Pasta & Basta by Donato
August 1st, 2008 by Rodney
"Fine dining without the bullsh*t"
Since it was my birthday, I got to choose the "Friday night dinner with the family" restaurant. My choice was Pasta & Basta by Donato at Restaurant Row.
If the name Donato sounds familiar, Donato Loperfido used to have a restaurant in Manoa Marketplace a while back. Then he had an idea. A concept where diners can get excellent, healthy, fine dining meals without all the fluff - and without the high prices. Something that Midlifers can appreciate. 
The concept of Pasta & Basta is so simple, yet so mind boggling. I'm surprised nobody else ever thought of it. You walk up to the counter, place and pay for your order. When your number is called, you pick up your dish and take it to your table yourself. If you want to tip the waiter - you tip yourself. It's casual and it's comfortable. No fancy linen tablecloths. No candlelight. No bullsh*t - just damn good food.
After placing your order, sit and talk with your party because it will take a little while before your order is ready. That's because every dish is cooked to order. Your meals come out hot. And fresh. And it's worth the wait. If you want fast, go to McDonalds. If you want fine dining without the bullsh*t, go to Pasta & Basta.
There is also a bar where you can purchase beer and wine, including wines that Donato imports from Italy. If you prefer to bring in your own wine, there is a small corkage fee. Or if you're eating alone, there are chairs at the bar were you can sit and enjoy your meal in peace.
Pasta & Basta also prides themselves as a "kid friendly" restaurant. It's a family style atmosphere where, as Donato himself put it "the children are patrons too". The dining room is colorful, but to too bright - just subtle enough to feel relaxed. There are tables outside too if you feel like taking in the night air or doing some people watching.
Pasta & Basta is the only restaurant in Hawaii to use a wood burning pizza oven. California Pizza Kitchen used to have wood burning ovens, but to cook the pizza correctly in a wood burning oven takes a special talent. A talent that Pasta & Basta has down to a science. As for CPK - they replaced their wood burning ovens with gas.
If you look closely, you can see the wood burning pizza oven just behind the chef.
Managing Pasta & Basta is Chad. Donato talked Chad into coming over to Pasta & Basta to manage it and because he has so much confidence in Chad, he let's Chad call all the shots. Although he manages the restaurant, he's right in the thick of things, from taking orders to busing the tables. I had the pleasure of talking to Chad. He's very personable and has a vast knowledge when it comes to running a restaurant. He took the time to explain to me how only fresh ingredients are used, how the processed foods can wreck havoc to your body, and how even the broths used in their cooking are made from scratch. Donato prides himself in buying from local organic growers, not only to support our local farmers, but to get the freshest ingredients possible.
Pasta & Basta also has a private dining room for up to 20 or so people. For private parties, you don't order off the menu. Special menus are put together and dining is family style. Donato mentioned that if you'd like to set up a private party, Chad will work with you to come up with a menu to fit your budget.
Okay, you're all waiting to see the dishes, right? btw, the pictures are "clickable".
Margherita
Fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella, & fresh basil
Penne Puttanesca
Spicy tomato sauce, onions, black olives, capers, & anchovies
My favorite.
Capellini Funghi
Angel hair pasta with sauteed mushrooms, tomato, & garlic
Fettuccine al Pollo
With chicken, mushrooms, capers in a white wine cream sauce
My brother-in-law started to dig in before I could snap this picture.
Spaghetti Pomodoro e Basilico
Tomato sauce, garlic, & fresh basil
Lasagna Bolognese
Meat sauce lasagna baked with bechamel & mozzarella
Please excuse the following 2 photos. These were from a previous visit and the pictures were taken from my camera phone and they don't do the dishes justice. Apologies to Donato and crew.
Tagliatelle Boscaiola
Fresh spinach fettuccine with prosciutto ham, chicken, mushrooms, pinenuts, olive oil, white wine, & pamigiano
Pannacotta con frutta al Vincotto
Lemongrass & Tahitian Vanilla Pannacotta with fresh fruit marinated in vincotto
This was a Chef's special dessert on the day that we went. It was awesome.
There are Chef's specials that change daily. Besides the pizza and the pasta, there are salads and during lunch only, panini sandwiches. There are House Specialty's available during dinner only that range from Pollo Castelli Romani to Braised Shortribs.
The pizza and pasta dishes prices range from around $8 to $15, but a majority of the prices are around the $10 range. Dinner specials cost a bit more.
For many of us Midlifers, we've - been there, done that, and paid the high prices to impress our dates. Now we're just looking for healthy, quality dishes at reasonable prices. Pasta & Basta is just that. It's casual atmosphere puts you at ease where you can relax and savor all the flavors without worrying about whether you're using the right fork or not. Simply put - It's fine dining without the bullsh*t.
Pasta & Basta
Waterfront Plaza Restaurant Row
Monday - Friday 11:00 am - 2:30 pm (lunch)
Tuesday - Saturday 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm (dinner)
Sunday - Closed
www.pastabastabydonato.com
Private Parties available
Validated parking
Catering available
If you want a quick meal, call your order in ahead of time:
Phone: 523-9999
Fax: 523-9997
Or visit the In & Out Window open Monday - Friday 11:00 am - 2:00 pm located outside at the back of the restaurant.
And for that very special occasion, Donato Loperfido has teamed up with Phillipe Padovani and opened up Elua in the former L'Uraku site. You can only image the possibilities with these 2 top Hawaii chefs coming together. But that's for another entry.
Tags: Donato Loperfido, Midlife Crisis, Pasta & Basta, Restaurant Row, Waterfront Plaza
August 1st, 2008 at 5:54 am
huuu, looks onolicious. Thanks Rodney. Never been there but will try soon.
August 1st, 2008 at 6:08 am
No linguine with clam sauce on the menu
August 1st, 2008 at 6:37 am
Third!!
Great review, Rodney. I'm impressed by all the research you did and your taking the time to write the review for us. Like anklebiters, I'm a linguine w/clam sauce fan. Hopefully it's on the flipside of the menu where we can't see it?
Just one more thing... can you say "bulls**t" on a blog?
August 1st, 2008 at 6:51 am
Fuud Pixs!!!
I love pasta, I never heard of this place and will add it to my list of places to eat. The fuud looks guud. Every friday night my wife and I go out for a "date" to have dinner.
August 1st, 2008 at 7:06 am
Morning Rodney,
Thanks for the review and it looks YUMMY. But I'm with Jindomaster.....I guess you CAN say "bullchit" on the blog!
My VIRGIN EARS! I'm scarred for the rest of the day..........
OL
August 1st, 2008 at 7:40 am
OMG! This is sooo weird. Your pictures of this place reminds me of this Italian restaurant I went to in Japan. I can't remember the name of it, but this was about two years ago. Great pictures!
August 1st, 2008 at 8:26 am
yes!! fuud pix! the dishes looks ono. prices?
are them plates ginormous? cause it doesn't look like they give a lot.
well i guess it's a way to keep the cost down. that, and sans the fluff (bullsh*t)
August 1st, 2008 at 9:41 am
Rodney, right on, this is one of our favorite places for "real" Italian food, not the "asian wannabees" that end in an "o" kind, where garlic is the featured taste, where that's really all you taste. When Donato closed his restaurant in Manoa we were at a lost, but with Pasta & Basta we once again have fixed our "San Francisco" quality Italian food craving. Great price for quality and the pasta is always al dente!
The tagliatelle is my wife's favorite and you cannot go wrong with any of the Chef's specials.
For a higher end experience, you can't go wrong with Elua. The foods great, service very good and the ambiance lends for an all around dining experience. We're going this month for our anniversary dinner.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:47 am
Now that's the kinda of places I like to eat. Cheap yet of good quality. I no need one waiter to bring me my food, I rather spend that money on another beer. Good one. I like the elaborate review on the place. Maybe you should start a new "Food" only blog, no more one on the Advertiser yet.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:54 am
Thanks Rodney!!! Looks like a place to be for my family and me. If I can get there this weekend, I can catch Speed Racer too. Gotta try no no no no GOTTA DO. Try means you can fail.
Thanks Bill - not so garlicky will make my wife happy for both her taste buds and her nose. I won't have to look away when I talk to her.
Have a great weekend everyone!!!
August 1st, 2008 at 10:18 am
Mmm... looks good! Thanks for the review, Rodney! I know you folks mentioned this place in previous blogs, but I've never been there. Must add to my list of places to try!
So funny, you say "bullsh*t" once and everyone notices! Even I took a small mental "gasp!" (but I won't claim to have VIRGIN EARS like OL... hey, OL, you said that with a straight face or what??? LOL.)
August 1st, 2008 at 10:54 am
Sad to say, I haven't been to the Row. Maybe cause from Big Island and don't know where to find parking. Actually didn't look yet. I like the kind places where no need the waiters. Put the money into something tasty and healthy and they will come. I agree, you should start a food blog.
Have a great weekend all. Gotta go do my chores.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:31 am
Ynaku, there is choke parking at Restaurant Row at dinner time because most of the offices are closed. They validate so it's free and weekends are even better, they don't even staff the parking exit booths. Just stick in the ticket and you are gone.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:34 am
No offense to those waiters and waitresses. I like go to places that serves us. And I am a good tipper
Our night to go out is Friday cause that's when I'm off work and home with da family. I let them choose where they like go. Son always like to find place that serve Chicken Katsu. I swear he is growing feathers. 
Now really gotta go do yard before get too hot.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:37 am
Thanks Bill. I'll try that next time I get to Oahu. Always pass by but haven't stopped.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:38 am
I don't care for pasta to much but the pics look ono.....will have to take my family they love pasta
August 1st, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Yeah, I wasn't sure I could say bull-kaka on the blog either, but it took. And besides, that's the official theme of Pasta & Basta.
@Kelli - deja vu?
@Bill - Hi Bill, thanks for your posts. I see you're a regular follower of Donato. I wish I knew about the Manoa eatery before.
Sometimes we'll stay at the mall purposely until 5:00 so we can stop by Pasta & Basta and take out our orders. The portions are perfect for me. Not so much that I have to take home the leftovers - just enough that I'm satisfied and not feel like I want to go to sleep. Paula always has leftovers but then again, she is petite.
August 1st, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Yeah, Uncle. You can say da "s" word?
I wen "fix" my pic on today's blog cause I nevah like get in trouble... or give 'em one reason for hand me one pink slip...
I just had pasta last night too? Scary da Korean wavelength...
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:42 am
Rodney,
By any chance did you go buy lunch from Queen's BBQ on Friday? I was walking there to meet some friends and wasn't sure if dat was you.
August 2nd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
@ukuhead
Wearing a black Honolulu Advertiser shirt? Yup, dat wuz me. Where did you pass me? Or where did I pass you?
August 2nd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Rodney,
I salute you great Article
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I went walk across the street with you. Then I was waiting outside for my friends because I already bought lunch from the Filipino lunch wagon (I had one bonus. Had one hair inside, but das ok cause wasn't curly). Was too hot so I went inside to wait.
I was trying to read your HA id but couldn't. Anyway I neva like look too hard bumbye you think I was checking you out.
Now I know what you look like in person, I'll introduce myself next time.
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 pm
It reminds me of my trip to Italy last year...great pastas! I will check out that place day.
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
@Ukuhead - I remember crossing the street with you! I was watching you to see if you were going to go into Queen's first (and I'd have to wait for you to order before me) but like a gentleman, you stopped and let me pass you to order (Thanks Ukuhead). And I remember your 3 friends in there waiting for their order. btw, I'm hooked on Queen's Teriyaki (Barbque) chicken - gotta have it at least once a week!
Yes, the next time you see me, please stop me and introduce yourself (and the same for any other MLC's too).
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:50 pm
@Ali Yang and Patti J - thank you for stopping by Midlife Crisis (MLC) and for posting. I hope you find it interesting and join in the comments in the future too.