Located in the quaint downtown of Denville, NJ, The Pasta Shop has become a new favorite NJ restaurant of mine. The Pasta Shop does not fall short of exceptional as it offers fresh, handmade pasta and sauces, plus friendly service/staff. I have dined here twice and look forward to regularly returning with my boyfriend to dig in to some amazing comfort dishes! The Pasta Shop may just be the best Italian restaurant in Morris County, if not North Jersey entirely! The small, neighborhood-friendly eatery offers authentic handmade dishes at a reasonable price (average $14-$18 per entree).
Appetizers/Starters
The Pasta Shop is one of those restaurants where you want to order a starter. Their mouth-watering appetizers include options like fresh mozzarella sticks, cheesy garlic bread, stuffed clams, handmade meatballs with fresh tomato sauce, burrata mozzarella and more. We went with the meatballs and burrata during our visits here, and both did NOT disappoint! Their wood-oven meatballs melt in your mouth as they are cooked in a flavorful red sauce, topped with a heaping sprinkle of romano cheese and fresh basil. The burrata mozzarella was a lighter start to our dining experience as it was served over a large bed of balsamic glazed baby tomatoes and sorrel, plus paired with a few slices of bread. I look forward to trying more of their antipasti as I continue to frequent here, and love how they are always switching up and adding new selections to the menu!
Entrees
During our first visit to The Pasta Shop, we ordered the handmade ravioli in red sauce, and the spicy baby shrimp entrees as our main course and both had insane flavor. I’ve had quite a bit of Italian food in my life, but these dishes, especially the ravioli, really stood out to me as some of the best I have ever had!
The second time we dined here, I ordered the pappardelle bolognese which is a classic dish on their main menu. The pasta was thick and cooked to perfection, and paired with a beef and pork ragu, basil and a dash of fresh pecorino cheese. The meat was tender and cooked perfectly, and I really enjoyed this dish. My boyfriend ordered the daily special which was an incredible pumpkin gnocchi in a creamy parmesan sauce topped with roasted kale. We both love this dish and how the restaurant is always switching up their specials with the seasons.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I highly suggest following The Pasta Shop on instagram to keep up with their daily specials and to see what they are cooking up. The service is incredible and staff is very welcoming. The ambience is quaint and set in the cozy downtown of Denville. They do not have many tables here, so prepare to wait if it is a busy weekend night. The restaurant was only offering outdoor dining during our visits, and they also do takeout. I recommend trying The Pasta Shop if you are looking for some incredible handmade dishes. They just may be the best Italian restaurant in North Jersey!
THE PASTA SHOP IS LOCATED AT: 13 1st Ave, Denville, NJ 07834
OVERALL RATING
Food: 4.9/5
Service: 5/5
Atmosphere: 4.6/5
Overall Rating: 4.8/5
