Luca's Pasta

Luca's Pasta has quickly become one of my go-to dinner spots. It happens to be on my way home from work, so it's a great choice if Alex and I don't feel like cooking but still want a homey, satisfying meal. Luca's Pasta is speedy create-your-own pasta served in containers similar to chinese take-out.

Atmosphere:

Most of Luca's business probably comes from take-out customers, although they do have plenty of seating and a mod decor.

Service:

Amazing. Really. Alex and I still haven't figured it out, but they get your pasta to you in about 5 minutes. The amazing part is the pasta still tastes fresh! It doesn't seem like it's been sitting around. They must par cook it somehow, but it results in al dente pasta that doesn't clump. You walk up to the counter to order and can serve yourself Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes that they keep up there, which is very thoughtful since most of their customers are taking the pasta home and may not have parm for it. No parm for your pasta is a tragedy.

Menu:

Luca's Pasta is create-your-own. Choose a sauce, choose a pasta, and choose a topping if you like. They'll put it all together. This isn't just red sauce or Alfredo here, either. Some sauce choices include Creamy Ginger, Olive Oil and Herbs, Sun Dried Tomato Pesto, or Curry and Roasted Red Pepper. The sauces rotate, so you'll have to stop by to see what they've got. You can add toppings to your pasta for an extra fee, including chicken, Italian sausage, and broccoli.

Food:

Great! As I said, the pasta comes out fast, but it's not clumpy or sticky and perfectly al dente. My favorite is the cheese tortellini with sun dried tomato pesto or spicy marinara. I only got the toppings once, but I didn't think it was worth it. The pasta is good enough on its own and ordering a topping only gets you 4-5 pieces of it. If you get a pasta other than the tortellini, you might want to consider a topping or a strong sauce so you don't get bored.

Price:

The sauces and toppings have different prices, but expect to pay about $6-$9. It doesn't look like a lot of pasta in that to-go container, but it fills you up quick. They also have different sized containers to fit your appetite.

Overall:

8/10. Great for a quick bite when walking by or when you just don't have the energy to cook.