Very reasonable prices, excellent food across the board, very good service, low noise decibel so you can easily talk, PASTA is a dream restaurant which should serve as a model to others in Miami. I’ll even go so far as to say it has the best pasta in Miami. And on top of all this, one of the dishes will be on my year’s best list.

PASTA is the work of Juan Manuel Umbert and Janice Buraschi, a husband and wife team from Lima, Peru who have a hit restaurant there and this is their first stateside venture. It’s not a large space, though feels spacious and airy – 2400 square feet and accommodates 70 guest with table and bar seating.They describe the cuisine as tried and true recipes that pay homage to classic Italian cuisine blended with innovative techniques and Peruvian influences.

The affordably priced menu features innovative starters and desserts that reflect the chefs’ heritage and global experiences. Everything is house made using quality ingredients from the sourdough bread and pasta to all the sauces and desserts. It’s a two page menu with starters, pasta, mains, desserts and beverages. If there are people in your party who aren’t pasta lovers, there is also beef milanesa for two and they can enjoy meat and fish appetizers.

The pasta is cooked on the spot in the open kitchen. Be sure to sit at the bar so you can see the care with which the chefs make the pasta.

We started with the romaine salad which had no fewer than 20 ingredients ranging from pepperoncino sott’olio and ParmigianoReggiano to pangrattato (Peruvian style breadcrumbs). It was similar to a Caesar salad, but much tastier and with a welcome crunch. Mr. W had the calamari fritti which tasted very fresh and had a tartar sauce he would have bought had they sold it. They also had the Peruvian style breading making for super crispiness.

We tried three pastas, each wonderful. My pick, as I love anchovies was the taglierini with anchovies, peperoncino, garlic and pangrattato. It didn’t disappoint. Mr. W first had the pici with marjoram, crispy garlic and Parmigiano Reggiano that was creamy and melted in your mouth. It will be one of my best dishes of the year.

Then we went on to the Peruvian inspired pasta, Peruvian corn cappellacci made with sweet corn, filled with  Pecorino Romano. I never saw this dish on the menu anywhere else, but it should sure be. You tasted the corn and the sauce was tasty and delicate.

For dessert we had a favorite gelato from Chile and Peru, Cherimoya that was rich and creamy and the unusual torta di pistachio di bronte. Next time, and for sure we’ll be back, we’ll try the housemade stracciatella with sourdough bread, the taglierini with black truffle and Parmigiano Reggiano (8 grams of shaved truffle) and the pappardelle with 15 hour braised beef cheek ragu.

The décor is a mix of rustic, modern and minimalistic elements with brick, metal and wood.

The beverage offerings include wine (many Italian varieties) and wine based cocktails as well as  mocktails. A glass starts at $15 (5 ounce pour) and bottles starting at $60. Cocktails are $16. There are also selections of digestivos.

There’s also a pasta making class hosted by PASTA’s head Chef Luis Jose. The class will have guests roll up their sleeves for a hands-on experience where they will learn the secrets behind creating perfect pasta—from mixing and kneading to shaping and saucing.  After class, they will sit and enjoy their creations. Individual tickets are priced at $115.75pp+, 2-packs are $206+ for two guests, and 4-packs are $386.50+ for three guests.  Tickets include one welcome cocktail per guest, water, pasta as part of the pasta making class, appetizer, and dessert.

Reservations:  HERE

What’s the best pasta in Miami cost? Dinner for two with one drink each, one starter which can be shared, one pasta each and dessert will run about $125 – $130 plus 20% gratuity.

PASTA is located at 124 NW 28^th Street. It’s open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturdays from 1:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Reservations are available on OpenTable. Street parking nearby.