Samantha Impaglia 
There’s nothing more comforting than a bowl of steaming hot pasta. Pasta is a staple of Italian cuisine, and here in New Jersey, there are so many amazing dishes one can find — from the classic to the creative. North Jersey has such a wide range of restaurants to choose from, so it might be hard to find just the right place. Luckily, we’ve done the research for you and rounded up a list of some of the best pasta spots in Essex County. Read on to see where to find best pasta spots in the Essex County area.
ARTIE’S | 15 Newark Way, Maplewood
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Formerly Arturo’s, this spot relocated + rebranded to an all-day Italian eatery, with the same delicious flavors as its predecessor. In addition to being known for pizza (which is also 100% worth trying), the menu includes an incredible pasta selection. There are simpler dishes like daily fresh pastas, which are homemade and rotate by the season. The Cinghiale is made with wild boar ragu bianco and mushrooms, and the Orecchiette Piccante includes spicy tomato sauce, herbed breadcrumbs, and ricotta.
Bucco | 61 Washington Street, Bloomfield
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Bucco is a simple Italian establishment with rustic vibes. It has a robust pasta menu that will leave anyone satisfied, and it’s previously included a Sunday special of “Grandma’s Sunday Gravy” served over rotini. The Stuffed Rigatoni Pasta is a favorite among customers, and other dishes that stand out include Spaghetti Bucco, which has asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes, long hot peppers, garlic and oil, parmesan, and provolone cheese.
Cafe Giotto | 42 Church Street, Montclair
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Cafe Giotto’s pasta is house made along with the rest of their specialty Italian products. The chic design makes it a picture-perfect spot, going along with the upscale menu. Cavatelli, gnocchi, spaghetti, and tagliatelle can be enjoyed four ways – with pomodoro, pesto, agile e olio, or bolognese – and there are several specialty pastas. Specialty pasta include the Lasagna Bolognese and Vegetable Lasagna, but the top-rated Truffle Tortelloni it also worth a try.
Read More: Your Ultimate Guide to Outdoor Dining in Montclair
Gioia Mia | 331 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
Located in the former Fascino’s space, this spot is a contemporary American restaurant by Chef Logan Ramirez and Manager Mary Cumella, who were part of the Fascino team. The menu draws influence from various types of cuisine, but all the pastas are made in-house using flours imported from Italy. Some standout items from the menu include the Ricotta Gnocchi and the Squid Ink pasta.
Laboratorio Kitchen | 615 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
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Healthy, locally sourced ingredients are the focus of Laboratorio Kitchen’s dishes. As an upscale dining experience, the pasta is more gourmet than others. Along with the its popular house-made ravioli appetizer, the Orecchiette pasta with Italian sausage, broccoli rabe, garlic, olive oil, and light tomato is another must-try.
La Rocca Osteria | 23 Midland Avenue, Montclair
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As a chic and simple Italian spot, La Rocca Osteria has many pasta dishes, as well as specials. The Tagliolini Seafood Pasta with lobster, crabmeat, and shrimp in a light cherry tomato sauce is a hearty, popular plate, and a house-made lasagna sits next to it on the specials. More of the robust options include Linguine Vongole with manila clams, garlic, and parsley; Tagliatelle Bolognese; and gnocchi with La Rocca tomato sauce and smoked provolone.
Luigino’s Parmigiana | 173 Glenridge Avenue
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Luigino’s Parmigiana is a “funky traditional” spot that brings a taste of the Amalfi Coast to MTC. The menu boasts traditional, Southern Italian dishes with a modern twist, plus an open kitchen “dispensa” concept, which isn’t what it sounds like (think: cheese board station). A standout item is the truffle gnocchi stuffed with cheese and mushrooms, but other notable pastas include classics like Carbonara and Cacio e Pepe.
Matthew’s Italian Restaurant | 1131 Bloomfield Avenue, Clifton
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Matthew’s Italian Restaurant is about as classic Italian as it gets. It is a clean, sophisticated space that has become quite popular in its 12-year existence. The Rigatoni Vodka there never fails with its many rave reviews, and the rest of the pasta selection focuses on simple but effective dishes. What really intrigues customers is the “Sunday Sauce” that’s only available on that day; including slow-simmered country-style ribs, braciole, spicy sausage, and meatballs served over fresh rigatoni with a side of ricotta and basil.
Pappardelle Ristorante | 77 Walnut Street, Montclair
There are so many pasta dishes to choose from at Pappardelle Ristorante, which can be easily identified by its red awning out front. There are four different plates of Pappardelle prepared in different ways, including the Chicken Tarantella with sautéed chicken, portobello mushrooms, prosciutto, and roasted peppers in a verde pesto sauce. From Fettuccine al Salmone to Lobster Ravioli, and more, Pappardelle has everyone covered when it comes to eating pasta.
Popolari | 1047 Broad Street, Bloomfield
Popolari is a bit different from traditional Italian places, offering an upbeat, retro pizzeria vibe. The Spicy Vodka Pasta comes highly recommended as a classic dish with a twist, along with the fried burrata caprese. Another one of the signature dishes is the Malfaldine e Fungi Truffel, served with homemade ribbon pasta, and sautéed mixed mushrooms in a porcini creme sauce. For someone that wants to enjoy one of these plates but is gluten-free, any of the pasta dishes can be made to accommodate.
Primavera Ristorante | 500 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange
Primavera of West Orange has a ton of pasta options as well. The large, open dining room gives off warm vibes in a comfortable area. Traditional dishes like Pasta Orecchiette are on the menu, as well as Lobster Ravioli, Linguini with mussels, and Four Cheese Ravioli. The Cavatelli Norma offers something that is not on every menu, consisting of homemade cavatelli, creamy ricotta cheese tomato basil sauce, diced eggplant, and melted fontina cheese.
See More: The Best Italian Restaurants in Hoboken: A Definitive List
Turtle + the Wolf | 622 Valley Road, Upper Montclair
Although there are only two pasta dishes here, they are worth a try. Turtle + the Wolf is an industrial-chic eatery with strong roots in Montclair, as the owner actually grew up in town. The two kinds of pasta offered include a Hand-Cut Pappardelle and Pork Sumo with roasted pork shoulder, as well as the squash Agnolotti with brown butter, which is seasonal.
pastaRAMEN | 6 S Fullerton Ave, Montclair
This isn’t your typical pasta spot — as it is both an Italian-Japanese spot located in Montclair. pastaRAMEN is the first Italian ramen restaurant created by James Beard nominated chef Robbie Felice. Some ramen dishes worth trying out are the Tonkotsu Porchetta, made of pork parmigiano, fennel, arugula, yuzu, + ajitama; and the Chicken Katsu, made of chicken parmigiano shoyu broth, caper, kikurage, burro, + ajitama. This spot blends together the essences of Italian-Japanese culture, getting a two-for-one food experience.
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