Pastaio Handmade Pasta•Pizza — Restaurant in Port Saint Lucie

Please, read this review before you visit this restaurant !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This happened 01/28/2025 Time: 8:09 pm Party of 5 Server: A ( first initial) I won’t write the waiter name bc I am much better than him.

Please check your bill very carefully when you visit this restaurant.

Let me start by saying that this was the third time I visited this restaurant this month. I actually recommend this restaurant to my patients and staff.

This time I brought my parents and in laws to enjoy some family dinner, but it ended up being the opposite when I was called basically a liar on my face by one of the waiters ( male) .

I am writing this review because I already called the restaurant and talked to the person in charge.

First, I had to ask another waiter for our bread, which we got 30 minutes after we got to the table. Second, I had to call our waiter to order our food. Third, food was ordered 30 minutes after we were done with the appetizer . Fourth, food was not served at the same time, we got three dishes and then 10 minutes later we got the two remaining. Fifth, my dad asked for a second beer and the waiter completely forgot and then brought the beer 30 minutes later.

Even though, everything I wrote above is unacceptable, I do understand that situations like this can happens and I didn’t complain at all.

But,

Sixth, When I got the bill, I realized I was charged with a salad that I didn’t order at all, and three beers, when we only ordered two.

I kindly called the waiter and asked him to please remove the salad and the extra beer from my bill, but he refused to remove the extra beer, stating that my dad had 3 beers.My whole family genuinely told him that it was only two beers.

I was in shocked and very sad, they can easily check the cameras. My family asked me to please avoid any argument with the waiter and I paid the extra beer.

I called the restaurant and talked to the person in charge. I don’t want any free appetizers, or free food from this restaurant. I just want that this situation doesn’t happen to anybody else.

Please check your bills and don’t let the waiter to take your empty beers or drinks until they bring your bill at the end, so you can use it as evidence.

What it was supposed to be a nice family dinner ended up as a very...

My wife and I have been coming to eat and done take out at this location for about a year. I’ve spoken highly about Pastaio Tradition to anyone looking for Italian style food. Being born in Naples, Italy, and having a huge Italian Restaurant in Brooklyn, NY for many years, the search for decent Italian food in FL is extremely difficult. Today, my wife and I stopped in for lunch and I was tremendously disappointed. For starters, PLEASE fix your side door. You have patrons sitting there. It is LOUD and ANNOYING every second it opens and slams shut, the table shakes, and my time at the restaurant just felt stressful to the point where we boxed up our food and left. Secondly, it’s clear to me that the ingredients have been changed recently. The tomato sauce was subpar in comparison to recent visits. The most acidic sauce I’ve ever had to date at Pastaio. My instincts tell me that they’re cooking the tomato sauce for the pizza beforehand, which is a no no. Regardless, the person in charge should be taste testing the sauce and if they can’t realize that it’s acidic, they’re not qualified to run the pizza station. Thirdly, what happened to the crust? It used to be nice, light and airy. This crust was tough. It doesn’t help that the dough was left out with no lid. Another pizza no no. Lastly, and this is what really prompted me to write this review. The kitchen staff was openly vaping while handling food. Besides it being absolutely disgusting, that’s a MAJOR health violation.

If I am the owner, I would be closing down for a day and having my entire staff in for a sit down to reset. The kitchen staff member, should be fired on the spot. Sorry.

It’s clear the owner sees the place full and the money rolling in and will not do a thing. Complacency is a restaurant and life killer.

It is an absolute pity and shame because I really liked this place for what it is.

I will not be returning to this location without the owner reaching out and meeting me face to...

I just did a detailed, written review but forgot to include the following (oops...). This was my first visit to Pastaio, and only two of us went out for dinner, so I'm limited in offering first-hand recommendations. We chose Pastaio as our dining destination based on a referral from a neighbor. I recommend you're hungry when you go because they most definitely don't skimp on portioning. The menu selections can please just about any palette, including your choice of before-dinner "apertivo" such as Prosecco, various mixed drinks, wine, specialty cocktails with an "Italian flare", after-dinner "digestivo", Espresso, Cappuccino, and non-alcoholic beverages. We started by sharing an appetizer, "Mussels", sauteed with garlic, in white wine. It's listed under "Small Plates", but couldn't be more the contrary, WOW! I'm glad we shared it because the portion was big enough to be an entrée. The bread was awesome, and just enough fresh garlic and butter, nicely warmed and sprinkled with just the right amount of seasoning. As for my entrée, "Pappardelle with Pesto", and couldn't help but add shrimp. Delicious! My friend had "Fusilli with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage", (not the one I mentioned beforehand, I called him and asked), and he was delighted. His gluten-free diet was accommodated without having to analyze, substitute or omit a thing. The same is true for the vegans, vegetarians, and low-carb folks out there. Just "Google" the menu. To top off the "untoppable", all the pasta is homemade! Very happy with our choice of restaurant that evening, the food we were served, the nice Cabernet, the double-shot Espresso, the atmosphere, and our Server who was very friendly and knew her "stuff", and lastly, the prices are surprisingly reasonable. It's a gem of a restaurant and I'll be back next visit, no...