Pastiamo Pasta bar and Cafe’ — Restaurant in Princeton

Run don't walk to Pastiamo!! Incredible dining experience at Pastiamo Pasta Bar & Cafe in Princeton!! The ambiance, decor, and intimate setting was perfect to have a really delicious and enjoyable family dinner. The chef patron, Francesca is from Genoa and has curated the perfect menu to showcase her cultural heritage and roots. All of which quite literally transported us to Genoa, Italy so that we could also experience the depth of flavors of her hometown. We were greeted so warmly by the patron chef's daughter, Sarah, who was so lovely and thoughtfully made sure to give us the most perfect dining experience for us. She very thoughtfully served us warm and probably one of the best focaccia breads I have ever tasted before. This focaccia is nothing short of exceptional. Served warm, it’s beautifully flaky on the outside with just the right amount of golden crispness. The crumb is airy yet tender, and pure perfection making every bite feel comforting and indulgent, served the most incredible marinara sauce. The kind of sauce your nonna makes on a Sunday, San Marzano tomatoes always, and simmered into perfection. Each piece carries a rich, savory flavor with a delicate balance of olive oil and subtle seasoning, making it irresistibly delicious on its own. The salads were next level in flavor and presentation-highly recommend the arugula pear, gorgonzola, and the most perfect lightly candied walnuts with balsamic vinaigrette. The pastas were all so noteworthy-the gnocchi pesto, the stuffed truffle ricotta ravioli with walnut sauce (a traditional dish from Liguria made with milk, bread, garlic, and marjoram and EVO). And I always believe to end every night on a sweet note-the housemade cookies were divine, but the tiramisu? SUBLIME. Sarah told us it's her nonna's own recipe, so we just knew it was going to be incredible. No notes-just pure bliss and indulgence. Incredible dinner from the food to the ambiance to our server, Sarah. So much love and joy to this wonderful family italian restaurant. We will be back and send all of our...

My partner and I had dinner at Pastiamo in Princeton, and we were seriously impressed. The entire experience — from food to service to atmosphere — was warm, cozy, and genuinely satisfying. For two entrées, an appetizer, soft drinks, and two desserts, the total came to around $95, which felt incredibly fair considering the quality.

The food? Outstanding. We started with a burrata platter that came with prosciutto, a sweet apricot jam, and what seemed to be seared eggplant strips seasoned with red pepper flakes and possibly balsamic — smoky, savory, and delicious. The gluten-free focaccia they offered was easily some of the best we’ve ever had — slightly tangy, like a mild sourdough, and perfectly soft.

My girlfriend had gluten-free gnocchi with carbonara, and though she usually doesn’t like carbonara, this version won her over. Rich, creamy, and balanced. The guanciale was a bold choice — maybe a bit strong — but overall the dish worked. I had the lobster ravioli with pesto, and it was garlicky, buttery, and just the right texture — silky but with substance.

Now, the desserts. This is where Pastiamo really surprised us. I ordered a buckwheat tart with raspberry jam and sprinkled pecans — and I can’t stress this enough: it was incredible. Gluten-free desserts often end up dry or bland, but this one had moisture, flavor, and a texture that reminded me of those old Applebee’s blondies (in the best way). Sweet from the jam, slightly nutty from the pecans, and soft all the way through. And my girlfriend, who normally avoids buckwheat like the plague, kept sneaking bites. She had the vanilla affogato, which was simple, classic, and exactly what you’d want it to be.

All in all, Pastiamo is the kind of place you tell friends about — a charming little restaurant with creative dishes, solid gluten-free options, and a great atmosphere. We’ll...

My parents and I went to pastiamo late January. I had gone with a friend previously and thought we could try it out. Owner was really nice. Wait service was horrible twice. The first time I went I had to keep getting up to get a waiter. Same thing when I came with a family. The waiter the second time didn’t even speak English. He messed up our order, and the restaurant had run out of bread. We had to wait 20 minutes for water before we went back again to ask for it. Food was cold by the time they arrived. All in all, terrible service. Food was mediocre at best. Will not come back.

Editing per owners response: while the wait staff wasn’t that great the first time around, I still loved the vibes and the atmosphere. As stated previously, the owner was incredibly nice and it was great hearing her story. The food was okay the first time, but I enjoyed the experience with the owner. This is why I came back the second time with my family. The owner was genuine and kind. I love small businesses and it was great that we finally had a genuine Italian place in Princeton. I had no idea that it hadn’t fully opened yesterday. I understand that it was a grand opening. However, you are still an open business, and you’re still serving customers. We came on a Friday night at 6:30 pm. My parents had ordered different dishes than what was given because the wait service did not understand the order after they pointed to it on the menu. And to wait 20 minutes for water was a little ridiculous. I wrote this review now because I really wanted to go back there and try it again, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted too. I appreciate the owner reaching out to me. However, I don’t think I’ll be back...