PASTA Y BASTA Ristorante

My husband is from Italy. Finding good Italian food without breaking the bank is damn near impossible, nevermind seafood, at least in Los Angeles. I saw a menu for this restaurant at an AirBnB I was staying in Baja but had no address information. My husband took one look at the menu and let me know that next time we are in Mexico we must go. We were able to do a quick google search and find the restaurant. It was 30 minutes from where we were staying but we figured it was worth the drive. Last weekend we found ourselves in the area and we were impressed with the food provided. The value for your dollar vs what you get in the states is incredible. We would have paid double in the states and gotten nowhere near as fresh seafood as we received that day. My husband is from a neighboring area to the chef and he had never heard of the casoncelli. We went incredibly early for dinner but didn't regret the choice. We stuffed ourselves silly and still thought the value for what we received was incredible. You can definitely spend less to eat here but we wanted to have the full experience and ate several dishes. This will definitely be one of our regular stops when we return to the area with friends and family for the holidays.

Definitely don’t go in your swimwear! This has been on my bucket list for over two years. We decided to go after a beach day in Rosarito. We went on a Saturday at about 7 PM. There was no line to wait. They welcomed us with open arms and sat us at the bar until they had a table ready. I would say everybody was dressed formally very nice and we were in beachwear. It did kind of make me uncomfortable because everyone in the restaurant was staring and giving us weird looks. Some people were even pointing and whispering, on the other hand, the restaurant hosts and employees made us feel super welcomed. They didn’t make us feel uncomfortable at all, and they were not at all judgmental. They were so humble and polite. I wish I would’ve read a review that recommended that we dress for the occasion just because it was kind of uncomfortable to have people staring at us while we were eating because we were in swimwear with sandals. Granted by swimwear, I mean full piece bathing suits and shorts with sandals so we were not super exposed. That was not the issue. I felt like a lot of the atmosphere, the people that were there were super judgmental. I guess you would think well why would you choose to go to Italian restaurant in your swimwear? It being Rosarito Beach I guess I didn’t think that I should’ve dressed formal so maybe it could’ve been my fault . With Rosarito being mostly Beach attractiveness I guess I thought it would be OK to go in my beachwear . 🫣Although that has nothing to do with the service and the food, they were absolutely amazing. I haven’t had good Italian food since my grandfather‘s restaurant in the 1960s I’ve been everywhere all over the world and hands-down. This is the best Italian food I’ve had since my grandfather. You absolutely have to go to this restaurant. It is 100% authentic Italian food. I can probably even bet my life on it that the food is imported from Italy. We paid about $100 USD for three adults. Our waiter was Alfredo, and he was the utmost best! I feel like next time I go for sure I will wear formal wear😆.

Best restaurant in Rosarito hands down. Ive been coming here for 5 years now and have never been disappointed. Everything about Pasta y Basta is amazing from the food to the service. I will literally make trips down to Rosarito from Escondido just to eat here its that amazing. 10/10 all day.

We got vegan pizzas to go, they were ready fast and were delicious! They had thin crust.

Loved the food and most important, it felt like home!

We just found this place on Google. It is small but very creative. The staff is very friendly. The salad was very delicious and then we ordered the pizza. It was a carnivore pizza. It was absolutely delicious. This is probably the best pizza I’ve had in all of Tijuana and we’ve tried several places. Even the coffee was good! it was packed so I think our waiter was a little bit overwhelmed but besides that everything was excellent including the price. I was very shocked and satisfied!

I just took a trip to Italy within the past year and I'll tell you the food here I thought was way better than any dish I had in Italy. Kudos to the chef. Absolutely love it. I had the linguine al limone and my husband had the fettuccine bolognese. Both meals were superb. I also had a Cadillac margarita with my meal and I tell you is one of the best Cadillacs I ever had they didn't spare the fine tequila. They also served bread with a meal. Someone was celebrating her birthday while we were there you will see in the video. It's just a very welcoming nice restaurant. I wish they had one of these back in the States. They have a deli room with a few chairs and a little bar area and you can also buy bottles of wine and enjoy it back there. They also sell some of their pastas and sauces I'm sure that they use in the restaurant those are also in the photos and then the deli is where they made the salads for the evening. But you can also buy any that meats or anything and take it home. What an awesome concept. If you want to have one nice meal while you're in Mexico and rosarito this is the place you have to go to.

The best service and food! I dined alone and they made me feel like a princess. I will definitely come again. I recommend it for EVERYONE!

Came in not knowing what to expect and let me tell you. Wow! The food was amazing, service was top notch. But the food, is on another level. After being in Rosarito for a few days we were wowed by the whole experience. The chefs love for food and service shows in those that execute the experience. Bravo. Also sorry no pictures we were in the moment. But just so you know ow the pastas are made in house by hand everyday. We asked. The ambiance we nice and family oriented. Our server was and basically everyone we encountered in this establishment was really nice.

The hype is REAL for this place. If you visit Rosarito, you HAVE to take a taco break and head over to Pasta Y Basta for some of the best Italian food you've ever had. You can't go wrong with anything you order. I usually go for the risotto or the carbonara and both are insanely good. The carbonara is not some alfredo sauce knock-off - no. It's perfectly creamy and decadent and seriously TO DIE FOR. Also, their meat and cheese board is unmatched. Have you ever eaten prosciutto that literally melts in your mouth?! I have. Every time I go to Pasta y Basta. I also have to shout of the service because you'd be hard pressed to find better anywhere else. I'm not just saying this either. They are friendly, knowledgable, attentive, and they all work together as one team. It really makes for a great experience. If you can't stay for dinner, swing by the market inside and pick up a sandwich. They are, yep - you guessed it - AMAZING. As I said before, if you're in town, make the time to stop in. I promise you won't regret it!

Outstanding dining on the humble Carretera Ensenada Libre. Just south of Rosarito, this unassuming restaurant is serving world class Italian with excellent service. How do I know it's world class? Because I haven't seen my abs since high school because of the pasta I eat everywhere in the world I go. And this belly is very picky when it comes to pasta. I definitely know good service, and the lack thereof. Read my reviews and judge for yourself. This place has well trained, attentive and super cool and friendly waiters and waitresses. The dining room is small but warm and inviting. The kitchen is open, and the smell of pizzas baking with the sound of pans shaking livens the air. I was told they make the world's best lasagna here... It was pretty damn good. Plenty of meaty and cheesy filling, served hot, with a cap of melted gooey mozzarella and parmesan. The sauce is definitely boss - very well balanced... not too sweet, not too acidic, nice amount of garlic and basil... all flavor. This is not Stouffers folks... this is amazing. Top 3 for me.

Amazing service and food! Have tried several plates and all have been amazing. Pasta, wines and pizzas are delicious. Their carnes and cheese plate is also great. Beautiful ambiance, makes you feel like your in Europe

Wifey and I came here for lunch on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. She had already eaten lunch at a nearby Menuderia, but I passed on that one. I really don't dig menudo. I really wanted some pizza and this place had some good reviews on Yelp. A genuinely friendly man greeted and seated us when we walked in. They were pretty dead as we arrived about 10 minutes after they opened. Since we were new, the chef made us both a frittata with pesto on top. A perfect starter, light and airy. My wife ate hers too, even though she was stuffed with menudo. We were seated close to the kitchen and most of the staff were busy with deliveries. I ordered the Carnivora pizza. It included tomato sauce, mozzarella, smoked ham, salame, sausage, and pepperoni. The pizza cost me 300 pesos ($15.50). The waiter told me all the ingredients for the dough came from Italy and the chef, Christian Gritti, is from Bergamo, Italy. This restaurant opened in the summer of 2015 and had a definite Italian feel to it, with the Italian deli attached. My pizza had the crispy crust I expect from wood fired pizza and the quadruple threat of meats tasted great, especially that smoked ham. It was the perfect size for me and I killed it with some fresh Parmesan and olive oil on top. I paired the pizza with a SanPelligrino called Aranciata Rossa. This orange sparkling drink had a refreshing, citrus burst and is now my favorite drink besides tea. If you visit Rosarito and are in the mood for Italian food, go here. The food is authentic Italian made by a real Italian. The prices are pretty low too.

Hands down the best Italian restaurant outside of Italy. The service is superb, the ambiance is warm, the food is top notch. I typically go for the osso bucco but you can't go wrong with a menu like this. Also love that there are a wide range of wines to choose from.

Amazing dining experience in Baja Mexico, you wouldn't find this restaurant anywhere else. The food was absolutely delicious and authentic Italian, made from the heart of Mama's kitchen.!!! Excellent service and the lentils special for the new year was delicious!!

We ordered two pizzas and the lamb shank with risotto. It was very delicious. The service is friendly and prompt. The decor is very nice. I will definitely visit again.

Great team service. The food was excellent and the bread might have been the best bread we have ever eaten. We highly recommend this place.

Excellent italian restaurant: the food, service, nr ambiance are always top notch. They have a multi course wine pairing option that I highly recommend.

Food and service is excellent! When in Rosarito we always go at least once for dinner.

I am amazed to find such great Italian food in Mexico! Chef Christian is Italian and has been in Mexico about 8 years, his menu is absolutely wonderful. From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed as family. Our server Chino was so personable and friendly with great English. I loved the way him and the other severs worked together and helped each other. The place is pretty immaculate and the decor and ambiance is romantic and intimate. We started with the tuna tartar and the beef carpaccio which were absolutely delicious. The tuna tartar was unlike any we have had, and we have thoroughly traveled and eaten in 44 states! The tartar had a lime sorbet over it which was surprising and so pleasant, the perfect compliment to the fish. We then proceeded to our main courses, the Carbonara with meat sauce and Nona's Lasagna. I have to say the lasagna was the best we ever had and we are huge connoisseurs of Italian food. Truly didn't expect to find the best one in Mexico of all places! The sauces were not acidic as so many places and the lasagna had the perfect mix of cheeses and very flavorful. It was so great we asked to meet the chef and thank him personally! We finished with Nona's Tiramisu and a espresso and cappuccino. The Tiramisu was so soft and very flavorful. Overall what a wonderful experience and dinner. Absolutely recommend and plan to come back anytime I am in town!

Came to visit Rosarito with my family and this place was the best. The pizza is probably one of the best pizza I've ever had. Pasta was delicious too and service was amazing. Our waiter El Chino was attentive and was very polite. Restaurant was clean and environment was family friendly. I highly recommend this place hands down. To our surprise the owner greeted us at the end and he was very friendly.

WoW! The food is Amazing! The pasta is fresh made in house. This is Completely unexpected in Mexico. To start, the service is excellent from greeting to seating! Chino was our server. He's bilingual, friendly, funny, very respectful and knowledgeable of the cuisine. He made the experience even better. The ambiance is like that of being in a nice Italian restaurant with paintings and portraits of the home country Italy. Now let's talk about the food a little more. We started with the carpaccio and yellowfin tuna tartare. Two spectacular dishes. The tartare shocked me with an unexpected half scoop of lime flavored Italian ice on top. It makes the dish come together in a totally different way. What an idea. We loved it! Now, I ordered Nonna's Lasagna. OMG it was the best lasagna I've ever had. Being well traveled myself I couldn't believe how amazing this lasagna was compared to all the wonderful places I've been. This isn't your ordinary over acidic barely cheesy lasagna. No no! This lasagna pulls together with a solid base of flavor that I've never tasted before in a sauce. Not acidic, not all tomato, not at all like the meat sauce you've tried before. This is unique. It makes you want to savor every bite. Be forewarned that when you have this lasagna, it may ruin other lasagnas for you for life. We also tried Nonna's tiramisu. It's great as well. But I just can't get over that lasagna.

Horrible service Pizza was good but Ordered date pie with vanilla ice cream. And brought something else and didn't apologize, he just said , that is all we have. Also served the beer in a glass , with out asking if we wanted served in glass or from the bottle . Server was Salvador

Best Italian Food and Deli Yummy Service is excellent and friendly ! The salmon piccata was best my husband ever had and the mini steak was tender and very flavorful. Would definitely recommend this place

Oh my goodness. As a New Jerseyan visiting Mexico, I was highly impressed. I never expected Italian food to be this good in Mexico. Service was impeccable, 3 of our group were running late for the reservation, they let us order drinks and hold the table until our whole group got there. Back to the food, we talked about the bread for 5 days after, we got 3 orders of table bread. Order the table bread & bruschetta. Trust me. Pizza was also really good too because of the dough. Our pasta orders were all very good but not as mind blowing as the appetizers. Drinks were fantastic and get lemon cello shots to round out the night!! Overall, it's not what you come to Rosarito for, but you will leave full and happy!

Can't believe it's been five years that we've been coming here. Nothing has changed, it is still an incredible dining experience. Christian and his team of fabulous waiters always make you feel like family. Some of our favorites are of course the lasaña and spaghetti with the meat sauce they are so delicious, so savory and filling. Some of our favorites: To start we love the Calamari , it has the perfect crunch and the marinara is fresh and flavorful. We then get the insalata de la casa is a simple arugula, Parmesan with a lemon vinaigrette is a perfect light salad that can be enjoyed with any dish. My daughter's and my favorite is the Casoncelli which is a ravioli stuffed with pork/beef, with garlic served with a parmesan butter with sage. So flavorful my mouth is watering just writing about it. Hubby's favorite which are many but he loves the Maccheroni is a pasta with capers, anchovies and olives in a red sauce. Really flavorful and so good. Every dish is delicious. We top off with a limoncello and the Lemon Sorbet with strawberries. I could go on and on but visit the restaurant and you'll think you're in Italy! Enjoy!

Best Italian spot we've been to and we live in Orange County! The chef is from Italy and knows his Italian food. My husband got the lasagna and I got the Linguine Al Limone. The Chardonnay was also amazing. Staff incredible. Recommend all of it

Delicious food! We had steak, pizza, fettuccine and a caprese salad. We also had wine that complimented our meals and they were the perfect choice. The service was exceptional, over the top, friendly, accommodating and I have to say best service I've ever experienced. The ambiance was buzzing with great vibes and no room to be anything other than positivity! If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. Definitely returning soon.

Finding an authentic Italian joint sometimes can be a challenge, but Pasta y Basta and it's chef owner are the real deal! I brought the fam here for dinner and we all had a great time and delicious food. We ordered a couple pizzas, a calzone, chicken Parmesan, and dessert. You can definitely tell the ingredients are fresh and natural and the sauce in everything was super tasty. We got there around 5 before their rush and were able to leave within a decent time. Our waiter also gave us great service even thought I never noted his name. I highly recommend this spot and I'll definitely come back on a return trip to Rosarito!

Great Italian. Best one in town IMO. Pizza dough is a bit doughy for me but great flavor. Friendly staff. Great ambiance.

You can taste the food was made with love. We ordered three entrees and every one was top tier! I'd highly recommend.

Everything was great, perfectly located. My favorite, it wasn't to far from the strip and not on the strip. Food, environment and service was amazing, we'll be back!!

Service and food are amazing! This time we tried the drinks and they were delicious. Had the pizza, caprese salad and chicken parmigiana. Service is impeccable!

Yeah pasta basta was very good food the pasta was great the meatballs on point the service was a little slow but it's understandable when there's a full house

Excellent food and great service. The chef is from northern Italy, and they make all of their pastas in house. I had the fettuccine bolognese, which is one dish that I use to compare Italian restaurants. The pasta was excellent (clearly superior to the dry pastas that most places use), and the bolognese sauce was good (very generous on the meat). On par with the better Italian restaurants that I've eaten at in Mexico or in the United States.

Finally made it this special place and it did not disappoint. We did the 4 course meal with wine pairings. It is a great way to try many of Chef Christian's delicious works of art paired with only the best wine from the Valle. Every dish was cooked perfectly and the taste was divine. The service was outstanding and with all the Italian being spoken for a moment you feel like you could possibly be in Italia. I know that Northern Italian Cuisine is not what your usually craving in Baja, but if you try Pasta y Basta at least once. I swear it will become one of your Baja cravings. Don't think about it...just go!

Excellent Food, Service, Atmosphere thumbs up for Chef Christian Gritti It's worth the 3 hour drive

This place is cozy and the staff treated us like kings. Food was great! My waiter made great recommendations. Pizza was fire too! The only reason I can't give it 5 stars is because it was a bit pricey for me, especially south of the border.

We were here on 5/15/22. Every dish we ordered was amazing and the service was on point. Servers Jesus and Lalo were very attentive, polite, friendly, and appropriately informative with regards to the restaurants story and the food items. They set expectations and Superseded them. Now let's talk about the food... - calamari with marinara sauce= great taste, the tempura crust and the sauce combined for a great balanced flavor. - margarita pizza = great crust and Tomato sauce. I think it would be a notch better if they used fresh mozzarella (burrata) - Casoncelli = ravioli stuffed with pork and other amazing things. The pancetta butter sauce was light with a perfect hint of Parmesan cheese - Spaghetti frutti di mare = pasta was cooked to perfection, then tossed in their tomato sauce with several seafood ingredients. Tastes was balanced and not overwhelming of ocean water. - Ossubuco con risotto = super tender pork cooked in tomato sauce, great flavor and the risotto was soooo creamy and buttery. - Costillas de puerco en salsa de tomato(especial)= great taste, a little similar to the pork dish but distinct enough to have its own identity. - Tiramisu= OMG. Please save room for this dish! Creamy, and not overly sweet. They also have a great list of local wines (Valle de Guadalupe)

This place is an absolute gem. Our server was fantastic. The food was great. We will definitely come back. One of the best meals we've had in the Baja. The pizza is amazing. Check it out for yourself!!

Great service. Delicious and yummy food. Fresh ingredients. Fast and delightful. Great ambiance.

Possibly the best Italian food on the west coast. Friendly service, wonderful pasta, comida authentico Italiana. PASTA Y BASTA!

Okay, so I am half Italian. It worked out that way because both of my grandmothers (mom and dad's moms both) were full blooded Italians, born in Italy... so let's just say I know a thing or two about Italian food. I was a fat little kid, who grew up on gnochi, cavadelli, raviolis, lasagna, canolis (one grandma was also an Italian baker). A while back, when I was in Rosarito, BC Mexico (25 mins south of the border from San Diego) with my girlfriend and family, we ate at Pasta y Basta. Our first time there, I would say it was a 5 star + experience, EXCEPT we concluded that the lemon shrimp pasta made everyone sick (those who ate it, which I was not one of---thus how we figured out which dish made them sick)... Both times eating there, I found the maseros (service) to be 5 star service, but once again they (love them some shrimp) so they tried the lemon shrimp pasta dish and it made them sick again. So, there may be something Pasta y Basta needs to do differently in the kitchen when preparring the lemon shrimp pasta. My advice would be to avoid that particular dish, but not to avoid this restaurant. If you are in Rosarito, there is no finer Italian Ristorante than Pasta y Basta. Your other choices are places like Giuseppis (lol). Pasta y Basta is in a league of it's own as far as Italian Food in Rosarito, Mexico... just avoid the lemon shrimp pasta.

They delivered when nobody else would and the food was excellent! Happy New Year Pasta team.

Okay where to begin ? Italian food in Mexico dare I say maybe the best I have tasted ? The antipasto Italiano: plentiful for the price and the meat and cheese were fresh and tasted very well Carbonara: noodles al dente sauce on point. Principessa (pizza): the crust great texture, ingredients fresh and not overwhelming, sauce superb Sangria: freshly made daily packs a punch Tiramisu: yezz !!! Dare I say more. Servers and support very attentive and professional The chef well the above says it all. Definitely will recommend to friends and will be back !

Oh my god! This is hands down the best Italian food I've ever had! A good friend's mom brought me here, raving about how good it is and she was not at all wrong. I opted for "CASONCELLI (My city, Bergamo's typical dish a ravioli stuffed with beef, pork, parsley, garlic served w/parmesan, butter, sage & pancetta)" It literally was like butter with the most delectable Smokey meat flavor. It is totally worth crossing the border for Pasta y Basta. You must try this place at least once! Phenomenal food, fantastic service and a great ambiance.

Beautiful beautiful food. I ordered the ossobuco risotto and it was so good. The pork shank so well cooked and tender. The risotto is so flavorful and creamy. I'll drive ten hours if necessary to have it. The service was on point. The food came out so fast. And the restaurant is cozy with a deli inside. Love it.

Recomiendo mucho las comidas, entradas y vinos, el ambiente es algo romántico peor también familiar, tiene un excelente servicio y atención

I'm usually a fan of this place. Went Monday for dinner. Lovely violin. My oso bucco was all bones. Very little meat. Very disappointing because it wasn't cheap

This was the best meal and service we had over our 4 day trip here. We certainly did not think Italian would be our favorite meal. From start to finish the service was impeccable. The authentic atmosphere is spot on. The gnocchi is so fresh and pillowy. It was just like what I had in Italy last year! The wood fired pizza... delicious! Eggplant parmigiana so rich and full of flavor. If you're in the mood for some excellent Italian food... this place is a must! When I say service was impeccable... I MEAN IMPECCABLE!!! Each server that came to our table genuinely seemed concerned about our satisfaction. Each one went above and beyond to ensure we were happy and felt taken care of. Check it out, your taste buds will thank you.

Love the service and food is amazing. Ambiance is great too. Is one of my favorite places in Rosarito

Incredible. Service impecable. Food def top shelf, pizza as good as it gets outside of Italy. Wine list, straight out of Guadalupe. We will be back.

This place is amazing!The customer service was great! This seriously was the best pizza I have ever had! Once I finished my first thought is I need more! Definitely coming every time I go to Rosarito!

The food was exceptional and the service was kind and helpful. 10/10 best Italian restaurant in Rosarito.

This place never disappoints! After coming here for the last 5 years, the service and food is top notch. You won't be disappointed.

A very nice special occasion restaurant. Nice atmosphere and trained wait staff. Leave room for dessert.

Always happy to deliver and the pizzas are really great! Can't wait to go order again!

BEST Italian in Rosarito and surrounding areas, if you know and love Italian this is definitely the place, pizza crust is out of this world!!! every dish is super authentic Italian.