I hold my hand up to say, I have spent years being incredibly skeptic over buying pasta dishes out.
My reasoning? It often feels as if pasta is a simple dish that could be made at home.
If the sauce has a meat element, I might give in.
After all, there is a level of lasagna that I simply can not recreate. But cheese pasta, yeah, I feel I can make that.
But most days just off Market Square, I walk past a pasta restaurant: Pasta & Co.
It is one of those restaurants that makes its cheese sauce in a massive cheese wheel, a pasta trend which has been all over my FYP.
Additionally, the restaurant boasts a 10% student discount across all dishes. Then a ray of lunch deal including sandwiches, pasta and desserts. So it felt like a perfect place for an NTU student too tired for a Tesco meal deal to try out.
This is not your typical traditional italian.
Handmade traditional pasta yes, but traditional sauce, no.
A fusion.
I started with a Halloumi Sensation Fettuccini (£9.90) and the Garlic Ciabatta Bread with Chorizo (£3.50).
The Fettuccini sauce is created in the large cheese wheel previously mentioned, so you get to watch them make it on the counter.
Initially, I was drawn to the fried squeaky cheese central to this dish, but the star of the show was the cherry tomatoes.
Crispy skin encasing a sweet jammy inside that paired perfectly with the rich cheesy sauce.
I could barely see the top of the ciabatta as it was covered in small cut chorizo.
As it should be.
No skimping out on the meat, which you can often see at cheaper options.
Although, the bread could use more garlic flavour.
Saving the best until last; the Tiramisu (£6.50). Thick indulgent layers of cream, bursting out the sides and coffee soaked cake, In a pretty large portion.
Honestly, if you’re looking for a pick me up after uni, I recommend going for the sweet treat deal where you can get a dessert (Tiramisu) and a drink for £6.
If you are feeling adventurous you could also try the Milk Chocolate Pasta – pasta covered in milk chocolate sauce, banana, hazelnut and coconut flakes.
I would try again, especially if I had an hour to kill between classes.
