Why would a place called Pasta Basta try to de-ehmphasize its Italian background and place fish and steak in the foreground of its menu, but cut the pizza variations down to five? Are culinary trends so overwhelming, is Italian simply out? Is Scandinavian fish fusion the next Diesel Jeans?
Pasta Basta is a fine place by Klapparstigur with a large painting based on the poster for Fellini,s La Dolce Vita covering one wall in the 1st floor lounge/bar – thus they serve you the modest dose of kitsch that makes you feel very well at home, and if you are lucky enough to catch the table by the window in the innermost part of the restaurant, you will enjoy both the predictable rain falling and the likewise predictable tourist groups strolling within a feet,s distance. And at least one of their waitresses is charming.
The food is delivered in generous portions – the small lobster soup that I ordered as an hors d,oeuvre was more than I could finish. The soup was fine, so was the mixed fish plate I had as a main course – actually the sesame seed-covered fried salmon was a delicious innovation. However, as our waiter had explained to us, Pasta Basta is trying to de-emphasize its Italian roots, and the pizza that my brother chose from a list of five variants, was simply not all that fantastic, Which I would call a damn shame.
His dessert, however, was awesome, as the place makes great Italian ice cream, whereas mine was silly – chocolate mousse on a dry and uneventful large piece of biscuit. Now that I think about it, the chef must have forgotten some ingredient, because as it was I could find no good reason to keep placing bites of it in my mouth. Not that it bothered me either or gave any good reason to be spit out, it was absolutely inconsequential.
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