Pasta La Fata

One of the best spots in town! Yes, of course the pasta is very good. But they’ve got the BEST soups in the game! Pair that with one of their crispy salads, or a panzerotti (think a small, fried calzone) and you’ve got the best lunch in town. (And the lasagna and arancini are maybe my favorites of all time!!!) It’s good, honest food served by friendly people! Not to mention, though small inside, it’s cozy and homey, with plenty of space to sit outside in the sun on a beautiful day. There’s a small retail section with items you often cannot find anywhere else in town, and the bakery case is always slammin’. Love- a PLF fan from the beginning <3 <3 <3

My wife and I intentionally came into Pasta La Fata Friday night because they chose to stay open during the nationwide strike to support their employees and make it clear that everyone is welcome here. That mattered to us. The food was excellent. I had the chicken parm sandwich and it was amazing, one of the best sandwiches I’ve had in a long time. We also had their Sugar & Spiced Sweet Tea, sweetened black tea with warm winter spices, which was fantastic and different in a good way. For dessert we took home the tiramisu, which absolutely lived up to their reputation for sweets. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. We told the woman behind the counter why we were there, and she was honest about the concern over backlash but clear about their values. No corporate nonsense, just a small business doing the right thing. If you’ve actually eaten here, leave an honest review. And if you care about good food and businesses that treat people like people, this place deserves your support. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Such a delicious and well-sourced meal. The people are so kind. You can get such an array of homemade pastas and baked goods! The panzerotti are always a hit, they even make an assortment of Italian cookies. You must try this gem whenever you're in Columbia!

If you're looking for a meal that nourishes both the body and the soul, look no further. My friend's pasta shop is an absolute gem, and it's a place I recommend with total confidence and joy. What sets this place apart is the profound care put into every single element. Shelly isn't just a cook; she's a culinary artist with a deep conscience. You can taste the integrity in every bite. She sources ingredients as locally as possible, supporting nearby farmers and producers. This means the flavors are incredibly fresh and vibrant—you're tasting the region on a plate. But beyond the sourcing, it's the "heart" that truly shines. This is food made with love, from scratch. You won't find anything generic or mass-produced here. Whether it's a silky pappardelle with a rich ragu that must have simmered for hours, or a delicate ravioli bursting with seasonal fillings, each dish tells a story of passion and dedication. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, just like the chef herself. It's clear this isn't just a business; it's an extension of her home kitchen. Do yourself a favor: skip the chain restaurants and experience truly intentional, delicious food. This isn't just a great pasta shop; it's a cornerstone of mindful, community-focused dining. I can't wait to go back!

A truly unique and delicious experience from the moment you enter the establishment, to the moment you find yourself licking the plate to savor every drop of flavor. The interior steps you back in time and place and lands you in an Italian Deli-style grocery & eatery, with loads of authentic beverages, candy, sauces and other items sourced from Italy. There are also freezers filled with their ready to heat and eat meals and sauces, which are great for take and bake, quick & delish meals on the go at home. The food is Fresh and clearly made with a passion for great taste and a deep Italian heritage that comes to life with every dish. You can truly taste the difference and I love knowing that the food I’m consuming is handmade and created through the support of local farmers and farms in the community - including the meat and veggies in each hand-crafted recipe. I travel from Wentzville a couple times a year to drop in and stock up, and I highly recommend you doing the same.

I absolutely love Pasta La Fata! It’s one of my favorite places in Columbia. The hot pasta dishes change daily, so I never know what to expect when I walk in the door, but I’m always impressed with it! They always have a couple fully vegetarian options to choose from, which is great. I love their spinach panzerotti, it is to die for! They also have a frozen section with various pasta dishes or sauces to cook at home. And their dessert selection is no joke! They are a great addition to our town!

Menu does not have enough variety for meals. Though our meal was delicious. Especially the lemon cheesecake cake dessert. Upscaled pastries and a few Italian dishes. The fried pizza pockets were delicious but small. If you like salad there was some nice salad selections. Clean, friendly and fast service. Dining area is small so we took ours to go.

I just left and the food was fantastic! It was my first time here, and the lady who took my order was very sweet—just an all-around awesome person. I had the chicken parm sandwich, which was delicious and satisfying. It filled me up just right—not the heavy kind of full, but the kind that leaves you feeling recharged for the rest of the day. The restaurant itself was such a pleasant surprise—fun, unique, and full of good vibes. You can tell the people working here really enjoy what they do, and that makes the whole atmosphere even better. I’ll definitely be coming back before I leave town! Before heading out, I was eyeing all the treats, and the lady who helped me choose one was also super kind and awesome. (I wish I’d gotten both of their names!) Thank you all for putting a smile on my face when I needed it most! Two regrets: 1. I didn’t get the names of the two amazing ladies who helped me. I wanted to say you ladies made my day! 2. I didn’t order a second sandwich to go!

Wow! Not since visiting Italy have I tasted this kind of Italian food. Had the special (Baratta Tortelloni ) and garlic cream fussilli with the harvest salad and a RETAIL PRICED bottle of Cantina Zaccagmini (no triple-price wine). It was fantastic. We ate there which is a very casual family table (seating for about 20). No bread was available, but that left room for Tiramisu and a peach jam thumbprint. Both were a great finish to the meal.

I wish I could give this place more than five stars. I went for the first time a couple months ago and I have been back four times since. My favorite dish is the burrata stuffed tortellini that is on special on Tuesdays and pictured in this review. The pasta at Pasta La Fata is all amazing though. I truly have not had one dish that I did not like. It reminds me of pasta that I had when I was in Italy- fresh, colorful, and bursting with flavor. Definitely a must-try if you love authentic Italian food in a homey casual setting with the most pleasant staff in town. I brought back some cookies for my Italian mother after one visit and she was OBSESSED so don't forget to try those while you're there as well.

Holy wow! The Italian Dinner Series is a must! Came to the dinner featuring foods and recipes from the Liguria region and it was exceptional! This featured a hearty five course meal with an optional wine pairing. There were so many things that made this meal special: the focus on a region's food, the selection of dishes and recipes, the chef's introduction of each dish, the presentation at the table, the wine pairings and of course the FOOD! My favorite part of the food was hearing how Chef Michelle La Fata hand picked ingredients from her garden just that day to put into nearly every dish (maybe it was every dish!). The chef is passionate about "farm to table" and it shows with every dish. Highlights of the food: - Antipasto: House made focaccia, spectacular young cows milk cheese, fried sage leaves, peppers, olives and grapes - fresh made pasta and pesto (she picked 8lbs of pesto that morning) - rabbit stew: wow! This was so tasty! - green bean & potato salad featuring her garden fresh tomatoes and pickled onions - lovely almond and pine nut tart with vanilla gelato and raspberry compote They also did a great job transforming this retail store to a very nice dinner setting. The vibe was wonderful. Can you tell we liked it? ;)

We purchased the spicy tomato sauce and frozen homemade pasta. It was easy to finish preparing the meal at home with a few tablespoons of milk to make a pink sauce and grilled chicken breast. We will purchase more take home items in the future!

Delicious!!! Service, food and such a cute ambiance! We are from are visiting from ca. but know where to go for fresh Italian when we return!

Wow, super delicious Harvest salad and Crab ravioli with the most flavorful brown butter sauce I have ever eaten. Fast service with pleasant and helpful staff, lots of smiles, I love seeing this, too many places do not offer this , lol. Small and quaint with a feeling of Italy with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We will be back - thank you !

Went after church on Sunday for lunch and was very pleased with how quickly we (3 adults and 3 kids) were able to get our food and it was good for an $50 including an appetizer. The kids read pasta was made with olive oil instead of butter in the pan to make it vegan for me. Will go back.

My husband and I discovered this gem while on a road trip from St. Louis to Omaha. The pasta is fresh and the best I've tasted. We wanted to get some of the frozen pasta to take with us, but were staying in a hotel and didn't have a freezer or oven so sadly had to pass. But a month later on the way back from Kansas City, we made sure to stop on the way home for a fresh meal there and to bring some frozen home with us. The frozen meal did not disappoint when we heated it in the oven a few days later. We've decided that anytime we are passing through Columbia we will be sure to stop here on the way home for some of the best pasta we've ever had.

My family gets the monthly lasagna subscription - what a fantastic subscription! It's always a special night when we get to bring home a delicious, from scratch, comforting meal that we can easily share with friends if we are feeling generous! There is also the option to get a wine pairing and it's never been anything other than amazing. Highly recommend all their offerings- from a quick lunch to a family style, guided regional focused dinner that makes you feel you're in Italy.

What a great little Italian shop and bakery. This little delightful shop has everything Italian. I'm from St. Louis and we have the neighborhood, "The Hill" which is known for its Italian shops and this one blows many of them away. For me to get the full experience of shopping, Pasta La Fata, I'd have to visit multiple stores back home. PLF has basic grocery items and spices to prepare a home cooked meal. They also have a cooler filled with premade sauces in two different sizes. A sign boost that they use local farmers for their meats and other ingredients. I got a giggle on how they label their sizes for carry-out meals. Instead of small, they call it Light and a large is called, Hungry. I was tempted to get something to eat, but I just had brunch around the corner at Ozark Biscuit. They offer; soup, salad and pasta. I can only imagine how delicious their food would be. I however, did try their cookies and biscotti and both were excellent. I bought a bag of Biscotti Bits to take home and they're a perfect accompaniment to morning coffee. The entire staff was friendly and engaging with our group of 7 shoppers. If they can keep up with me and my cousins, they've got some good customer service skills.

I'm kicking myself for how long it took me to check Pasta La Fata out!! I've been searching for some authentic, home-made Italian in Columbia and this place hits the spot. They've got a few tables to sit and enjoy a warm cooked dish, or lots of take home options available! The ambience felt very cozy, as if you entered right into the owners home. Can't wait to come back and share this place with friends.

I was a fan of Pasta La Fata! You can tell its brand new by the looks on the inside, but their food tasted like they've been open for years. It's not your traditional sit down place, although they have very limited seating inside I would say Pasta La Fata is better for take out. They offer family sized portions which makes for a really good and easy dinner. They also have a frozen section, so you can grab and go if you didn't have time to plan anything. Their pasta is homemade and you can tell (it was so good)! I got the garden zucchini & bucatini. The noodles tasted really fresh and soft, I was a huge fan. The sauce alone was kind of plain, so I added parmesan and that made it a lot better. I also got 2 cookies. The cherry one was my favorite of the two. It was moist (pardon my language) on the inside, soft, and not overly sweet! The cuccidati was good too, but I probably wouldn't get it again. I didn't love the filling on the inside which *I think* was made of figs. Along with cookies they also make various cakes that you can order by the slice, yum! If the pasta and desserts aren't enough, they also has a little grocery item section which I thought was cute. It included a variety of things from chocolates, to pasta sauce, to canned baby clams. I'm looking forward to going back so I can try more of their cookies and a salad & soup next time!

We had been wanting to try this place, and wow it is so yummy. Authentic Italian food is so good. The store itself is semi spacious, with a few tables for seating. It has lots of to go and frozen options. The prices are a bit high, but probably due to the high quality ingredients. The staff was friendly too. We got the to go lasagna, and it was SO YUMMY. The pasta tasted homemade, fresh, perfect amount of sauce, savory and salty. Definitely will be back to try more!

This little shop has more than meets the eye. For a hot meal, grab and go from the daily specials at the counter. Enjoy authentic Italian, in-house, hand-made hot pastas and soups, salads. Oh, and their pastry case is full of goodies from a classically trained pastry chef! Want to have a delicious Italian meal on days PLF is closed? Grab pastas and sauces from the take-and-bake-at-home cooler cases. Don't forget to peruse the pantry items with unique Italian brands in this light filled mini-market. We grabbed some chocolates that the PLF founder first tried when she was in Italy and ordered straight from the chocolatier to share with her fellow Missourians. PLF also caters events and can be found popped up on Saturdays at the Columbia Farmer's Market.

This is the most darling little grocer, bakery, and Italian cafe combined. The staff is so sweet and the ambience is quiet and inviting. I highly recommend.

I highly recommend Pasta La Fata. I stop in and pick up the authentic Italian cookies and other desserts. Their fresh made pasta meals can not be beat. If you're passing through Columbia, Missouri Make it a point to check out Pasta La Fata

Best crab ravioli I have ever tasted. Hands down. Great atmosphere, food was made fresh right in front of you. The peach Bellini was tasty, tart, full of flavor. Would 100% go back

I can't believe COMO has an authentic Italian food of all places! I follow them on Instagram and I love following them and seeing how they make their pasta and sauces. They also have many different frozen meals ready to warm and sometimes they offer weekly meal kits. Haven't tried them but they advertise them. Ordered: Pasta Ragu Ravioli (little Italy. Beef cheese spinach) Bag of assorted cookies The Ragu was AMAZING. It's braised meat ragu and it's so packed of flavor. The pasta tastes so good. It's nothing like I've had before. The ravioli was yummy too but that ragu knocked it out of the park. I want to go back and try it all!

Unique little spot in a college town, perfect for meeting a busy student for a quick hot delicious meal, a few blocks north of Broadway/downtown. It's counter service with four tables for inside dining. Food is served in paper cartons; paper plates were available with the plastic ware. San Pelligrino drinks were available; we had ginger beer. No alcohol. I enjoyed the Osso Buco pasta which was hearty and great. My daughter enjoyed a salad and cup of chicken noodle soup. What's particularly nice is the fridge & freezer full of homemade pastas, lasagna, toasted ravioli for carryout and baking at home. Italian imported dry goods are also on display on shelves as part of decor and for sale. It reminded me of a mini version of an Italian grocery market on The Hill in St. Louis! The restaurant is located in a one story brick building & was attractive as we drove up after dark, with the twinkle lights inside visible from the street. It would be nice to treat a Mizzou college kid with a small/med pan of lasagna to share with their roommates/house mates from this gem sometime! I'm sorry I forgot to take photos, but we will be back.

What can I say, this place is amazing!!! I ordered the pesto and it was the best pesto I have ever eaten. The staff is amazing. I didn't catch his name but a big guy helped with some other suggestions. The atmosphere is fun and casual. I love watching the cooks in the open kitchen. I will be a permanent customer as long as they are open. The best Italian food in the state.

Love the artisanal pasta and the desserts. Just simply tasty. Authentic Italian with unique items on the menu. Catch Pasta la Fata at the Farmers Market

I got the meatball and spinach empanada's and they were very flavorful. The pasta was also very hearty with beef cooked to perfection. Thank you for cooking quality food!

Triple A for wonderful employees. It's hard to get/retain people in current times, but these folks were just lovely. Food was very good! All pastas are hand made and most ingredients are locally sourced. Everything we ordered would be a reason to return. Before you check out, look in the cases. I almost left without tiramisu! It feels like a little Italian cafe. A tad chaotic, plenty of bottles of wine, self-serve comfy dine-in. I had a glass of Sangria. The person loaded a jelly-jar glass with marinated cherries, then added chilled red. I wish I could have stayed for a pitcher of that stuff.

Great food, ambiance & service. Shelly the owner is just amazing! Fabulous & authentic home cooked Italian food without all the preparation! Try it! I promise you will love it!

Tried Pasta La Fata today! It's a bit expensive for what I could afford as a college student but it was worth the splurge. I got the Ragu which was amazing, my partner got the pasta with pepper sauce which was not as good as the Ragu but still satisfying. Got the Arancini which the rice was a bit over cooked but once again I was still happy with it. Service was wonderful and the place is quaint and super cute. Absolutely worth the price I can tell the place takes pride in ingredients. The light serving was enough for me so probably enough for you too. They put love and care into the food so 5/5 stars. I will be coming back for the ready to bake meals when I'm willing to splurge again for a date night!

Exceptional management, lady actually remembered me after my first visit! These guys are always kind, very helpful when looking for Italian items from Staff is stellar! Everyone I've spoken to and asked for suggestions they actually were interested in assisting an older gentleman- just really appreciate the help when needed

I have gotten pasta from La Fata at the Farmer's Market in Columbia but had never gone to their shop. Their pasta is delicious. I decided to pick up some lunch there and chose the Beef ravioli. This was yesterday...and I have been thinking about it ever since. Their tomato sauce was perfect, with just a little cheese on top. The beef was tender, flavorful. perfection. I can't wait to go back and try some of their refrigerated meals. Do NOT miss out on what is my new favorite restaurant in Columbia!!!

Staring at the menu for a while I couldn't justify spending $17-$20 on a normal (their "huge" size) portion of pasta I could make at home for less than $5. I understand that they use local ingredients but there's just nothing unique. I ordered an Italian sausage panzerotti cuz I felt bad just leaving empty handed. It tasted okay, kinda like a larger pizza roll. Very room temp and looked like it probs sat under the heat lamp for a while. The baked goods didn't look too appetizing either, almond cookies underbaked and pies weren't cut properly. I can't comment on their premade meals but I probably won't go back.

I love several things Meatball Lasagna omg so fresh and yummy. Polenta I tasted for the first time was good also. All the local fresh ingredients used in their dishes makes it more tastier than any other pasta place, they have meals you can take home and pop them in oven. The aroma is everything. The selection of fresh baked goods and cakes is a must try. Don't forget Crab Ravioli on Wednesday. Products they have to offer straight from the land itself

Interesting food but expensive. It's actually a carry out but you can eat inside. It was pretty busy. Got a thumbprint cookie which was vey good. They have a lot of frozen meals.

I'm not even a Pasta person in general, so I was surprised that I wanted to try it. Three different small sized entrées and two days later, I loved every single thing I got. I also got a few sweet treats. I will definitely be back here!

Recommended by a friend, was not disappointed. More casual than I had expected; the outside is super appealing and easy parking available. Inside has an open kitchen feel with nearby seating for maybe 15 people tops. Order at the counter, food came in something similar to Chinese take out packaging, even though we were eating in. OK, we can roll with this. Every dish was delicious! Italian cookies were tasty and not overly sweet. Numerous Italian specialty market items, and also take and bake entrees and sauces stocked in a fridge and freezer. Just like Nonna used to make!

The food was good but the service was poor. The attitude of the people waiting on my wife and I was indifference to us. They have the food part right. Now they need to remember the customer comes first.