Several months ago, Will and I rode our bikes past Justa Pasta in NW Portland and bookmarked it for a future visit. The line was out the door and the guests were clearly happy, so we knew we had to try it for ourselves!

We finally made the time to go during a sunny (and surprisingly warm) winter day and regretted not trying this place earlier. I swear it felt like being transported to Italy!

The ambiance, the warm staff, the delicious (seriously) hand-made pasta and extensive (but not overwhelming) wine list made for an experience we won’t soon forget. It really felt like we escaped the hustle and bustle of city life and tucked ourselves into a secret pocket of Europe. And if there’s anything I love more than Europe, it’s pasta.

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Visiting Justa Pasta in NW Portland

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What we ordered: I ordered the garlic-chili pasta and Will ordered the Italian sausage lasagna. The lasagna was a clear winner, but the garlic-chili pasta hit the spot for me.

In fact, we enjoyed our meal so much, we returned three times that same month. We’ve invited several friends to join us and it’s always such a blast — we spend 3+ hours here because everything about the environment begs you to stay a while and enjoy the meal (and life, in general).

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Justa Pasta Portland

• Hours: Lunch from 11:30 – 3pm, dinner 4:30 – 8:30
• Address: 1326 NW 19th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
• Outdoor seating: Yes, lovely covered pergola, heated patio
• Cost: $11 – $30 per dish, $10 – $12 for glass of wine
• Ambiance: Casual Italian vibe, relaxed feel, family-friendly

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Until next time,

Antonina