Etto Pasta Bar
Etto Pasta Bar is one of the best places to grab a meal in Tin City. This casual Italian eatery serves up some really delicious pasta. On top of that, they also run an Italian market next door where you can purchase their pasta (both fresh and dry) as well as sauces, makings for pizza, cheese/charcuterie and a variety of other Italian goodies. They have some really nice gift boxes, too. I feel lucky to have been the beneficiary of one.
We visited there for the first time not too long after they opened and weren’t disappointed. Reviews are consistently positive and they are loved by locals. Being in Tin City, it makes for a great stop between or before wine tastings.
Etto has both indoor and outdoor seating, in case you want to bring along a furry friend.
In addition to their menu with regular dishes and some seasonal options, they also have a variety of quick options to choose from at the counter in the front.
Previously, we’ve enjoyed their bolognese pasta and lasagna. This time we tried some new items. We shared their caesar salad, I got the carciofo e olio, and my dining partner got a veggie panini from the counter.
Etto Caesar - romaine heart, fried brussel sprouts, parmesan, anchovies, fried capers, olive oil, Chef’s dressing, balsamic reduction
Seasonal: Carciofo e Olio - roasted artichoke and lemon EVOO, garlic chili, parsley, and parmesan, Spaghetti
Veggie Panini - Roasted zucchini, mushrooms, onions, and eggplant with a white bean truffle spread. Served with house made potato chips
The brussels sprouts on the casear salad were cooked to a perfect charred crispness without tasting burnt and were a delightful addition to a pretty classic preparation. It was also a solid balsamic reduction, and it was pleasant on the salad and with the brussels sprouts, though I could have also done without it. Overall very happy with this.
For our main dishes, my dining partner said he enjoyed his panini. The potato chips were also a pleasant surprise. He asked the server and confirmed they were house-made, which was pretty impressive with how thing and delicate they were. Normally house potato chips are thick, which can make them less enjoyable and lends toward a feeling of staleness for me. I was also really pleased with my selection. There was a healthy amount of toppings mixed into the pasta. I thought the artichokes were perfect with the rest of the ingredients and made this a really lovely and fresh spring pasta dish that I would definitely consider getting again if available.
