Pasta Up - Pasta and more — Restaurant in Catania

This restaurant caught our attention because it was right in the center, close to where we stayed, on a little square that forms part of a crossroads with four small piazzas. Sitting outside there was really pleasant, as you could watch people walking by and enjoy the city atmosphere. We didn’t go inside, but outside the vibe was very nice.

The service was friendly and attentive. Several staff members worked together, including a waiter, a lady bringing food, and someone clearing tables. We arrived early for dinner and were the only guests at first. Later, as we were finishing, more people started to arrive. Our dishes arrived quickly, in about ten minutes. The menu clearly listed portion sizes at 150 grams, which is helpful.

We ordered Pasta alla Norma with paccheri and Cacio e Pepe with spaghetti. The Norma was good, pasta al dente, eggplant very soft though in one large slice, and a bit little ricotta. The tomato sauce tasted like blended canned tomatoes and was slightly watery, but the dish overall was tasty. The Cacio e Pepe was also very good, slightly softer pasta than the Norma, but still al dente. The sauce thickened nicely when mixed, as the waiter suggested.

Overall the food was tasty, portions reasonable, prices fair, and the service pleasant. Since they recently opened, it shows promise, and I would give it four stars, with room for...

Response edit: we waited for 25 mins and no one came to take our order; while other guests who arrived after us were looked after. The staff seemed unbothered. Says enough about the place.

I’ve never encountered anything like this. It was meant to be our first dinner in Catania, but instead we left with a bitter taste.

We didn’t have a reservation, but a kind gentleman kindly offered us a table. The table was cleaned, and a waitress brought us water. She seemed to be responsible for our table, and we waited for her to take our order.

After about 15 minutes, we noticed she wasn’t busy, so we politely asked if we could place our order. She said yes, then walked away. Shortly after, we saw her standing between tables. She noticed me looking at her but continued to ignore us.

We waited another 10 minutes and saw guests who had arrived after us having their orders taken.

By then, we were tired and it was getting late, so we decided to leave. We went to the counter, paid for the water, and asked if something was wrong. She simply said no. We even asked another staff member at the counter, but he didn’t seem concerned either.

Can't comment on the food since we didn't...

Not my first choice in Catania if you’re looking for a good meal. The carbonara was quite disappointing — the pancetta was undercooked, leaving all the excess fat pooled at the bottom of the plate. Needless to say, that’s not something you want to eat, especially at dinner. The pasta was overly al dente, which is definitely a no for me. And let me assure you, after trying carbonara in more than 10 restaurants across Italy, this is not how it’s supposed to be done.

The lasagna was also far from great — so overcooked that it was hard to tell the difference between the meat and the pasta. It was drowned in béchamel sauce, which really didn’t work for me, and definitely not in line with what I’ve experienced elsewhere in Sicily.

The atmosphere and location were nice, and the noise level was typical for Italy — not too bad. Overall, I think a 3-star rating is fair considering everything, but purely for the food, I’d give it a 2. There are definitely other places in Catania where I found a better dining experience without compromising...