A charming wood-burning pizza oven brings a rustic touch to the open kitchen.
I almost finished my Christmas shopping on Saturday with the assistance of Robin and JC. You can work up an appetite quickly pounding the mall and parking lots this time of year, so we opted for a hearty Italian lunch at Pastaria. For the last 5 years, the trendy Clayton restaurant has been dishing up rustic pizzas, classic pastas and adventuresome gelato to its many fans.
Pizza vs. Pasta
I usually get their Pappardelle Pasta with the smoked pork, mascarpone and sliced apple or the Bucatini All’ Amatriciana. But this time we went with a couple of pizzas: the Holmes and the Pepperoni and the superb Chopped Salad. I passed up the Crispy Risotto Balls, stuffed with creamy risotto, which I immediately regretted when I saw them being delivered to another table.
Italian Comfort Food
No matter what you choose at Pastaria, they start you off right with warm, fresh-baked bread. At the conclusion of the meal, you’re tempted by an amazing array of gelato flavors with such names as salted caramel (my favorite), goat cheese cherry chip (could become a next, new favorite), dark chocolate, grapefruit olive oil, creme fraiche pine nut, pretzel crunch and cranberry sorbet.
Sadly, they don’t have a drive-up window or I’d be there more often. But there is a wide plate glass window that allows natural light to brighten the chic interior. And that means good photos for food bloggers. The photos below will give you a feel and “taste” of what you’re missing if you haven’t been to Pastaria lately.
Pastaria has the feel of the village restaurant with a view of its workshop like kitchen.
A welcoming sign
Bread fresh from the oven
Warm bread and toppings
Robin studies the menu at Pastaria
Pastas are organic and gluten-free options are available
Our pizza on the way!!
Chopped Salad with chickpeas, green olives, pistachio nuts, pepperoni, oregano, red wine vinaigrette, and pecorino cheese.
Wood oven pizza
Pizza peels autographed by notable chefs
I saved room for, a least, a bite or two of the homemade gelato.
Goat cheese-cherry chip ice cream. Outstanding!
Pastaria. 7734 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton. Open: Mon-Thu 11a-10p; Fri 11a-11p; Sat 10a-11p; Sun 10a-9p. Validated parking for the attached garage.
