Basta Pasta, located in Fallston, didn’t seem too special from its outward appearance, but walking into the Italian restaurant’s mellow romantic atmosphere was a delightful surprise.
Arriving at 4 p.m., I entered the empty restaurant hoping that the quality of the food was not the reason for the lack of diners. Of course I was seated quickly and given a menu filled with a wide variety of choices. This was a pleasant surprise considering that most Italian restaurants are limited to pastas, pizzas, and breads. The menu included an array of veal, steaks, seafood, and pizza.
For weeks I’ve been craving cheese ravioli so although I was tempted by the other delicious looking choices, I went with ravioli. I ordered and sat back to enjoy the drinks, breadsticks, and salad. The breadsticks were warm and well-seasoned, and the fresh and crisp salad was even better. As I waited for the entrée, I admired the nicely decorated restaurant. Popular music played quietly and glossed pottery pieces showing Italian scenes sat atop the walls that separated the booths. The outside of the restaurant was definitely deceiving, giving the illusion that the inside was smaller than it was. Inside, tables and booths filled the dining area and a bar sat off to one side of the restaurant.
The cheese ravioli, on a scale of one to 10, was a seven. It wasn’t cold, but the temperature wasn’t quite right. The cheese was a tad grainy but overall smooth, and the ravioli itself was too chewy. Regardless, it was good overall. I also sampled the lasagna, which was wonderful. It was sweet but not sugary and the cheese had the perfect gooey consistency.
Earlier in the evening I had noticed a rotating shelf of desserts in the back of the restaurant. The desserts ranged from cheesecakes to rich chocolate cakes. I ordered a slice of strawberry shortcake, in which the strawberries tasted fresh, not soggy from being soaked in strawberry sauce. The cheesecake was rich and not to sweet so that it balanced with the strawberries perfectly.
Aside from the delicious food, the service of the restaurant is what will keep me coming back for more. My waitress was quick with delivering the food but I’m also taking into account the fact that there were only a few diners. Her genuine smile stayed glued to her face for the entire meal. She as well as the other waiters were personable and joked with the customers. It’s not that often that someone can be genuinely happy while grating cheese onto your salad.
Basta Pasta, located on 2745 Fallston Road, provided a satisfactory dining experience. The menu covered many bases and the food was up to par with good prices.
Chioma Iheoma is an A&E editor for The Patriot and JCpatriot.com