Seven of the Best Pasta Places in Town Right Now

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As much as we might want it to be spring, winter’s not quite done with us just yet. The silver lining is that we’ve still got a handful of weeks to enjoy peak pasta season. Of course, there’s no bad time of year to have pasta, but there is a best time. And we’re right in the thick of it. The Hot List is packed with pedigreed pasta spots. Here are some we’re loving right now.

Albert’s , Armadale

Since opening a couple of years ago, this Armadale wine bar has been steadily iterating on its menu – adding a few things here, trimming some stuff back there – and constantly improving on its (already great) food. Although new pastas are always weaving in and out of the menu, it’s hard to look past the rigatoni with vodka sauce. It’s a favourite for a reason – follow the wisdom of the crowds on this one.

Bar Olo , Carlton

There are so many things to love about Bar Olo. Like the wines. Or the aperitivo hour we can’t stop thinking about. But we love the pasta most of all. New head chef Aleksis Kalnins is a whiz with a passion for seasonal cooking, and he’s using the produce from owners Anthony Scutella and Alison Foley’s farm to full effect. Staples like the osso bucco ragu or the agnolotti del plin are excellent, but the eye-catching pappardelle ripiene is an essential order.

Bistra

Nearby in Carlton, you’ll find much less traditional – but no less delicious – pasta at Bistra. This bistro plays it pretty loose with its cuisine: it’s a bit French, a bit Southeast Asian, a bit Italian – a bit everything, really. But even though everyone loves the cheeseburger there, the pastas are stars, too. There’s always an agnolotti or filled pasta of some description, but the fillings and sauce change often with the seasons. Whatever it happens to be when you visit, order it.

Public Wine Shop , Fitzroy North

Much-loved wine bar Public Wine Shop has a new head chef: Shaina Cruz. And that means new pastas. Cruz has been on a tear this winter, with hearty highlights including cavatelli with mushroom XO and butter-poached crab; and potato and pecorino cappelletti, which pairs well with wine – or with another bowl of pasta.

Tipo 00 , CBD

Saying Tipo 00 has good pasta is like saying Meryl Streep is a great actor. It’s obvious, but easy to take for granted. After all, when was the last time you went to Tipo 00? (Or watched a Meryl Streep movie?) It’s still great and still worth doing, every day of the week. It’s been over a decade since Tipo 00 opened, and its pastas haven’t lost a step. If anything, they just keep getting better.

Suze , Fitzroy North

Suze has been smashing it since it opened earlier this year, consistently being one of the most popular venues on The Hot List. Everyone who comes to this wine bar in Fitzroy North seems to fall for it ( and its ricotta ). And if you happen to see a pasta on co-owner and chef Steve Harry’s menu, you’ll fall for that too. The menu changes around often, but co-owner Giulia Giorgetti (a proud Italian), is there to ensure you’ll always have a couple to try.

Times New Roman , Brunswick East

Good Times is Fitzroy North’s favourite high-value pasta restaurant. So when the team opened up another spot on Lygon Street, they decided to just do the same thing, but more of it. Pastas start at just $6 at Times New Roman – but don’t be fooled by the low price, this is good stuff. The attractive price-point is largely thanks to economies of scale and fast table turnarounds. So next time you’re on Lygon Street looking for pasta, consider looking north, towards Brunswick East.

The Hot List is proudly sponsored by Square.