Il Pastificio in Vicenza, Italy, makes fresh pasta every day for the restaurant and for sale to take home. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
There’s no shortage of fantastic food in Vicenza. This is Italy, after all.
Most of the regional fare I’ve tried has been delicious. But after a few months of living here, I was craving cacio e pepe, one of the famous dishes from Rome. A web search led me to Il Pastificio Vicenza, a casual pasta spot on an unassuming corner the northwest of the city.
Il Pastificio’s pasta is made fresh daily and the menu changes with the seasons. Friendly servers in T-shirts reading “get pasta or die tryin’” whizzed through the sunny space with heaping bowls of tortelli, plates of eggplant parmigiana and carafes of wine.
I was tempted to try one of the more seasonal offerings. But I had come for cacio e pepe and wasn’t going to leave without it.
Il Pastificio in Vicenza, Italy, is small but cozy, and also sells merchandise like T-shirts and olive oil. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
Cacio e pepe translates to “cheese and pepper” in English and is typically made with grated pecorino Romano cheese, black pepper and spaghetti or tonnarelli.
The cheese and pepper are mixed with a small amount of pasta water to create a creamy, tangy sauce. If you’ve ever tried to make it at home, you know that it sounds simple but getting the texture right can be tricky.
The cheese can clump, and adding butter or oil to assist is practically a sin in Italy. The Pastificio cacio e pepe was appropriately creamy, with just enough zip from the generous twists of black pepper. The star though, was the pasta: bouncy and chewy, clearly fresh. And at Il Pastificio they actually cook the pepper into the spaghetti, a fun twist.
My husband had the casarecce with pistachio and mint, a subtle dish. For the Vicenza traditionalists, Il Pastificio does serve bigoli with duck sauce.
The cacio e pepe at Il Pastificio in Vicenza, Italy. The Roman pasta mainstay literally translates to "cheese and pepper." (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
There are also plenty of vegetarian options. I found this helpful when a vegetarian friend visited a week later, as not every restaurant in this region is so accommodating.
This is primarily a pasta restaurant, though I’ve heard enough raves about the eggplant parmigiana to order it next time. The wine list is small and leans toward seasonally produced varieties, with some unique bottles from the surrounding regions. There are also craft beers and a full espresso menu.
The vibe at Il Pastificio is casual. On a recent visit, clientele ranged from groups of friends sharing bottles of wine outdoors to youths eating gelato and couples sharing bites inside.
While Il Pastificio is only open for lunch, you also can buy homemade pastas and sauces to re-create their dishes at home. If you’re planning to dine in, you’ll want to make a reservation.
Il Pastificio sits on an unassuming corner in a little-visited area of Vicenza, Italy. As the name suggests, pasta is the star. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
It's best to call ahead for a table at Il Pastificio in Vicenza, Italy. The restaurant fills up quickly, especially on rainy days when outdoor seating isn't an option. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
Address: Via Cengio 50, Vicenza, Italy
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed Sunday
Prices: 15-20 euros per person for pasta and a glass of wine; 20-30 euros per person for appetizer, drinks and main course.
Information: Phone: 0444322873; online: ilpastificiovicenza.it
