Basta Pasta
60 W Timonium Rd, Timonium, MD, 21093
Basta Pasta Menu
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Starters
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Homemade Soups
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Salads
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Pastas Around The World
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Baked Oven Entrees
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Chicken
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Seafood
Healthy Meal suggestions for Basta Pasta
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Starters
-
Homemade Soups
-
Salads
-
Pastas Around The World
-
Baked Oven Entrees
-
Chicken
-
Seafood
Visit below restaurant in Timonium for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Timonium for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
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Address :
60 W Timonium Rd
Timonium, MD, 21093 - Phone (410) 308-0838
- Website https://bastapastamd.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Cran C.
I had the catch of the day which was the Monk fish. Cooked perfectly, tasted fresh and served with grits, Gouda and BACON. YUM. I had the opportunity to meet Melissa who quickly resolved the slight issue we had with service in the beginning. If you haven't been, try this place-the prices are decent (the highest entree was around $25), the drinks are tasty, the food is delicious and the service is good. Will I be back? Definitely!
(5)S B.
I have not eaten here in a while. Tonight I had the mix of cream of crab and Maryland crab soup with Caesar salad. The wait was 20 mins thats not bad for carryout. I loved the big portions..the greeting and feeling welcome was a plus. And the great menu ideas to mix and match was cool. Maybe next time I'll dine in for good ole memory sake.
(4)Aaron W.
Met a friend here for lunch. Wait service was friendly and attentive and made good menu suggestions. I had the blackened Ahi Tuna Wrap which came with homemade waffle potato chips and a pickle. My friend had the buffalo chicken salad. Both were absolutely delicious. We also started with a cup of crab and a cup of cream of crab soup. Both were wonderful as well. I don't end up I the Timonium area often, but the food here is definitely worth going out of my way for!
(4)Dave S.
It looks bad, smells bad and the 3-4 times I've tried Italian dishes they've been awful. Never had a good drink or decent service either. However, once a week (Tuesday?) they have a special crab cake dinner. That's worth going for, otherwise I'd say stay away.
(2)Jonathan P.
You can always count on Basta Pasta for great Italian food. I've been here many times and I've never had a bad meal. The outside doesn't look like much but the inside is really nice. It's a nice intimate setting perfect for a date but also great for a group gathering. The salad and breadsticks that come with every meal are delicious. I typically get the lasagna for dinner. It is exceptionally good. Some of the best lasagna I've had. For lunch I recently tried the chicken pesto panini. It was surprisingly really good. Fresh chicken, tasty pesto sauce, w/ tasty fries for only $9 (w/ tax). I've recommended this place to many people. I'll always continue to come here.
(5)Mindy M.
I have been back with the parents and done carry out as well. There could be worse things in life than waiting at the bar for your meal. The chicken saltimbocca is good, love this dish; the veal counterpart tastes the snake but the veal is pretty disappointing- especially for the increased cost. The shrimp dish that has pine nuts in it is very very good- and light which was a pleasant surprise. I'm still not in love with the place, but they are consistent, if nothing else. And meals to go are ready on time.
(3)elmer s.
My wife and I visited recently and had great meals. My wife ordered veal marsala and I had chicken Chesapeake. Both were excellent. Along with the house salad and bread sticks we were totally satisfied. The waitress was very generous with the freshly grated cheese and very efficient serving.
(5)Catherine S.
If you want filling, this place is it. My friend randomly found it next to a gas station. Its one of those places that if you are a local you know about it but if not, you wonder how anyone learns about it. But the place was busy. It was more like a mom and pop feel. The salad was delish and the bread was flavorful. We shared a pitcher of a red sangria for a really good deal. My sis got a birthday cheese cake which I anialiated (she doesn't like cheesecake and I'm sure i ate more than my other friends who split it with me- i was greedy *hangs head in shame*- but it was soo good! I want to try the pasta next time (I was trying to be cute with the seafood salad).
(3)Paul And Laura D.
Basta Pasta definitely seems to be the place where all the Senior Citizens in Timonium go to eat, talk, hang, sleep or do whatever. I had to stay in Timonum on business for 2 weeks, so I took it upon myself to go on a quest to find the best crabcakes in the region. Never in a million years would I think that one of the best I've had came from a place called Basta Pasta. That's all I've tried and probably all I'd get if I went back.
(4)Deborah R.
Seated immediately, our server was "GREAT", the food was great, would eat there again.
(4)Robin C.
The chef is amazing. Great shrimp fra diavlo, veal saltimbuca, veal Marsala, chicken parm and gluten free options! Server Herb was great :) Wednesday night is 1/2 price bottles of wine too.
(5)Chris V.
The restaurant staff and the bar staff are equally amazing. Food never disappoints and the location is great. So convenient and easy access with tons of parking. Really a great spot. Whether it be a weekend lunch or drinks after work, this place is great. Friendly atmosphere and good food. Perfect combination.
(5)Maria B.
Food is good. If I have one complaint is it that they always put us in the back room which is a long walk and usually for bigger parties. From now on I'm going to ask for a front room. Love the calamari, salad and breadsticks. Better than Olive Garden.
(4)Shawn K.
We brought a large group there to have lunch (60 people) we called ahead a few days to make sure they could handle a big group! They were absolutely wonderful! They were prepared- they had tables and water ready for our lacrosse players, and the service was wonderful and quick. The food was amazing as well!
(5)Judith A.
My guy and I ate at the other location first and didn't like the table or the noise level. The layout of the Timonium location is much nicer. There are several rooms and comfortable seating. This makes for a more intimate dining experience. Our dinners were fresh, tasty, and not overpriced. Good Italian classics and modern adaptations. We will go back. I had chicken and broccoli Alfredo and my guy had Mushroom Cappalini. We left happy.
(4)Mikael C.
The Chicken Broccoli Alfredo is absolutely delicious. They also give you a nice size portion. I tried the Lasagna and it was really rich like true Italians make it. The Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Is my go-to.
(5)Norma C.
Great crabcakes!! Just as good as G & M and it's just up the street. It's been a hidden treasure. So glad to discover this place.
(5)Tom T.
I am not Italian, so I do not pretend to know what makes good Italian food.. But I keep returning. Probably the main reason I return is that it has become one of my regular spots when I don't feel like cooking. I sit and the bar, and OD and Ruth are always accomodating, and I enjoy socializing with the other bar folks. I love the crab cakes, not Italiian but they are the best I have had, and the Lasagna is amazing. I am a man of great simplicity, so I tend to often eat the same thing. OD and Ruth are encouraging me to try new entrees, which I do like the Fettucine Alfredodo and that srumptious buttery veal dish ( can't remember the name) My favoritie is the Pasta with Meat Sauce, salad, bread and some Merlot. I am always a happy camper.
(5)Mark E.
The absence of cars in the parking lot, despite a well-advertised Prix Fixe Mother's Day brunch special, should have been tell-tale. My gut usually tells me to go where the locals go. I should have trusted my gut. The fare was Olive Garden mainstream/boring Italian, small portions at jacked prices. For $28 we expected much more imagination, creativity and portions. There are so many restaurants, Basta Pasta has lost me as a customer forever. That said, the service was a little uneven but pretty good. Perhaps my expectations were unrealistic, but at a $28 a person tariff, the restaurant created those expectations. They just failed to deliver.
(2)Allison L.
I came here with absolutely no expectations and was definitely pleasantly surprised. It is very similar to an Olive Garden with the free breadsticks/salad. The food seemed better quality. I got the fettuccine alfredo which I generally don't order much since 1. it's 1894508558 calories, and 2. for some reason, not many Italian restaurants seem to be able to make this simple dish correctly. Basta Pasta's fettuccine alfredo was really good. I know other reviewers thought it looked tacky but I thought it was kinda cute. I liked that it was a lot of separate, smaller rooms and not just a ton of people in one giant open space. It's literally within walking distance of my work so I imagine I'll be back at some point.
(4)Ryan T.
Firstly, Tuesday is the day to go. (I'll get back to this). Overall the prices seem a bit high, but the quality of the food and service compensates for that. The atmosphere is decent and separates the bar/mingle area from the formal dining area very well. The reason that I say Tuesday is the day to go is their Jumbo Lump Crabcake special. Being a "pasta" place, I was skeptical, but they are quite amazing. You get Salad and breadsticks, two jumbo lump crabcakes and two sides for $22 - can't beat that.
(5)Tom B.
Good food, really enjoyed the escargot (can't find that at very many restaurants these days!). The seafood pizza was AWESOME!! My dad loved the veal - a HUGE piece of meat that was layered in gooey cheese and sauce. Only problem was the steak my mother ordered. They couldn't quite get the butterfly cut right on the filet and burn it to "shoe leather" quality, the way my mother likes it (gross, I know.... even I can't burn a steak enough for her). So, all in all, GREAT food, great staff... definitely going back!!!
(5)Rick L.
Good food as usual, but the service tonight was awful. Got rushed through appetizers, salad and dinner inside of an hour for six of us. Will probably not go back.
(2)Jarrod F.
ok, so this isn't Mario Batali's kitchen or the overly fru-fru Cinghiale's downtown (bleh), but its certainly 10,000 steps above olive garden, olive grove, olive tree, olive branch, olive mama's, and every other iteration of the 'unlimited bread-sticks and salad' restaurants now feeding America's big bellied over-eaters. For starters, the location is primo.. there's parking out back and its right of 83 North. The restaurant is definitely large as well with plenty of rooms for diners to gorge in. The food is consistent, fairly priced and the marinara sauce is worth the trip alone. My recommendation is definitely the Seafood Pasta.... incredibly large chunks of crab meat, shrimp, and scallops served over a bed of linguine and drenched in the best marinara sauce this side of the Atlantic. The Marsala is beyond excellent and the chicken Parmesan is a heart attack you want to have. The steak and egg burger lunch special is dynamite as well. There are only some minor issues with Basta Pasta worth addressing. For one thing, the workers here can sometimes be a bit too stuffy and serious for my liking. Secondly, the pizza recipe could definitely use a revamp. Its a bit under-cooked, thick and wilted for my taste. Also, I haven't ventured to far away from my signature dishes here because some of the other dishes I've seen around me don't look as appeasing. Also, the portions are a bit uneven here with some dishes looking like they can barely feed one person and others being big enough to feed a family. So yes, one point deducted for inconsistent appearances of dishes. However, despite these minor issues, Basta Pasta is a reliable mainstay. Despite the cheesy name, the restaurant is authentic Italian (owned and operated). It definitely serves high quality Italian cuisine in a cozy environment. Now I can't say I love the interior (it's a bit damp and dark) but it does somehow work for the comfort food being dished out of the kitchen. Plus, the place has a good crowd from families to older folks, kids, etc... Honestly, its the best casual Italian food you'll find between here and New Jersey IMO. So yes, do yourself a favor and skip the "Olive" restaurants all around town... Basta Pasta is WAY better.
(4)Lana C.
Great service and delicious food. A group of us were traveling together for a seminar. We were all happy with the menu selection and sampled three appetizers. We had two dairy allergies as well as a gluten allergy in our group and they were able to accommodate all of it with gluten free noodles and non dairy selections. Bread sticks were yummy and everyone enjoyed their meals. If I am ever in this area again I would eat here. My one caution is that do not eat a heavy meal here in the evening. We ate around 7 and it was still too late. The food turned my stomach to cement. Other than that it is delish.
(4)Sidney F.
I dined solo at lunch after a recent good meal with a friend at the dinner hour. Although there didn't appear to be much business at the time, I was seated at a small table in an empty room that stayed empty (the adjacent room held three diners). Subsequently, my server seemed rushed but knowledgeable about the menu. At my request, she made several good suggestions -- and then pretty much disappeared, except when serving my salad and entree. Another server saw that I was sitting without refills, needing a check at the end, etc., and was kind enough to pinch hit. With other choices in the area, I probably will not return, which is unfortunate -- the food was very good.
(3)Quintin P.
Really good food fast service. Family restaurant. Everybody is friendly. The quality of food is very good. The price is low to medium not too pricey for a place like this.
(4)Kristi F.
This was our first time here and we were impressed! The ambience was spot on - the feel of the place is definitely cozy. We had excellent service! Our server was friendly and seemed excited to tell us 'everything was delicious '. She wasn't kidding. We started off with crab dip - delicious. I had a peach sangria that was totally yummy:). My husband ordered the orange roughy with imperial and I had the chicken Chesapeake. Both dishes were served with a side of pasta and both dishes were superb! The portions are large so we brought a lot home. You're served salad and breadsticks and I have to say I was impressed that the salad looked and tasted fresh. Everything was great! Definitely coming back!
(5)Erin M.
Basta Pasta is comparable to a privately owned Olive Garden, but the menu is a lot larger, the portions are larger, and the staff is very attentive and friendly. We have gone to Basta Pasta numerous times and it is always a solid meal. At first the entree prices seem a couple dollars too high, but you do get bottomless salad and breadsticks and usually the entree is enough for two people. There are also weeknight specials. One night kids eat free, another night, there is half price wine bottles. We have liked everything that we've tried, although we frequently order the Lasagna with a spicier sauce. The white clam linguine is enough for 3-4 people. We have also gotten carryout at lunchtime and they still pack a good amount of salads and breadsticks in our to-go bag. When dining in, there are a number of separate dining rooms so it doesn't get too loud. I definitely recommend you try it out!
(5)Kyaw M.
Solid Italian restaurant...As good or better than any you'll get in Little Italy downtown, but with no parking hassle. =)
(3)Arlo H.
I'd heard a lot of praise over this place, but I was far from impressed. In fact, rarely have I so disagreed with the hype surrounding any particular restaurant. The entrees were bland and over-priced, and the decor was conservatively nice, but lacked any extra pop to get excited over. But what really threw the baby out with the bath water here was the establishment's abhorant disregard for their own environmental impact. I won't usually take off more than a star for sustainability faux pais, but Basta Pasta really went to town with it's anti-green approach to dining. For starters, their main fish was orange roughy (think strip mining the deep sea and trashing millenia old coral reefs). Next, they had an entire page devoted to shrimp (and not the sustainably farmed or kettle caught kind, at least nothing was apparent to indicate so). We're likely talking full scale mangrove deforestation along with hundreds of thousands of pounds of dead sea turtles and dolphins in trawler nets around the tropical world. There's also an entire section devoted to veal, which while I might not otherwise raise a voice for the emaciated, abused calves of the world, it just seemed to be icing on a cake of destruction. Finally, their helpings are huge (a positive), so my party needed to-go boxes. What we got was a large styrofoam box per entree, EACH in it's own enormous flimsy plastic, single-use disposable bag. Halfway around the table, I had to stop the waitress and give her back my bag to encourage at least placing multiple to-go boxes in a single bag (we were after all going home to the same place anyway!). Basta Ya! I mean, how much fish-choking, toxic-leaching, non-degrading petrochemicals does one need just to bring home a pile of bland pasta? The one saving grace of this place was the appetizers and all you can eat salad and breadrolls. It may be a total rip off on Olive Garden, but these were delicious - especially the fried ravioli. If unfortunately lured into dining here again, I'd stick with just eating the savory salad.
(2)Tj H.
Very good food and plenty of seating and parking. This place does have a little but of a olive garden feel but the food is much better. The staff is friendly and there is normally not a wait for seating. I def recommend Basta Pasta.
(4)Cary B.
I'm usually very pleased with this restaurant and visit frequently. But I had a very bad experience recently with their crab cake--which has typically been one their best selling points. This time however, the bottom layer of the crab cake was pure mushy filler--tasted like mashed potatoes. Someone else told me that they had noticed the same thing, So management should really pay attention and fix this problem quickly.
(1)A. C.
The place is like an upscale, local version of the Olive Garden (unlimited salad and breadsticks) with better quality food (and prices to match). Breadsticks were the thick soft variety, buttered and garlicked; salad was like a Greek version (no feta). Vegetables in the pastas and on the side were treated with respect, sauteed tender-crisp. Some pastas are homemade, like the lasagna; dense and substantially sized. The Veal Saltimboca was a nice version, especially on a bed a jeweled green sauteed spinach, tart-winey lemon sauce to balance the rich veal and mozzarella and salty slice of prosciutto. They're working out of the old Steak 'n' Ale, so the rooms are tiny alcoves designed to hold a party of 4-6, with one main dining room. Intimate kind of place, brightened with a paint job and some ersatz Etruscan decor. Prices are def higher than what you would normally pay at your average Italian-American joint, but higher quality of food and execution seems to come with the deal.
(4)Amy M.
Very attentive waiter. Breadsticks ok. Obviously homemade. Salad to share. I don't remember the names but my husband ordered a veal with a thickened lemon butter sauce on top. He was very surprised at the portion size, enough to take home! I ordered a chicken dish withcherry tomatoes,asparagus and artichokes in a light wine butter sauce. Very yummy!! The side dishes of pasta/red sauce were ok. The waiter told us the desserts are all homemade, so we ordered a Godiva creme brulee and a slice of cheesecake. Even though the choc dessert was good, we wish we would have ordered the plain creme brulee. The cheesecake was very creamy. Would recommend and will be back!
(3)Rick H.
My wife and i eat here quite often, great service and delicious food! Never had a bad experience, I would defiantly recommend it.
(5)Lauren S.
I ate here a bit ago when they first opened. The food is pretty good, but nothing mind blowing. The wait staff is really attentive and friendly, and the prices are reasonable. Nice place for a date night, but I much prefer Pasta Mista up the street.
(3)Jeff G.
I was in attendance at the Farpoint Convention held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel across the street and my friends and I decided to try out this new restaurant located in the old Steak & Ale location. They added some new paintings but basically most of the decor remains the same. Six of my friends came for dinner and we ordered a number of appetizers and entrees (in the $20.00 range). The dish we liked the best was the Fried Ravioli, which is even better than they serve in St. Louis where this dish originated. I highly recommend it with the Spicy Fra Diavolo sauce but from there things went downhill. The menu advertises the Fried Ravioli with either Marinara Sauce or Spicy Fra Diavolo. I asked for a little of both and I was told that was not possible without an additional charge (I could only get one or the other) so I ordered the Spicy Fra Diavolo (a small portion) and latter discovered an additional $2.00 charge was added to the check. The waitress did not tell us we could get more salad and breadsticks for free but the breadsticks were dry, so I asked for some Spicy Fra Diavolo sauce to dip them in. I was told I would have to pay an additional $2.00 charge for each small portion of the sauce so I passed. The Blackened Chicken & Shrimp Alfredo was supposed to come with a Cajun Alfredo Sauce. The sauce was not spicy and the chicken didn't look like any blackened chicken I had ever ordered (I left 3/4 of it uneaten). A number of the people in my party did not like their dishes either. We skipped dessert and all agreed we would not only never return but also that we would advise our fellow conventioneers not to have dinner here. When I confronted management on the spicy fra diavolo charge, I was told he had to pay for that and many people abused it by dipping too many breaksticks in it but I can't imagine diners could eat that many breaksticks if they were also eating appetizers and entrees. Finally, there are some items noted in green on the menu (such as Chicken and Veal Paramigiana) that our waitress told us was specially recommended by the chef. When I asked why he recommened those items and not others, I was told that those were the most popularly ordered items on the menu. It disturbed me that the chef would only recommened common items most often ordered by patrons and not his or her specialty dishes. I would recommend Olive Garden over this restaurant. At least there you get bottomless soup and better prices.
(1)AK S.
Get the full carafe of Sangria! So very good - not too sweet and just the right amount of fruit. I've had the lasagna twice and will continue to go back for it - huge portion and delicious. I typically get lasagna when I go to an Italian restaurant and this hovers near the top of the list. They also have really great specials during Ravens games and lots of TV's in an around the bar.
(4)Jay S.
Basically a dark Olive Garden without the charm. This particular location didn't do much to change the interior of the once-Steak and Ale it took over. This means dark lighting and very old-world style decor. Sure, other Italian restaurants try some of these same things but they pull them off better then Basta Pasta which just came off as generic. With a name like Basta Pasta you don't expect the food to be this pricey for what you're getting and it's not necessarily amazing compared to any other Italian places with cheaper prices.
(3)Eric L.
Manager was rude. The Fallston location was much better. Eggplant parm was not crispy.
(1)Suzanne H.
Just Right. My son got his pasta just as he likes it and loved the breadsticks! My husband and I split the chicken cacciatore. It was a big serving, plenty for both of us. With lots of salad to start, I got a good dinner for less than my 7 remaining WW points for the day.
(4)Maria F.
The food was delicious! The bartender Ruth was amazing! A great place to dine and feel welcome!
(4)Glenn L.
I've driven by here dozens of times. There were always a lot of cars in the parking lot, but I assumed this was like all of the other Olive Garden knockoffs. Friends and relatives told me it was much better than those types of restaurants and finally I decided to give it a try. We went on a Sunday night and have a big group with us. Our server was excellent taking into account for numerous food allergies and food types. They did start us off with salad for everyone and breadsticks. I had read in Baltimore magazine that their crab cakes were among the best so I order those. The crab cakes were all jumbled um with very little filler. My only complain was that the crab meat and the crab cakes were not seasoned as one would expect for me crab cake restaurants in Baltimore. However, as a little bit of old bay and some Worchrshire . I ordered a side of potatoes with them and they were excellent as well. Don't worry if what you want is not on the menu, as several another groups ordered items not found on the menu and the kitchen was more than happy to accommodate them and produced excellent entrees. Now that we know they're different from the numerous Olive Garden knockoffs we will be back.
(4)Pam D.
I am honestly shocked at the positive reviews as our experience was awful and we will not go back. My husband, two good friends and I went to the restaurant several weeks ago for dinner. 2 of our entrees were horrible, 1 was fair and the other was good. The service was terrible. Our server was Sharon (I know that only because her name was on our check; she didn't bother to tell us). Our experience was she was very grumpy. it took her quite some time to come and ask us for our drink order. When she brought us our drinks, and later our entrees, we found it extremely strange that she reached across the person nearest to her to place the food and drink in front of the intended recipient. Since it was a small table for four, all she had to do was walk several feet to the other side of the table to place the food in front of the recipient. Her style of delivering food and drinks was something none of us had ever seen. I ordered ravioli. It was obviously frozen as opposed to fresh and the sauce was flavorless and a disgusting color. One of our dinner companions ordered pasta with pesto sauce. He ate it but the next morning, contacted us to let us know he had become violently ill a few hours after dinner. My husband ordered Chicken Francaise and said it was "ok"...nothing great. Our fourth dinner partner had the soft shell crab special and liked it a (although we found it odd to have soft shell crab in an Italian Restaurant). We had to track down Sharon several times to ask for drink refills. She was not attentive at all. Had the restaurant been very busy, we would have understood but it was 8 p.m. and not busy. At the end of the meal, all four of us agreed that while it wasn't Sharon's fault that the majority of our food was so bad, her service did not deserve our customary 20% tip. We left her a tip of 12% on a bill of $100. What was interesting was after she collected our payment, she came back a few minutes later as we were standing up to leave and asked if our meals had been ok. We believe felt Sharon felt short-changed on the tip. We politely told her it had not been a good experience and left it at that. Absolutely will not go back. There are much better Italian options in the York Road corridor.
(1)Megan F.
I was looking for a place to go and eat and their menu online has no prices. this alone is a huge deterrent.
(2)Debbie S.
It started out as a nice evening, our reserved table was available and the waitress was attentive, but a little pushy to have us order. Neither of us had ever been there before and wanted time with the menu. We ordered an appetizer and sangria and then entrees. The bruschetta was just okay - nothing special about it, the bread was okay, but the tomatoes could have used more flavor. Our meals arrived timely, and were good, but again, nothing special. Again, the waitress seemed to be pushing us along and we wanted to see the dessert menu. We ordered coffee and one dessert and the waitress again offered to bring the check. The place was crowded and we had been there a while, but so had all the tables around us. We were talking over our coffee and were offered refills, but said no, we would take the check. Minutes after the check arrived, the waitress came back and asked if there was anything else. We had not paid yet and the host came to our table an commented (rather rudely) that he had not realized that we would be at the table for so long and that other reservations were waiting and he requested that we move to the bar to continue our conversation! There was a better way to handle the situation - he could have smiled and been more polite or offered to buy us a drink it the bar if we didn't mind moving or something. I understand that they were busy, but our evening ended on a very bad note. I will not return to Basta Pasta after that experience.
(3)Michelle H.
It is slightly odd to walk into a restaurant called Basta Pasta with bright gold exterior and have the interior turn out to be dark, dreary and more like an underground tavern. But I guess that's what you get when you take over a former Steak & Ale location and only throw up a couple metal wall pieces as new decor. Friends from Harford County rave about the Fallston location, so I was looking forward to enjoying a decent meal. I'd say their menu is pretty typical of any Italian restaurant. Their salad was very reminiscent of what you get at Bertucci's, down to the bowl its served in. Their breadsticks were soft and warm, but they screamed for salt or something to have been sprinkled on top. My husband's Chicken Saltimboca was fine, but the side of pasta was lackluster. I ordered one of their specials - seared rockfish topped with tomatoes, capers, olives and sun-dried tomatoes. While the fish portion was generous, a good part of it was also the bloodline which made it less appetizing. I also thought the mediterranean topping was too salty, so it was tough to eat too much of it. I also was shocked at the price tag of $27 for it - serves me right for not ordering off the menu where I could see the price ahead of time. Not worth the money paid, in my opinion. Funny story to wrap this all up - our waiter was taking the order of the two people behind us. We overheard them talking about how impressed they were that he didn't write down their order. When questioned how many orders he could remember at a time, he bragged that he could remember the entire order for a table of up to 8 people. Ironically, he couldn't remember that I had also ordered a cup of soup as a starter in addition to our entrees. *SMH*
(3)Veronica C.
While in Baltimore for business, my co-workers and I enjoyed a hearty dinner at Basta Pasta during a working dinner about two weeks ago. Great atmosphere, great food, and great service. I have to give our waitress and A++ for quick, friendly service, especially since many of us are hard to please and a party of 14. I had the shrimp veggie medley, this plate was enough for two, and they do not skimp on the amount of shrimp. Many of my co-workers had the crab soup, by all the empty bowls I guess it was a ok. I would most definitely go back again.
(4)Marie M.
Very oily and lacking robust flavor. I don't go out for Italian often, and this was not the treat I was hoping for.
(2)Daniel C.
When our group of eighteen decided to go out to eat at 7PM on a Sunday night, I thought we would be in for a long wait. I was pleasantly surprised that they were able to seat us in a back room relatively quickly. There is a nice bar up front with a large TV, and it looked like a nice place to go just to sit and watch a game. The entire restaurant is tastefully decorated as a subdued Italian manor. They have a good wine list with a large selection of house wines, but most of our group opted for the Blue Moons and Guinness off their draft list. I ordered a salmon past special, and the salmon and other items were very tender and tasty in a sauce that was not overwhelming. I cannot comment on the other food, but with such a large group we must have tried one of everything and the comments around the table were all favorable. Our server was attentive and kept our glasses filled. This may not have been the best meal I've ever had, but I really have to bump them up a star for great service and a genuinely pleasing dining experience.
(5)Doug S.
I've been here a couple times and have been pleased both times. I have had Seafood Alfredo and Crab Cakes. Both very good. Price is a bit high but the quality and the service are above average too.
(4)Lorraine L.
Came to town with two other associates and asked for good local food and was directed to here. The crabcakes are EXCELLENT as is the service. Even though our business took us out of the area, we came back the final evening of our trip to again indulge in the great food. Anthony is the best!!
(5)Gwen M.
Good food, large portions, service was good even though they were busy. Even made reservations on line and was seated right away when we got there. No complaints at all!
(5)Megan F.
As someone who is in the service industry this place is a nightmare. However, the food is DELICIOUS. I have a food allergy and every time I order, the chef comes out and speaks to me since he is acquainted with my parents. He is great, so nice and is AMAZING at what he does. I have never been disappointed in the food. The problem lies in the service. Every time I come to Basta Pasta I sit in the bar. The bar service is horrendous. It takes 15 minutes to get a drink and some menus. And another 30 to order. I hope your not thirsty because getting a refill, even getting a water/soda is impossible. I swear every time I walk out the door, that I will NEVER be back, but the food draws me in.
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