Nestled in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, a new culinary destination has arrived—Pasta Corner. Born out of two friends’ shared passion for cooking during the pandemic, this fine-casual spot serves up a mouthwatering selection of freshly made pasta, housemade sauces, and gourmet Italian products. Guests can watch the skilled pasta makers at work as they peruse a display case filled with high-quality ingredients. Pasta Corner offers a truly authentic taste of Italy, from traditional pasta shapes to premium DOP cheeses and fresh black truffles. But that’s not all—guests can indulge in decadent French pastries, antipasti, and even wine and beer.

“Our concept is truly what differentiates us from any other restaurants in New York City,” Co-Owner Vincent Benoliel told us. “Pasta Corner is where fresh pasta meets casual fine dining meets Italian market and authentic French pastries. True Italian pasta made on-site can be bought fresh to cook at home or enjoyed at the restaurant, along with a traditional Italian menu offered in a unique ambiance. We put a lot of effort into the design and aesthetic of the restaurant to create an elegant setting that’s warm and welcoming. Pasta Corner is bright and vibrant during the day and dimmed and cozy at night.”

Pasta Corner Pastas (©Francesco Sapeinza)

You’ll find more than the norm at Pasta Corner. “We offer a variety of shapes of pasta: our signature snail-shaped lumache, spaghetti, pappardelle, tagliatelle, rigatoni, penne, tortellini, as well as ravioli,” Benoliel said of the restaurant’s pasta selection. “As far as the sauces, we offer our very own twist on the famous pink vodka sauce as well as classics like marinara, bolognese, arrabbiata, alfredo and pesto, plus a couple of sauces unique to Pasta Corner, such as the creamy truffle sauce and marsala wine sauce.”

The restaurant makes use of the freshest ingredients to bring Pasta Corner’s flavors to life. “Fresh, high-quality ingredients are essential to our recipes. We strongly believe that great recipes require only the best ingredients,” Benoliel told us. “By using fresh pasta in all our dishes, we set the bar very high – everything needs to be up to par. We are very proud to source our products from the best vendors, including Mutti’s line of tomato products.”

Pasta Corner (©Francesco Sapeinza)

If you’re not dining in, you can also enjoy Pasta Corner’s specialties via the market. “We felt that our lives are getting busier and busier and that a one-stop shop was a great solution—customers could dine in while also picking up pastries for later or stop by for coffee and croissants in the morning and buy fresh pasta to cook home that evening, get take-out and stock up on antipasti, cheeses and charcuterie, condiments like high-quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar, as well as chocolates, fresh truffles, jarred vegetables, and other gourmet products.”

You’ll definitely want to take advantage of the pasta inside the shop. “For the best result, we recommend adding a pinch of salt and a drizzle of olive oil to a boiling pot of water and cooking the fresh pasta for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on personal preference,” Benoliel suggested. “Then toss the pasta with one of our housemade sauces—or make your own.”

“Besides the popular fresh pasta and sauces section, fresh truffles are always a popular item as they truly enhance any dish. Our cheese selection, which includes mozzarella, burrata, Parmigiano Reggiano and others, is also very popular. Finally, our seafood really turns any dish into a work of art: you will find incredible anchovies, flavorful bottarga (cured fish roe) and Osetra caviar to enhance any meal.”

Fresh Pastas at Pasta Corner (©Jonathan Young)