Chefs share 5 of the best and 5 of the worst pasta dishes to order at a restaurant

Raffaele Dall'Erta, executive chef of  Hamptons Restaurant in South Carolina, told Business Insider that ravioli that's made by hand in a restaurant is always worth ordering. 

"Getting the ravioli is always a must," said Dall'Erta. "Always look for seasonal fillings such as pumpkin, butternut squash, fresh spinach, or ricotta. Short-rib ravioli is one of my favorites."

Bucatini amatriciana is a traditional Italian dish made with cured pork cheeks or pancetta, pecorino cheese, tomato sauce, and onions. 

"In my opinion, bucatini amatriciana is the perfect pasta," said Dall'Erta. "The pancetta gives a little hint of smokiness, the sautéed onion gives a touch of sweetness, and the tomato sauce brings everything together."

Dall'Erta also noted that the tube-like shape of bucatini allows the sauce to cling to each noodle, especially when the pasta is cooked al dente. Still, you can order the sauce with other pasta shapes if you wish. 

If you're in the mood for something from the sea, spaghetti or linguine with clams is a fresh and simple way to enjoy pasta. 

"I love how simple this dish is. All you need is lots of garlic, a good olive oil, Calabrian chili, and fresh parsley," said Dall'Erta. "And make sure the restaurant is using littleneck clams."

Dall'Erta said he advises not adding Parmesan to this dish since it's traditionally enjoyed without cheese. 

Pasta primavera is a simple dish made with a light garlic or cheese sauce and fresh, seasonal produce, which often includes peppers, asparagus tips, tomatoes, and broccoli. 

"Ordering pasta primavera is a great way to add a lot of veggies to your meal, and the chef typically makes each plate fresh to order," Max Hardy, chef and owner of Coop Detroit, told BI.

Gnocchi are soft dumplings that are usually made with potato, flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. They can be finicky to prepare yourself, so ordering gnocchi in a restaurant is an easier way to enjoy this Italian classic. 

"When cooked correctly, gnocchi should melt in your mouth and allow the flavors of the dish to stick to your palette," said Hardy. "The secret to good gnocchi is not using too much flour." 

He also said that black-truffle sauce is his favorite way to top a plate of fresh gnocchi. 

Lasagna can take a long time to make yourself, so it's tempting to order a slab when dining out. However, Hardy explained, many restaurants usually assemble and freeze lasagna far in advance of each order. 

"Lasagna is often made ahead of time and reheated for each person," said Hardy. "You should check with the restaurant to see if it is made fresh every day."

Often served over fettuccine, Alfredo sauce is typically made by blending Parmesan cheese with plenty of heavy cream and butter. 

This dish is cheap and easy to make, so you may want to order something more exciting at a restaurant.

"Pasta Alfredo is a very lazy pasta dish. Anyone can make this meal at home and it will probably taste better than what you'd get in a restaurant," said Dall'Erta.

Though spaghetti and meatballs is one of the most iconic pasta dishes, many restaurants don't put much effort into it.

"The meatballs are usually made ahead of time and sometimes not very fresh," said Hardy. "The sauce also sits in buckets that are warmed throughout the day, where the oil rises to the top and is added to your meal." 

Dall'Erta, who was born and raised in Italy, told BI that spaghetti and meatballs is not actually an authentic Italian dish, either.

"I never once in my life saw spaghetti with meatballs served in Italy," he said. "It's completely overrated, in my opinion."

Angel hair pasta, also called capellini, is an extremely thin type of pasta that measures less than a millimeter in diameter. 

Unfortunately, Dall'Erta explained, angel hair's delicate shape means this pasta is often poorly prepared.  

"Angel hair pasta is almost always over-cooked due to its thin consistency. I think it should disappear from menus forever," said Dall'Erta. 

To reduce your chances of being served a plate of mush, you can try asking the kitchen to swap the angel hair pasta in a dish with a thicker variety of pasta, such as linguine or thin spaghetti. 

Stuffed pasta shells can be hearty and tasty if prepared well, but some restaurants may use this dish to dispose of unused ingredients.

"Stuffed shells are sometimes a 'special' on the menu because restaurants will use leftover ingredients to fill the shells," said Dall'Erta. "They may also use pre-filled shells, which can be less flavorful as well."

To avoid dining on leftovers, ask your server if the stuffed shells are prepared fresh each day. 

This story was originally published on August 12, 2020, and most recently updated on May 8,2023.