Pasta & Co. — Restaurant in Msida

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ When your nonna would actually approve of the carbonara 🍝

Right, let's talk about Pasta & Co. - the place that's making me question every other "Italian" joint I've ever visited. This isn't your average tourist trap slinging overpriced spaghetti; this is the real deal, and your wallet will feel it (but your soul will thank you).

The moment you walk in, you're hit with that perfect blend of garlic, basil, and what I can only describe as "Italian grandmother's kitchen magic." The staff clearly know their stuff - they'll happily chat about which wine pairs with your ragu without making you feel like a complete amateur.

Yes, it's pricier than your local chain restaurant, but here's the thing: the portions are generous, the ingredients taste like they were personally blessed by someone's nonna, and the pasta has that perfect al dente bite that makes you wonder why you ever settled for mushy noodles elsewhere.

Pro tip: Book ahead for Friday evenings unless you fancy standing around looking longingly at other people's tiramisu. Trust me, it's worth the...

We were there for dinner. Ordered some pasta dish and grilled salmon as special. The waitress also offered us bruschetta, which we accepted but never came.

While my girlfriend's pasta seemed all fine, my grilled salmon was raw on the inside and slightly cold. Defiantly not cooked/grilled properly. The side dishes (potatoes and salad were fine). When I asked the waiter to check on it, we were offered a free desert which we declined. After we asked for the bill they tried to charge us for the salmon. The bruschetta didn't show up on the bill, so the waitress seemed to have forgotten about it, which probably was due to the full restaurant. Thank god they took the salmon off the bill, after we've complained about it.

For the ambience, the restaurant itself looked and felt nice, though. Only thing that bothered was, that the music kept stopping and switched quite often. That was irritating.

After this experience we are not going to come...

If you ever find yourself in Ta’ Xbiex and your heart is whispering “pasta,” please do yourself a favour and walk straight into Pasta & Co. ❤️

I went with a friend, not expecting much, just a quick bite, maybe a simple pasta dish. But what we got was something else. The carbonara was perfectly creamy without being heavy, and the lasagne… oh wow, that lasagne felt like a warm hug in food form. You know that kind of bite that makes you stop talking mid-sentence just to savour it? Exactly that 🍝

And then there were the people. The waiters were so friendly, so effortlessly kind , it didn’t feel like “service,” it felt like being looked after. The whole vibe is relaxed but full of care, the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled upon something special.

I’ll be back - not because I have to, but because I want to. There’s something about this place that just stays with you, and I mean that in...