Pasta Italia Trattoria
1621 30th Avenue
Gulfport, MS 39501
228-863-4600
Lunch: Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Dinner: Tuesday-Saturday 5:30 p.m. – ‘til
www.trattoriapastaitalia.com
By Jane Feehan
It’s hard to find a good, authentic Italian restaurant along the Mississippi Coast. I tried Pasta Italia Trattoria in Gulfport this week and am still searching.
This trattoria seems to be struggling and it’s not hard to eat why. The salad came out on a chilled plate – good - but was dressed in oil and canned parmesan cheese only – bad. The bread received the same parmesan treatment. I ordered a pasta sampling dish, which was primarily a selection of ravioli - sparse, drenched in a soupy white sauce (Alfredo?) and co-mingled with the red sauce from a piece of cannelloni. Most of the pasta was tough on the edges and tops from microwaving. The tasteless tiramisu served for dessert sealed my opinion.
Though a rather dreary unassuming place from the outside, Pasta Italia Trattoria’s interior provides contrast with its crisp white tablecloths and napkins and somewhat pleasant atmosphere.
A note on how this evening began: I went alone on a Thursday evening before 6 p.m. and was escorted to a table near a restroom, away from the main dining area. I was the only customer at that hour. By the time I left, only 12 others were there including a father and toddler who were also relegated to the same area of outcasts as was I. A gentleman who came in alone was granted a seat in the main area with the couples. This is outdated mid 20th-century thinking.
Alcohol is not served, bring your own. ©2009 All rights reserved.
