We’ve all been to those small, hold-in-the-wall Italian restaurants that are part of a strip mall, with dry, crumbly pizza and spaghetti made with clumpy, canned tomato sauce. Ew. The restaurant I’m going to discuss puts all subpar Italian restaurants to shame.
La Pasta is a delicious Italian restaurant that is another one of my favorite restaurants to visit in Taipei! Staying true to my tendency to order the same dish at all of my favorite eateries, I always order the corn soup, garlic bread, and seafood pasta. But what, I hear you asking, makes these particular dishes at La Pasta so special?
First of all, the garlic bread at La Pasta is almost too delicious for words, and trust me, I’ve eaten my share of garlic bread. This is nothing like that oven bake stuff you buy in the freezer aisle at the grocery store. First of all, it’s ALWAYS the perfect texture- warm and crispy, but not too hard or stale, whether you sit-in or get it to go. I have a theory that there’s some sort of food magic involved that makes it mouthwatering no matter what. It’s always the perfect balance of flavoring and texture. The center is buttery and aromatic, and the crust is just crispy enough for you to get that satisfying crunch when you bite into it.
As a dairy lover, the creamy corn soup is pretty much everything I could ever ask for in a dairy- based soup. The corn soup is buttery and smooth, with tiny, sweet bites of corn that punctuate each mouthful of savory soup. The soup isn’t so rich that it’s nauseating to eat; it’s still clear enough to sip without feeling like you’re just eating room-temperature butter or drinking cheese fondue. If you prefer something a little more refreshing, another classic appetizer includes fruit salad, which is made with a drizzle of sweet sauce over chunks of fresh watermelon, kiwi and apples. If you’re a little more adventurous, try the escargot! The snails are broiled in an oven with a layer of cheese baked over them, and make for a hot and juicy appetizer!
Now, for the main courses! My favorite, the seafood pasta, consists of spaghetti noodles cooked with a rich sauce infused with the flavors of fresh seafood, which include shrimp and mussels.The dish is so velvety smooth and marries the flavors and textures incredibly well together. I love how the spaghetti is alway perfectly al dente, not super soft or hard but just the right amount of bite to be super addicting. Likewise, the ham and penne dish incorporates a creamy sauce with ham and pasta in a rich, satisfying blend.The other pasta options are great, too!
For a lighter meal, I recommend the seafood tomato pasta-the light sauce is just the right amount of tart and the sour chunks of tomato swimming in it balance out the dish perfectly. If that’s too sour for you, shrimp and vermicelli dish is the way to go! No flavor stands out too aggressively in the pasta, but a slight undertone of shrimp tossed with the chewy vermicelli makes for a delectable meal just the same! If you want to stick with the classics, there’s always the staple of every Italian restaurant- pizza! Hot, melted cheese and slices of cherry tomato cover the top of each slice, which are all garnished with fresh basil leaves.
Each person is served a small piece of cake for dessert, which may seem to be a boring way to round off the meal, but I think it’s genius. Since most of the prior dishes are so flavorful and savory, the lightly sweetened and fluffy cake is a great palate cleanser. A small cup of black coffee and a cookie are also a great way to end the meal.
I always stick with the tried-and-true dishes when I visit La Pasta, but if you visit, try some different dishes along with the ones I recommended- I’m sure it won’t disappoint! If I change up my order sometime, I’ll make sure to update my post!
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