PASQUALE’S
Neighbourhood: St. Boniface
Address: 109 Marion Street
Phone: 204-231-1403
Entrees: $16 – $26
Red sauce joints are characterized by their wide variety of tomato sauced pasta dishes and casual service. Pasquale’s Ristorante Italiano embraces this identity with gusto, offering oodles of noodles along with a strong line up of traditional pizzas.
This St. Boniface spot has been a heavy hitter in the neighbourhood for more than two decades, keeping it real for anyone seeking a simple less extravagant way of dining. Instead, attention is placed on an abundance of hospitality offered to every guest. In today’s socially distanced climate, this authenticity feels like a bear hug.
Familiar appetizer staples like antipasto, shrimp and mussels are all here. However, the menu accommodates vegan and gluten free dieters craving comfort dishes too. Vegan meatballs, reminiscent in texture to falafel, are winners sitting in a fresh savoury marinara. Eggplant parmigiana, cannelloni stuffed with spinach and ricotta and spaghetti primavera offer more proof that veg-centric marriages are long term successes in Italian cuisine.
For those seeking the coveted classics of Italy, bold pastas bring intense flavour across the board. Marinara and Bolognese can be enjoyed on spaghetti, ravioli – and a robust meaty lasagna. The tomato, cheese, pasta combinations are alone worth the visit.
Venturing past the red gravies in favour of something white rewards too. Fettuccine can be coated with sweet marsala or sambuca and chili infused cream over a shrimp medley. Spaghetti carbonara delivers beautiful salty bits of prosciutto and green peas in its cheesy cream sauce. Fettucine pollo lemon combines large slices of chicken breast with mushrooms and asparagus in subtle limoncello and garlic cream. Hits of lemon zest brighten the luscious concoction.
This eatery is an equally popular pizzeria. Thin crust with cracker like crispness earns it fans city-wide. A variety of house combinations have established popularity: Whether the choice is loads of veggies Mediterranean style, lots of meat, or roasted chicken, caramelized onions and bacon over a barbeque sauce, fresh ingredients generously top each pie.
Go all in and factor a slice of the berry red topped raspberry lemon torte as a final course – it is the perfect blend of sweet, tart and light.
Pasquale’s is open from Tues 4 pm-9 pm, Wed-Thurs 11 am-9 pm, Fri 11 am-10 pm and Sat 4 pm-10 pm.
