Written by: Sadaf Shahzad
Posted on: November 11, 2020 | 
The Florentine Smash Burger
While pizza and pasta dishes are quite easy to find in restaurants all over Pakistan, it takes a special kind of eatery to bring out the traditional flavors which made Italian food popular all over the world.This is where Pasta La Vista, located in Sector S in the Defence area, promises to deliver, by serving authentic Italian dishes made from fresh and healthy ingredients. In addition to offering a uniquely authentic range of pasta, the latest addition to the menu is the Neapolitan Pizzas, freshly made thin-crust pizzas with homemade marinara sauce and oven-baked to perfection.
Our party of four decided to pay a visit to the restaurant for an early Friday night dinner. The restaurant is small, with only 26 seats indoors, and minimal parking outside. So, if one arrives close to peak hours, they will have to wait. However, the warm lighting, intimate setting and upbeat mood more than makeup for the limited space.
The Interior of the Restaurant
Pasta la Vista’s menu is not as extensive as the traditional restaurant, but instead focuses on a collection of pasta dishes. Alongside the menu, there is a dessert bar inside the restaurant, which includes slices of the New York Cheesecake and Carrot Cake. We chose the Aglio Olio, the Smash Burger, and the Margarita Pizza.
Firstly, the Aglio Olio, which is a traditional spaghetti dish with garlic and olive oil, was served with Shrimp, though one can choose the meat of their choice with the pasta. It was surprising to see how a dish with so few ingredients could have such powerful flavors. Each element of the dish, like the garlic, basil and olive oil stood out without overpowering the other. The Shrimp was also well cooked, and complimented the pesto Fettuccine pasta well.
The Aglio Olio Pasta with Shrimp
We agreed that the Florentine Smash Burger was the best part of the meal. This is also a relatively new addition to the menu, and we were curious to see how this little Italian restaurant would take on such a popular dish. But we were amazed to discover that this little eatery’s burger packs a powerful, memorable taste, and it may be one of the best burgers Lahore has to offer.
This thick beef burger consists of two beef patties oozing with cheddar cheese, placed between caramelized onions on the top, and sharp rocket leaves on the bottom. This tender, juicy burger was made with a soft and airy potato bun, served with golden, crispy waffle fries and a tangy cheese sauce.
Finally came the Margarita pizza, the dish we were looking forward to the most. This oven-baked delight was definitely closer to its Italian counterpart than the traditional pizzas we are used to eating, with a few round slices of cheese and a more-than-generous helping of marinara sauce. The sauce was perfectly balanced and the fresh mozzarella cheese melted in one’s mouth, making each bite exciting. Perhaps, the only improvement to the pizza would be to work the dough a little more, to make the crust crispier and airy, as opposed to thick and doughy.
The Margarita Pizza
The total bill for all three dishes was quite reasonable and affordable, given the fresh ingredients and the quality of food. The serving sizes were more than enough to ensure that everyone left full and content, vowing to return for other traditional dishes like the lasagna and the gnocchi.
Pasta La Vista’s greatest strength lay in its simplicity, particularly in a culinary scene that emphasizes spices and more traditional meaty tastes. It is a unique treat to discover a pasta restaurant that focuses on perfecting the flavors, and creating an easygoing atmosphere to enjoy these dishes. If Pasta La Vista continues to show that creating authentic, minimalist Italian flavors is not only possible, but can be executed well in Pakistan, they are in for a successful future.
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