Bites Nearby: Mirko Pasta in East Cobb

Attention Pasta Lovers: Have I got a restaurant for you. Mirko Pasta, located in Merchant’s Walk in Marietta, takes pasta very seriously.

Their mission statement is “Pasta is our Passion—Fresh Pasta is our Obsession” and they mean it. They offer 18 types of pasta made from scratch with 10 freshly made sauces to choose from.

The pasta is so good that there’s just no other restaurant to compare it to. The food tastes like “fine dining” but in a contemporary café atmosphere.

Most entrees average $10 and the portions are large. Customers are greeted with warm bread and a white bean dip seasoned with garlic and olive oil. The service was excellent.

Overview: Chef Mirko Di Giacomantonio is a native of the small coastal town of Tortoreto, Italy, located in the region of Abruzzi. He has worked in numerous restaurants in Italy, Belgium, Germany, Romania and the United States. After helping launch Figo Pasta in Atlanta in 2001, Chef Mirko became attracted to the charm and leisurely pace of Athens, GA, and opened the first Mirko Pasta in 2007 in nearby Watkinsville, GA. There are now 10 Georgia locations and one Nashville location.

The Food: Most pastas are pretty bland, but at Mirko pastas are rich, colorful and full of flavor. To help you choose just the right one, a server presents a large tray with all the pastas artfully arranged on it. There are short, long and filled pastas as well as egg, spinach and gluten free pastas to choose from. Pastas range from $4.50 to $5.50. Pick your favorite sauce to go with it for $5. There are also some mouth-watering signature dishes priced at $11 to $13.  

The menu choices I would recommend are:

Appetizers:

• Frittura di Calamari e Zucchine $8—Fried squid and zucchini with lemon and marinara. The calamari is super-fresh and coated in a light batter.

Entrees:

• Tagliatelle alle Vongole $11—Homemade tagliatelle (a rich buttery pasta similar to linguini in shape) with littleneck clams, white wine, garlic, dice tomato, olive oil and hot pepper.

• Green Apples, Sage and Sausage (filled pasta) $5.50— Combine this with Pesto Classic basil and pine nut pesto with a touch of cream at $5 and you have a scrumptious meal.

• Polpa di Granchio—Lump crab meat, white wine, diced tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and red pepper at $5 with Cappelini at $4.50. There’s a generous portion of crabmeat, and the blend of flavors produce a heavenly dish.

Salads: There are seven entrée salads to choose from. I would suggest the

• Insalata di Spinaci  Full $6 Half $3.50—Fresh baby spinach, goat cheese, raisins with a balsamic, honey and walnut dressing.

Desserts: All desserts are $5.

• Cannoli—Crispy cannoli shells filled with sweet ricotta cheese, lemon and orange peel and chocolate.

• Crespelle alla Ciocolata Fragole—Homemade crepes with fresh strawberries and Italian hazelnut spread.

Drinks: A nice wine list is offered and beer is served.

Hours: Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: 1281 Johnson Ferry Rd., Marietta 30068   

Phone: 770-977-3030

Download the online menu at www.mirkopasta.com