Fast food gets old about as quickly as it's cooked up. Despite the greasy charm of burgers, burritos and nuggets, we can only eat so many. But with the arrival of PastaBoxin Mary Brickell Village - quick and easy is getting a little more interesting.
This fast food Italian outpost allows eaters to choose their own pasta, sauce and toppings for a completely custom creation. This is the latest effort from the duo behind Elevation Burger, Magali and Stephane Vannier de Langre.
Read also:
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Carb seekers can get their pasta in a variety of shapes (and sizes), from farfalla and gemelli to penne and orrecchiete (all De Cecco brand). Sauces run the gamut from your standard alfredo and pomodoro to a four cheese with cream, aged cheddar, fontina, blue cheese and parmesan or a "country" with tomato, red wine, sausage and pork shoulder. Meat topping options like diced chicken, shrimp and, of course, meatballs, are also available.
There are also a few more exotic stuffed pasta options, like the raviolli Shitake with roasted Shitake mushrooms, truffle oil, ricotta and white cheddar. They also have seasonal soups, several salads and desserts like tiramisu, Napoleon tarte and croissants.
The duo hired Chef Frederic Joulin (formerly of Villa Mayfair) to concoct most of their recipes.
A concept popular in Europe, the made-to-order pasta bar opened their doors in Brickell at the end of October. "We wanted to be the first one to provide good quality pasta at an affordable price for the Brickell and downtown crowd. You cannot find sit-down or fast-casual restaurants downtown that provide great tasting pasta which are imported from Italy for less than $6 and be served in about 3 minutes," Stephane told Short Order.
Prices range from $5.75 for a Piccolo (small) to $9.25 for a Grande (large) pasta serving. Toppings and stuffed pastas cost extra.
For a few more days, New Times readers can enter to win 30 days of free pasta. One PastaBox meal per day for an entire month - 'cuz you can never have too much mac 'n cheese.
Hungry Miamians can order online, and they do deliver. Check out their website or Facebook page for details. And if you're the indecisive type who needs a little guidance, Stephane says his favorite option is the penne with Shitake mushroom sauce.
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