Pasta Connection

Pasta Connection
1902 Harbor Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 646-3484
http://www.pastaconnection.net/

Friday Dinner

Despite its name, Pasta Connection in Costa Mesa serves up quite a few dishes. The menu includes a very extensive list of pasta, including some shapes and styles that I had never heard of before. The restaurant is casual, but the dim lighting and view of the activity in the streets (the intersection of Harbor Blvd and 19th Street) make for a good atmosphere. Once seated, you are quickly greeted with soft bread with a nice crispy crust. What I particularly love is the chimichurri sauce that is included as a topping. Chimichurri is a combination of herbs ground up with oil that create an excellent topping for both bread and poultry. While you can purchase this sauce at markets like Trader Joe's, the version that you find at Pasta Connection is definitely better.

Having eaten here on several occasions, I have been able to sample quite a few dishes. The spinach ravioli , which is topped a combination of marinara and a cream sauce is absolutely wonderful. The combination of sauces with the spinach filling makes for a perfect flavor. Aside from the traditional pasta dishes, you will also find a delicious polenta, which has a meat sauce topping and delicious sausage on the side.

Click Here for a Pasta Connection Coupon.

The meet selections include two steaks made with Argentinian Beef. While I have been unable to determine what makes this beef so special, just about everyone I asked said that it was particularly flavorful. Therefore, something special is clearly going on there.

If you are in the mood for a sandwich, I recommend the pastrami. It is juicy, warm, and excellent. I have sampled the pastrami on at least 5 occasions, and each time it was excellent. The sandwich contains nothing more than bread, pickles, and a side of mustard, and that is all it needs.

The wine list offers something for everyone, but the Chianti is a particularly good value.

Pasta Connection is great for a casual lunch or dinner. The breakfast selection is also quite popular, but I do not find it to be their specialty.

Until next time, dine on...