If you love Italian food, you're in for a treat, as
October 17 is National Pasta Day. Usually made with just flour and water, pasta
can be combined with limitless ingredients and sauces to create an infinite
number of dishes. According to Taste
Atlas, some of the most popular pasta dishes in America are macaroni and
cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, and baked ziti. There are, however,
over 350 different types of pasta that vary by name, shape, and the region of
the world they come from. If you feel like you're missing out on all the
assortments of pasta you may not have tried yet, here is a list of five spots
where you can experience pasta that you know and love or discover a new
favorite.
Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa serves a taste of Italy
within the French Quarter through its Italian dishes. The inside interior is
filled with colorful portraits of Mona Lisa on the walls, many created by the
very same patrons who eat there. Located a block away from Bourbon Street, Mona
Lisa has supplied the city with delicious pasta for over 35 years. The
restaurant offers a wide spread of Italian-American cuisine, from pizza and
calzones to bruschetta and traditional garlic bread. Their entrees also include
a variety of pastas, such as New Orleans-style Mardi Gras pasta with shrimp and
andouille sausage, or your traditional pasta primavera, lasagna, linguini with
baby clams, and many more. You will be more than happy to get your pasta fill
in this fun and intimate environment. 1212 Royal St., (504) 522-6746, monalisaneworleans.com
Giorlando's
For over 40 years, Giorlando's
has been a renowned Italian favorite in Metairie that provides customers with delicious
Italian recipes that have spanned generations. Their recipes have been passed
down through their family and are made fresh daily from scratch. Giorlando's
has been family-owned and -operated since 1972, with generations ensuring that
their menu is innovate yet also showcases your favorite Italian dishes. They
offer a wide scope of options, including pasta meals such as old-fashioned
meatballs and spaghetti, shrimp or crawfish ravioli, grilled chicken tomato
basil pasta, and other tasty pasta plates. You can enjoy both great food and a casual
atmosphere at Giorlando's, and they welcome everyone to dine in their family-oriented
establishment. 741 Bonnabel Blvd.,
Metairie, (504) 835-8593, giorlandos.com
Arabella
Casa Di Pasta
Opened
in 2014, Arabella Casa Di Pasta provides
patrons with fresh handmade pastas with delicious sauces and healthy proteins.
From locally sourced food and produce to organic chicken and grass-fed beef,
clean eating has never been tastier. Their build-your-own pasta bowls in their
vibrant interior of pop culture and comics create a unique and flavorful
experience unlike any other. Taste their signature pasta dishes, such as "The Spaghettisburg
Address," or classic spaghetti and meatballs; or"The Chewbroccoli" with fusilli
pasta, funghi sauce, and broccoli. Or create your own pasta bowl with the
pasta, sauce, and add-on sides of your choosing, and you can even get a whole "take-n-bake"
lasagna to bake in the comfort of your own home. 2258 St. Claude Ave., (504) 533-9223, arabellanola.com
Rizzuto's
Ristorante & Chop House
Rizzuto's mission has been to
ensure that each guest leaves as family, by providing authentic cuisine that
distinguishes their dishes from the rest. Their menu invites you to indulge
your senses through the Rizzuto family's culinary tradition of Italian dishes
that began in Sicily. You can experience Italian classics, such as chicken marsala
with pasta agliolio or chicken parmesan with pasta marinara. Pasta-lovers can
enjoy other pasta options, such as their clam pasta; Bolognese; fra diavolo
with rigatoni; seafood lasagna with shrimp, crawfish, and crab; and more
delicious dishes. You can also get your pasta for delivery, for a nice Italian
meal brought straight to your door. 6262
Fleur de Lis Dr., (504) 300-1804, rizzutosristorante.com
Happy Italian Pizzeria
Happy
Italian emphasizes fresh ingredients to provide guests with tasty
Italian-inspired dishes. This pizzeria has fresh and locally sourced
ingredients to make delectable pizzas, paninis, calzones, and pastas. With far
more than just pizza, their menu offers a wide range of made-from-scratch
dishes to satisfy your craving for appetizing Italian food. You can get your
fill of pasta entrée items, such as baked ziti, classic linguine, wild mushroom
ravioli, and fettuccine alfredo, and all their pasta dishes are chock full of flavorful
ingredients. 7105 Jefferson Hwy.,
Harahan, (504) 305-4666, happyitalian.com
