lexington for sure! The pasta was delicious, the staff were super friendly, and the atmosphere they created in the space was fitting to the theme while still carrying some class. I will definitely be back and plan to bring more people (only if they’re worthy of the pasta of course)

Quaint little place. Food was off the hook. I had the cypress gnocchi as an appetizer and chicken fettuccine as main meal. Both were fantastic. I got so into the gnocchi that I almost forgot to take a photo.

We had dinner here and everything was Amazing! The pasta is made fresh and they use all real, natural ingredient's. You can also purchase their sauce to take home with you. We will definitely return when we get back to Lexington.

The pasta was fantastic! Plus they were having a special for half price bottle of wine with $35 purchase! We had a very nice bottle of Chianti which went great with my Chicken Parm and my wife's gnocchi with beef tips (which was very flavorful and hearty.) The location was very cute but parking was sparse. From time of order to food ready for pickup was Very fast - maybe 10 min. Will certainly come back again.

One of my friends that went to University of Kentucky recommended this place to me. Stopped in for a quick meal and had a mixed experience. I ordered the Alfredo, and it came out very cold, which was disappointing. Meanwhile, my coworker's build-your-own penne pesto was steaming hot--she even burned her mouth--so I'm not sure what happened with the consistency there. It's a walk-in, order-at-the-counter setup, so no real service aspect to comment on. But I will say the bruschetta was some of the best I've ever had. So fresh and full of flavor.

Came upon this location in Louisville yesterday. New location with the soft opening and a main operation at the end of the month. The fresh pasta looks great. As I am in a hotel I have no way to prepare. I ordered a chicken panini which was very tasty and prepared to order. I spoke with a friendly staff member on the details of the new restaurant and she was very pleasant. The cafe area is very relaxing with a lot of work space and sitting areas with WiFi.

Still good. No complaints. Received a deal and it reminded us this was a good spot to support. Everything was cooked properly and delicious. There is some seating to dine in if you choose. Seems to be normally pretty chill and not loud. The pickup was quick and everything was correct. Yum yum.

Pasta garage is always a great place to go. The spinach and artichoke dip is so delicious with the pasta chips! I always recommend the stuffed gnocchi with the pesto sauce because it is consistently the best. Easily one of my favorite, causal places to go in Lexington. I also really appreciate the cannoli, it is quite tasty. The decor is fun and the staff is always nice!

There's no better way to spend a Friday night than to bond with strangers over wine, Italian food & making pasta.⁣ ⁣ A special thanks to José, class chef for the evening, for the incredibly fun night & delicious food. We learned a lot & met some great people! ⁣It's not easy to make a group of 20 strangers feel like friends in a short time, & it was like sitting around family dining table at meal time. ⁣ We're already planning our next trip to Lexington with out of state friends & you bet we'll be back at Pasta Garage! There's lots to learn about Lexington's incubator kitchen & everything Lesme Romero & Reinaldo Gonzalez have helped the community establish. This is not your typical cooking class & I can't recommend it enough! You won't be disappointed no matter your cooking skill level!

Pasta garage continues to be one of my favorite local restaurants - and I always order the cacio Pepe from Pasta Garage for a taste of Rome! Today, after a crummy work day that left me craving carbs and champagne, I found Pasta Garage offered a deal on door dash and in 45 min I had my favorite dish + cheese bread (I said CARBS) at my door. Thank you Pasta Garage! You offered much better cuisine to go with Celine Dion and 90's movies as I wallowed in my own despair! #Carbs

Very casual vibes and the best Italian pasta experience in town! The pasta and focaccia breadstick were obviously fresh and made in house. The fettuccine carbonara was creamy, perfectly seasoned and made with cubed pancetta. The pancetta was perfectly crisped and buttery like pork belly. My colleague ordered the beef and gnocchi Tuscano. The Gnocchi was perfectly cooked soft pillows combined with the most flavorful blend of expertly seasoned beef and a Tuscano sauce that exploded perfectly in your mouth with blended flavors of wine, garlic and tomato. We will be returning and walking our way through the menu! Don't forget the cannolis.

This is my favorite place to eat in Lexington! It is casual, comfortable, and consistently delicious! You order at the counter and are given a buzzer. When your food is ready, you pick them up from a window. Servers will not check on you at your table and that's ok! They do appreciate you cleaning up your dishes after you eat. I'm telling you, it's all so good! My chicken piccata was loaded with flavor! I can't wait to go back!

This was a great new find while we're here in Lexington. Fresh, daily made pasta with a wide variety of choices or choose your own combo. It's counter service in a very casual setting indoor or out. Definitely recommend.

The food is delicious my favorite is there Parmesan chicken spaghetti and a side salad ! The prices can be a little high but the quality and service experience make it worth it. The establishment is also very clean. I haven't sat down to eat my meal there I typically order take out but the customers are always laughing, smiling and having a good time when I am in.

Came here with some friends for dinner and had a nice meal. The space is casual and nice for the fast-casual dining vibe. The service was fine, but they did forgot to add an appetizer to my order and when I asked about the item they apologized but still had me pay even though it wasn't my mistake (I think the cashier was either tired or very new). The food itself came out lukewarm and was a bit underwhelming, which is unfortunate since my friends had told me that they had better experiences in the past. They do offer gluten free pasta which is a plus, though. Overall, it was an okay spot but definitely wasn't fully worth what we had paid.

Y'all been sleeping on this!!! Before tonight we had never even heard about Pasta Garage, so we figured we'd give it a shot. Did not disappoint!! The stuffed gnocchi was decadent and luxurious in the Pesto Alfredo with crispy pancetta and mushrooms. And the ability to build your own bowl from the noodle up means the flavor potential is endless. The venue is cool - lots of great art and a chill vibe. Its low price point makes it popular with the undergrads, so if you can tolerate obnoxious hormonal YA's talking loudly about their exploits (so gross) then dining in is cozy! Tho I'm pretty sure it'll be take out for us next time lol

It's a small drive from downtown Lexington, but it's a lovely lunch if you have the time. We ordered the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken, and if you've never had it here you're missing out. I appreciate the home made pasta and sauce it makes the difference. It was nice and cool inside on this hot summer day.

The ambiance was fun. I had the chicken fettuccine and it was delicious. My bestie had the chicken piccata and she said it was delicious too.

This place is a must try if you like homemade fresh pasta and sauces. I would recemmend this place, the staff were helpful and friendly. This places offers the absolute some of the best lasagna , the smell is overwhelming when you walk in . This places even serves in bamboo bowls.Growing up in a German and Italian household this place was welcoming and felt like home. You will not find fresher Italian food in the state of Kentucky. My wife and I will Frid all being coming back.

Great little pasta place with a great selection and a different spin on ingredients. Very tasty took my niece Ruby there and she really enjoyed the chicken Parmesan and I had the shrimp scampi. Always spot on in flavor and ambience.

I found the Pasta Garage Italian Cafe through a video I saw on TikTok. The person who posted it mentioned how the pasta was made fresh and how delicious it was, so while in Lexington, I had to give it a try. Upon entry, it smelled really good, and you could see the antique pasta machines. The menu is simple, and they provide suggestions. I ordered the Cheese Bread with both marinara and garlic sauce. For my entree, I ordered the Chicken Parmigiana, and my son ordered the Lasagna. At the drink station, I noticed their sweet tea was labeled "Bluegrass Breeze," which caught my eye. It was delicious; I must have had six glasses of it. The Cheese Bread with marinara and garlic sauce was a 10 out of 10. It was cheesy, fresh from the oven, and packed with flavor. Both the marinara and garlic sauces were equally delicious, but I favored the garlic sauce a little more. My Chicken Parmigiana was also cooked to perfection. The portion size was perfect. The pasta was homemade, and wow, what a difference in taste from regular pasta. I ended up using the rest of the marinara (from the cheese bread) on the pasta since there wasn't much left after the chicken was gone. The breadstick they served on the side was also really good. My son really liked the lasagna as well. For dessert, we had the cannoli. It was cooked perfectly and looked delicious. I'd give the cannoli a 7 out of 10 since it was good but not great. The staff were also very friendly and helpful with providing suggestions and answering our questions. Overall, it was a great experience, and I'm glad we went to the Pasta Garage Italian Cafe. I'll be back when I come to Lexington to visit my son.

I love pasts so this was a must try, the space is a little tight so just be aware before heading with large groups. The food was delicious and served hot. The wait time for the food was a little long but it was worth it!

Went on a Sunday around 4pm and it wasn't busy yet. Lovely ambiance and we were able to order quickly (fast casual so you ordered at the front). We ordered the caprese gnocchi, which came out fast but overall wasn't as hot as I would like so maybe it sat in the window. We also ordered entrees and I was super excited for the fettuccine florentine since it has all my favorite things. I loved The crusty bread but the pasta itself needed salt and I didn't find the pancetta until the very end since it was under all the pasta. The extra fried chicken I added was also missing salt so I wanted to like it but it was maybe slightly overcooked and underseasoned. The portion was a good size though. We ordered snickerdoodle gelato, butterscotch ripple gelato, and cannolis to go. The cookie pieces in the snickerdoodle gelato were the tastiest part of all the desserts. Overall I think there are better options in town for Italian. Might return, might not.

Yummy food. Customizable pasta menu. Fun atmosphere. Gelato available. Outside area to eat.

Food: great pasta and dessert. Pasta portions were smaller than expected. Service: Slow, took over 30 minutes to get 1 entree and salad. Ambiance: Tables took a while to be cleaned and were left sticky / wet after cleaning.

Lasagna was awesome! Cool little joint with friendly staff. Reasonable prices and good menu variety.

Ordered on DoorDash. The cheese sticks were huge and had a thick layer of cheese on top. Ordered the Cacio E Pepe with mushrooms and Parmesan fried chicken. Phenomenal I absolutely recommend this place for both big portions and taste. Even the regular breadsticks were big, fluffy and tasty

The food was very good. I had the Fettuccine Carbonara. It was cooked perfectly and the Pancetta was delicious. My husband had the Beef & Gnocchi Tuscano. He really enjoyed it. The bite I stole proved it to be delicious also. The service was great and staff provided nice smiles. We will definitely be returning.

This place is cool, quaint, and the food is amazing! It is a deli-style cook to order pasta restaurant with a unique build-your-own pasta option. My wife and I both built our own and both loved our food. It cost $32 for both of us. They also have great italian deserts. Expect to spend about $12-15/person. There is ample parking in the front. I am already planning to go back for more!

There was very little parking and little seating inside. All of the tables were only made for two people and it was crowded so we couldn't really talk to the other people in our party! I also felt the restaurant was very small so the tables seemed very cramped. My husband is tall so it really felt especially hard to sit comfortably for him. You also had to wait on yourself like a fast food restaurant, which seems very inconvenient, especially in such a cramped environment. It was much like a fast food restaurant, you had to order at the counter. The restaurant was busy so instead of standing blocking the entrance we sat at a table and looked for a menu. Once we made our menu choices my husband went and ordered and was given a beeper to tell us when our food was ready. When our beeper went off we picked up the order and when we sat back down at our table the food was cooled off so it led us to question how long our order set before we were called to pick it up. It seemed the tables were left dirty for a while before they were cleaned. The food might have been good if not for the temperature, but with all of the other problems we cannot give any higher ratings!

Great food and fun atmosphere. The guys behind the counter were very kind and personable. Will return if in the area again.

I came here this afternoon for a late lunch. I ordered cheese bread with garlic butter dip, a plate of chicken Alfredo, and then tiramisu for dessert. This is a hidden gem in Lexington, and the exterior seems less of a restaurant until you enter the establishment. The restaurant is a few minutes away from downtown and has a unique vibe. The service was fast, too! I brought my dog with me today, so this place is pet-friendly with its patio area. (Mine did not hang out with me as the temperature was too hot for him to sit still). Nevertheless, the restaurant is unique in the city, and the chicken Alfredo and the tiramisu were to my liking. The cheese bread was alright to me. This was a cool spot for me.

I love pasta garage. Food is great quality and reasonably priced. The inside has some paintings that are nice to look at.

Very good food! Pasta was fresh with great sauce choices. I would highly recommend the Pasta Garage!

I went to Pasta Garage with coworkers last month after hearing lots of good things. I will be back to try again, but I didn't love the food like I hoped I would. I got the shrimp scampi (which was a summer special) and the menu listed all of the ingredients, but neglected to mention how many onions would be in the dish. I know things like onions and garlic may not always be included in an ingredient list because of how commonly they are used, but the amount of onions I picked out was overwhelming. I didn't take all of them out, but my plate was still 1/3 full of onions. Next time, I'll be sure to inquire about ALL of the ingredients.

Staff is very friendly and helpful, as soon as you walk in you feel right at home. Everything is made fresh and most of the ingredients if not all come from Lexington. I would go back again in a heart beat! The food 5 stars as the pasta is all homemade, the gelato was also really great got tiramisu and banana pudding. Ambiance is great!

I came in here on a Friday night during my stay in Lexington. Since it is self seating, I'd recommend showing up early, especially if you have a larger group. There were plenty of spot when I arrived but it filled up quickly. I opted to do the build your own pasta option with plain gnocchi, creamy tomato vodka sauce, and a meatball. The food was pretty good.

Cool spot tucked in a residential area. Counter service. The chicken piccata had more capers than I have ever seen on a dish, creating lots of flavor. The chicken was tender and crispy. Linguine was cooked well,.and there was plenty of it. Husband's shrimp scampi had pancetta and spinach in the garlic butter sauce and a handful of skewered shrimp which were well-cooked. All pasta and sauces,as well as some that don't appear in the menu, are available to cook at home. Half-dozen flavors of Gelato change weekly.

An awesome tucked away quaint neighborhood spot! Great prices for really good quality from scratch food. The staff was attentive and we didn't wait very long for our food. Definitely want to try their gelato next time

I've heard about this place and have tried their pasta and sauce from a farmers market (recommend buying take home items) and loved it so it was nice to finally visit. I will say parking is tight so depending on when you go just know it's limited parking in a residential area. Other than that the service is very "get your own stuff" -drinks, silverware, your food - which I don't mind. When we went it looked like they do specials on top of their menu items. I got the chicken piccata & my aunt ordered the chicken Alfredo. Both were delicious and you literally watch them cook it in front of you, depending on where you sit. Everything came out fresh, hot, and the pasta cooked to perfection. The garlic bread was also delicious. The table behind us ordered the cheese bread and told us to order that next time. My aunt also ordered lasagna to go and it was a brick (size wise), probably one of the thickest lasagnas I've seen in a while. The restaurant kind has a shotgun feel to it aka it's long. Like you just keep going straight back to more seating. It's simple in decoration and all windows which was nice and bright. Also save room for the gelato! I am definitely coming back to try more and maybe even the build your own pasta.

Last week me and my honey bunny did date night Pasta Garage "Italian Cafe" Pasta making class. It's an out of this world experience. Bonus we ran into a fellow Aaron-Rachel couple. They start you with a bunch of appitizers while you settle in, and unlimited wine, red, white, they have moscato d' asti as desired. If you need something else they are so accommodating. Jose was awesome, making sure everyone was having fun, playful jokes, great instructor. Learning the humble beginnings of my friend Lesme J. Romero Boutto making pasta at home on a little machine, giving out samples at restaurants, selling at the farmers market. You get to drink and nosh for several hours as you tour, and walk through the steps of pasta making. You make some to cook that night, and some to take home. Your group decides what you're making to take home. Then you cook up the pasta, help plate it, and bon appetite. Also you add the creme to the cannolis for dessert. For date night and or a group members 60th birthday party, it's an experience you won't ever forget.

The high price of the food didn't match the quality of the food. The home made pasta was great. But Sauce on both entrees were low quality. I had chicken added to my pasta, got charged $7 for $1 worth of chicken.

This restaurant is excellent. The staff were kind and patient and kindly answered questions about the entrées, ingredients, etc.. The food was fresh, and delicious. The bread was very good. (I recommend ordering an extra bread stick with your meal if you like bread). They offer a decent selection of wine as well. It reminded me more of a casual dining experience in Europe than in the US. It is a bit cozy, but not too small. I highly recommend this place and will certainly be back the next time I'm in Lexington.

This is a review I hate to write, especially knowing it's local and a small business. If you want to get protein in your meal prepare to spend at least $15 a person. At this cost, after our experience, we would've preferred to go to a favourite Italian place of ours with a more romantic ambiance and where we leave with leftovers. We came to celebrate a birthday and wanted to try something new. Chicken piccata: flavourful, love the addition of veggies and protein, my spouse didn't prefer the flavour. And the big kicker: he didn't leave full..... for $15 this is a dealbreaker. Build your own gnocchi with parmesan chicken and vodka sauce: these are my favs and man was I disappointed. Every other vodka sauce I've had is creamy and flavourful, yet the sauce was oh so thick and honestly tasted just like tomato paste. The gnocchi was good and the parmesan chicken was well fried. The flavour was just not there. Leaving unsatisfied and not full is just such a bummer because I'd love to love this place. I am grateful that we were able to support local and did get to eat. Rest of the experience - Parking: The perfect amount of parking for who they can fit inside the restaurant. We look the last spot that came available as we waited to people to leave. Getting inside/ordering: Main entrance not as clear, the most obvious counter to go to is where they sell their ingredients to take home. The counter where you order is on a red wall and blends into the restaurant. Service: Nothing special, I didn't feel like the woman who took our service cared that we were there. Seating: the back was very loud and the front leaves you feeling whatever the weather is outside as people walk in and out. Pick whichever element you prefer :) Ambiance: clean, very pasta-garage-y (perfect fit!), silverware and takeaway containers accessible (this is amazing!)

Great local place with vegan/gluten free options! I was so excited to get gluten free pasta and not worry about cross contamination! Have quite a few drink alcohol options. Nice, casual atmosphere with cute decor!

Food was sooo good. Love this little hidden gem in Lexington. We will definitely be back.

This is the absolute best pasta in Lexington, hands down! We stopped in for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. We ordered the breadsticks and fried lasagne as appetizers. Both were very good but the fried lasagne was fantastic! For main courses we ordered the pasta bolognese, chicken Parmesan and chicken Piccata. All were super tasty and the pasta was perfectly cooked, Al-dente. The chicken was moist and tender and the bolognese was just like Nona would make! I can't recommend Pasta Garage enough!

The restaurant was a fun little place on a side street that you don't expect to find a shop on. The place is filled with art work from local talent and can be purchased. A lot of really fun stuff. The interior is self service and friendly. The bread was an initial turn off as it somehow managed to be way too dry and way too oily at the same time. Th gnocchi was delicious and enjoyable. The weekly special had a sauce that carried no flavor with it and left you confused. Nice little place for a quick lunch but you gotta get the right combo. Cost was very reasonable.

AMAZING. I'm a huge pasta lover and this was some of the best I've ever had. The sauce was delicious, the bread was perfect, and the chicken was amazing. The service was amazing and we didn't have to wait long. Definitely will be coming back many more times!!

Great Italian food my wife and I went for our anniversary. I got the cacio e pepe and fried lasagna. My wife wanted gnocchi with carbonara sauce and we got a order of cheese breadsticks. Everything was delicious you order at the window and they buzz you when the food it done. The bread is amazing and the cacio e pepe wasn't overly peppered it was great. Fried lasagna was one of best appetizers I've had. We also trieda sample of gelato it was delicious but we were too full for a bowl.

Quick trip to Lexington and my girl wants Italian. I am beyond excited to review The Pasta Garage Italian Cafe. This place is adorable!!!! The atmosphere is a mix of Industrial & Vintage if that makes sense. The menu on the wall is the best. If you need a lesson on what pasta is, here ya go! There are several two seaters and large community tables. You can look in the kitchen and see the homemade past dishes being made. They have appetizers, salads, phenomenal entrees and desserts including Gelato. (I'll get to that in a bit). We ordered the Bruchetta which was toasted yet tender bread topped with tomatoes and pesto finished with Parmesan, Cosi Bueno. Wow! Entrees were Mac-N-Cheese and Ragu Alla Bolegnese. I tell ya the pappardelle was so good. The mac-n-cheese, this isn't Kraft honey. This is smoked Gouda & prosciutto. I'm in love. We finished off with gelato. The Pasta Garage has daily flavors and today we chose Cannoli & Dark chocolate fudge bite. There are no words. It's THAT good. You can also purchase, pasta, sauce and other items to take home which comes with directions on how to prepare yourself. We will most definitely return. Ciao!!!