Pasta Viva
Huntington Beach
Pasta Viva is a casual Italian eatery famous for tossing fresh, seed-oil-free handmade pasta directly inside a giant 24-month aged parmesan cheese wheel. The menu highlights house-made long-fermented focaccia sandwiches and standout pasta dishes like The Wavemaker with bolognese and hot honey, the filet mignon-topped Godfather, and customizable pasta flights. They also serve creative specialties like sweet cocoa fettuccine alongside fresh daily baked goods made from imported Italian flour.
Commenters are overwhelmingly excited about the authentic Italian flavors, warm staff, and visual spectacle of the cheese wheel. However, some audience members expressed skepticism over unconventional toppings like hot honey on bolognese and an overpowering lemon note in the red sauce. Others raised minor concerns regarding higher pricing at certain locations and the use of paper serving bowls.
- Order The Wavemaker pasta finished with bolognese, hot honey, and Calabrian chili oil.
- Try a pasta flight to sample multiple house-made sauces.
- Don't miss the long-fermented focaccia sandwiches like the Parma with prosciutto and fig jam.
- Check their social media for current operating and soft-opening hours before visiting.
- Be open-minded about non-traditional flavor additions like lemon zest and hot honey.
Summaries are created based on reviews, notes, and social media posts.
Photos