Cheap Eats: Basta Pasta

Basta Pasta doesn't look all that different from any of the hundreds of pizza shops around the Boston area: the menu board hanging over the counter, shakers of parmesan and red pepper flakes on the tables, uncomfortable benches, and stock photos of subs and greasy pizza in the takeout menu. But take a closer look at the menu, and it becomes clear that Basta Pasta is unlike its competitors.

Most pizza joints don't offer risotto. Or handmade fusilli. Or any of the other gourmet offerings that Basta Pasta offers. Nor do fancier restaurants offer these meals at such low prices.

The Baked Stuffed Eggplant ($8.95) with homemade fusilli (an extra $1.50) is an adult version of eggplant parmesan. The eggplant itself comes in breaded slices, wrapped around roasted red peppers, spinach and mozzarella. It's doused in a red sauce that has an abundantly fresh and clean tomato taste that makes you forget that there's snow on the ground. The pasta, although a tad too al dente, is excellent with the eggplant or alone with the sauce. While adding the fusilli may cost a little more, it's well worth the price.

The risotto is another surprising find in a place like this. The White Risotto ($8.49) is huge and filling, definitely enough for two meals. This is something from which some of the finer Italian restaurants in Boston could learn. The rice is mixed with a lemon thyme sauce, which is very bright and fresh (watch out for lemon seeds, though). The dish is served with a generous heaping of crumbled goat cheese and quite a few slices of prosciutto. The lemon and goat cheese are two strong flavors, but they work well together in a dish that could be overpowering if done wrong.

Basta Pasta is located on Western Ave in Cambridge, between Central Square and Memorial Drive. They are open Monday-Saturday, 11am-10pm, and Sunday, 3-10pm.

Post contributed by Pam Aghababian. You can read more of her writing at Cave Cibum.