Mangia! Where to Find Exceptional Pasta and Pasta-Based Dishes in Delco

For many of us in Delco, pasta is one of our top comfort foods. Need proof? There are Italian and Italian-American establishments in every town in Delaware County, from markets serving gourmet handmade pasta to casual gravy joints to special-occasion fine dining restaurants. Some are multi-generational institutions honoring tradition, while others are newcomers pushing the boundaries; there’s room in our hearts — and stomachs — for all of them! 

Whether you crave creamy, zesty cacio e pepe, saucy lasagna, hearty bolognese or just like to keep the pantry stocked with artisan pasta for a rainy day, here’s where to go to find amazing pasta in Delco: 

 

Markets

 

Talluto’s Authentic Italian Food

This family-owned brand was founded in 1967 in Philly, and has since expanded to multiple locations, including a charming storefront in Ridley Park. Perhaps best known for its ravioli, Talluto’s offers packaged fresh pasta in all shapes and sizes, including agnolotti and tortelloni, plus gnocchi, and fresh-cut pasta (spaghetti, linguini, fettuccine, etc.). Find the famous ravioli filled with ricotta, or try other fun ingredients, like lobster, sausage and escarole, sun-dried tomato and goat cheese, and seasonal flavors, like pumpkin and butternut squash. Busy families will love Talluto’s dinner kits, which come with everything one needs to cook a tasty pasta dinner, like spaghetti and meatballs, and fettuccine alfredo with chicken cutlets. 

20 E. Sellers Ave., Ridley Park; (610) 534-0669.

 

Pagano’s Marketplace, Deli and Catering

Pagano’s was started by the DiSantis family after running two successful Italian restaurants in South Philadelphia and Norristown in the 1980s and 90s. Its unfussy storefront has a lot in its four walls: a traditional Italian delicatessen serving up sandwiches, homemade sauces, meatballs, chicken cutlets, and other prepared foods, like tomato pie and stromboli, soups, salads, and pasta dishes. It’s also a small market stocked with imported Italian goods, including a wide variety of gourmet dried pastas in shapes beyond what you’ll find in the supermarket. 

1216 Township Line Rd., Drexel Hill; (610) 853-6410.

 

Napoletano Brothers

This family-owned Italian Specialty market originally opened as the Springfield Pasta Company in 1965. So, safe to say, they know how to do pasta right (their pasta brand is now a wholesale arm of business). Inside the shop, there’s an array of delicious prepared foods, like pasta dishes, sandwiches, Roman-style pizza, as well as desserts and a full menu of coffee drinks. It’s also a small grocery with a lovely selection of dried and fresh pasta, as well as everything you need to dress it up, like sauces and cheeses. 

186 Saxer. Ave., Springfield; (610) 543-5687.

 

Luigi & Giovanni

In addition to a robust catering business, Luigi & Giovanni is a brick-and-mortar Italian market, featuring a full-service deli, specialty butcher and micro-wine shop. The pasta selection includes frozen, fresh and dried pasta, plus sauces, cheeses and so many more imported goods.

3601 Chapel Rd., Newtown Square; (610) 353-4014.

 

Positively Pasta 

This artisan pasta producer was founded by Chris and Karen Foster, culinary professionals who are using their combined talents to make high-quality pastas, which can be found at their stand in the Lancaster Farmers Market in Wayne. Their fresh-cut pastas are made with semolina, durum and farm-fresh eggs; the pastas are crafted in flavors ranging from classic and egg, to unique options, like carrot, saffron, wild mushroom, lemon chive, tomato basil and beet. Ravioli fillings include crab and spinach, lump crab, broccoli rabe, smoked mozzarella, artichoke and brie, and they even will make custom fillings! There’s so much more, too, like cappelletti and agnolotti, stuffed shells, cavatelli, gnocchi and dried pasta, too. 

389 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; (610) 688-1399.

 

Restaurants

 

Portobello Cafe

The old-school Italian vibes are high at this quaint pasta and seafood BYOB. The menu features authentic flavors in dishes like penne ala vodka with crab, linguine with clams and rigatoni with sausage. Non-pasta customer favorites include Portobello Cafe’s chicken parmesan, mussels, calamari and tiramisu.  

1423 Chester Pike, Eddystone; (484) 816-0574.

 

Santino’s Tap & Table

Inspired by the owner’s grandmother, the dishes at Santino’s marry familiar, nostalgic flavors with modern updates. We’re talking chicken parmesan eggrolls, pan-fried meatballs with whipped ricotta and prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella sticks. There’s plenty of great pasta to dive into, too, like short rib and portabella ravioli, crab bucatini and osso buco with pappardelle. Pizza, sandwiches and much more round out the options. Whatever dish you choose, pair it with one of the creative concoctions from the cocktail menu.

701 McDade Blvd., Folsom; (610) 572-7270.

 

Roz & Rocco’s

Tuck into a booth in this airy, charming Italian-American bistro and get ready for a delicious meal! There are so many dishes, which are based on family recipes, most of which are served family-style in an attempt to “recreate the experience of eating at an Italian Grandmother’s house.” The pasta section of the menu is stacked with dishes, all showcasing noodles handmade in-house. From classic lasagna in a rich Sunday gravy to angel hair pomodoro, you really can’t go wrong. Customize your pasta dish with add-ons, like burrata, pork sausage or grilled shrimp.

2904 West Chester Pike, Broomall; (610) 613-8300.

 

Fellini Cafe

There’s something comforting about an Italian restaurant that commits to the classics and, without getting experimental or fussy, does them extremely well. Such is the case at Fellini Cafe in Newtown Square! Alongside an already-extensive menu, find an impressive pasta list (we count 36 dishes), ready to take care of all your carb cravings. Of course you’ll find the standards, like fettuccine alfredo and gnocchi al pomodoro; for something a little different, order up the Tagliatelle Fellini, an inspired mix of shrimp, scallops, zucchini, chopped tomato and fresh mozzarella, served in a light garlic marinara sauce.

3541 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square; (610)-353-6131.

 

la Padella

Since opening in 2017, la Padella has been serving Media and the surrounding community expertly-prepared Italian classics, with a big focus on pasta. There are nearly a dozen pasta dishes to choose from: traditional favorites, like penne primavera, frutti di mare and orecchiette with pesto and sausage, as well as a few updated twists, like pappardelle with Cajun-spiced chicken and shrimp. For a great value, stop by during happy hour (Tuesday through Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m.) for discounted snacks, wine and cocktails.

100 State Rd., Media; (484) 445-4445.

 

Burrata

Every town in Delco deserves a cozy BYOB like Burrata. The menu is short, sweet and seasonally curated; there are always four or five pasta dishes to choose from, in addition to a tight selection of appetizers and entrees. Recent pastas include spaghetti with saffron cream and gulf shrimp, pappardelle with wild boar ragu and ricotta cavatelli with eggplant, burrata and tomato sauce. Bring along a bottle of your favorite bold Italian red for a delightful dinner experience.

26 E. Eagle Rd., Havertown; (610) 808-9933.

 

Alessandro’s Wood Fired Italian & Bar

Though the impressive, gorgeously tiled wood-fired oven — and the pizzas that come out of it — are the star of the show at Alessandro’s, the pasta is not to be missed! Add a plate of garlic-spiked linguine with clams, Bucatini Amatriciana with guanciale and Calabrian chiles or another one of the inspired dishes to your order and you’ll see what we mean. Wine lovers will also want to explore the well-appointed wine list, featuring unique glass pours like Sicilian Sauv Blanc and a Piedmontese Barbera/Nebbiolo blend.

133 N. Wayne Ave., Wayne; (484) 580-6786.

 

Arugula

This family-owned BYOB is a hidden gem, tucked into a shopping center on Wilmington West Chester Pike. The traditional Italian dishes are generous in size and flavor, and regulars love the $0 corkage fee. In the Primi Piatti section of the menu, there are over a dozen dishes to choose from. Think: ravioli with rosé cream sauce, veal tortelloni with mushrooms in a brandy cream sauce, gemelli tossed with shrimp, scallops and crabmeat, and so much more. Arugula also offers a family-style takeout meal for those nights where you can’t cook but want a hearty, satisfying supper.  

275 Wilmington W. Chester Pike, Chadds Ford; (610) 358-0888.

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Want to know more about everything Delco? We’re more than just your source for good eats — we’re your source for where to stay, what to do and more in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. We’re Visit Delco, PA, and we’ve got you covered from Philly to the Brandywine. Find us at 1501 N. Providence Rd., Media, PA, 19063; (610) 565-3679 or online.

— Emily Kovach