mmm-yoso!!! The Blog. About food. Written by some friends, mostly Kirk, sometimes ed (from Yuma) and sometime Cathy. Yet another sometime day.
Hi. I was driving along Miramar Road and saw a sign at the Taco Bell/KFC parking lot and drove to the back.
So I stopped, walked in, ordered and paid. The Mister met me for dinner.
Neat, clean, efficient. You choose a type of pasta ( 6 shapes, or whole wheat for $1 more or tortellini for $1.50 more), a sauce( alfredo, pesto, marinara, vodka, mushroom tomato, sundried tomato, tequila lime cream or Romescu), a meat (chicken, shrimp, fish or meatball) and 2 veggie toppings (mushrooms, zucchini, tri colored bell peppers, broccoli, corn, peas, garlic, jalapeño, tomato, onion,spinach, beets or carrot). Then all is mixed and heated through. Standard price is $5.95. There are also pizzas and salads (also $5.95, with the larger pizza being $10.95). The pizza and salads are pretty much combinations of the above ingredients, with the addition of blackened tofu and various cheeses...there are a variety of salad dressings.
The website shows this is the only location, but seems it is trying to franchise out. I like the concept. Three televisions, each on a different channel, free wifi. www.pastalini.net
I ordered a small side salad ($1.99), which comes with mixed spring greens, tomatoes and onions and a vinaigrette, but I asked for no onions and was told I could get any other topping, so I chose olives. This was quite a large, filling salad. Of course, I ate all the olives, since The Mister won't. But I would have eaten all of the onions also, and I know he would have mentioned the onion juice residue on the lettuce...
Oh. The salad came with these nifty, fresh baked, garlicy bread knots.
The Mister and I used to eat baked pastas all the time. When I saw it was offered, I *had to* order it. ($6.49)
Al dente rigatoni with a fresh marinara, topped with ricotta and mozzarella and baked. *Really* good.
We shared this. All the pastas come in this size pan with a variety of sauces, meats, salmon or pomegranate meatballs or blackened tofu. Quite enough food.
Really. We finished it.
But, you know, I also ordered a small (10 inch) goat cheese and olive pizza ($5.95)...
Fresh, thin crust. Mozzarella. Goat Cheese. Olives. Olive oil. Wonderful.
We will go back to try the other items on the menu.
PASTALINI 7190 Miramar Road San Diego 92121
Across from the West gate Entrance to MCAS Miramar. Behind the Taco Bell/KFC
Sounds like an interesting place to try for lunch. I used to go to a place similar in concept when I lived in the Bay Area. One of my favorite things to do was to get a combo sauce, half alfredo and have marinara. Mix those together and get a creamy tomato, yum!
Posted by: Carol | Wednesday, 02 September 2009 at 08:03 AM
I've heard about this place from a couple of people and have been meaning to check it out. The one time I did try, it was closed. I'll need to make a bigger effort to try this place.
Posted by: kirbie | Wednesday, 02 September 2009 at 09:29 AM
Great idea, Carol. I would think someone would have thought of this concept before...even for making meals at home...
Hi kirbie- I just happened to see the signs. I had heard of it a long while ago but never even wrote it down. It is very good quality.
Posted by: Cathy | Wednesday, 02 September 2009 at 08:15 PM
Cathy, funny you mentioned that because when I got my first place, long long time ago (did I say long?), I threw my first dinner party, which was a pasta party! I made 4 different types of pasta and three different sauces, some with meat. And guests would choose what they want on their pasta. Never thought of that becoming a restaurant idea!
Posted by: Carol | Thursday, 03 September 2009 at 08:32 AM
Wow, that rigatoni looks good right now...Is this place across the street from the Super Buffet restaurant?
Posted by: Tammy | Friday, 04 September 2009 at 10:04 PM
Hi Tammy. No, it's actually a few blocks East from Super Buffet-on that North side, right across from the MCAS Miramar Westernmost Gate entrance. It's a light and you'll see the Taco Bell/KFC place from the street. Do stop in. The food is great.
Posted by: Cathy | Saturday, 05 September 2009 at 04:28 PM