A Slow Lunch at Justa Pasta in Northwest Portland (Local Spots)

Several months ago, Will and I rode our bikes past Justa Pasta in NW Portland and bookmarked it for a future visit. The line was out the door and the diners were clearly happy, we knew we’d have to give this neighborhood joint a try.

We finally got a chance during a sunny (and surprisingly warm) winter day, curious to see if the hype was worthwhile. Our only regret was not trying this place earlier, it felt like we spent an afternoon in Italy!

The ambiance, warm staff, delicious hand-made pasta and extensive (but not overwhelming) wine list gave us a chance to slow down for the afternoon in a way we haven’t done in a while.

It truly felt like we escaped the city and tucked ourselves into a secret pocket of Europe. And if there’s anything I love more than Europe, it’s pasta.

Restaurant History

Opened in 1990, Justa Pasta started out by serving fresh pasta to local restaurants. Growing in popularity, the owners, Roland and Jessica Carfango decided to try their hand at pasta dishes. They opened a to-go window and started serving a small selection of pasta with sauce.

From there, the duo decided to open a restaurant to cater to the local lunch crowd, a while later they expanded to dinner hours. Years later, they opened a fully functioning restaurant locals can’t get enough of.

Visiting Justa Pasta in NW Portland

What we ordered: We started with a Caesar salad and for the mains, I ordered garlic-chili pasta and Will got the sausage lasagna. The salad and lasagna were the clear winners, but that’s not to say the garlic-chili pasta didn’t hit the spot (it did!).

As for dessert, don’t sleep on the cheesecake (our favorite in Portland!). Will likes it so much he requested for his birthday this year.

We enjoyed our meals so much, we returned a week later. Since then, we’ve invited a handful of friends to join and it’s been great. We spend 3+ hours here because the vibes are so cozy and the atmosphere is relaxed.