Pasta Allegro Debuts Its 'Matrix Menu' on NE MLK

The brick building on the corner of NE MLK and Fremont has seen its share of restaurant tenants — most recently, it was home to Carpaccio Trattoria, Belly, and Terrior, in that order — and now, another Italian-influenced spot looks to quiet those "cursed corner" conversations. Counter-service spot Pasta Allegro softly opened its doors last week, offering guests a "meal assembly" concept that allows eaters to mix-and-match their choices of pasta and sauce, or pizza and toppings. "Some have described our menu as a 'Matrix menu,'" says owner Tammy Hobrecht. "The pasta bowls, wood fired pizzas, and calzones are customized by the customer... the price point is also built by what they choose, to fit everyone's comfort level."

And a familiar face has been consulting on the project: Chef Morgan Brownlow, most recently of Tasty N Alder, was brought on as a temporary consultant to "get our menu established, recipes set in stone, and to train the kitchen staff with his expertise," Hobrecht says, noting that all sauces, soups, and toppings are housemade. In a week, Brownlow will hand over the reins to chef Jeff Pompee, who's spent time in several East Coast Italian kitchens.

Pasta Allegro is softly open now. In the near future, expect to roll-out of a daily "Chef's Featured" entree and happy hour. Hours of operation: 11a.m. to 8p.m., Tuesday to Thursday; 11a.m.to 11p.m., Friday and Saturday; 11a.m. to 5p.m., Sunday.
· Pasta Allegro [Official site]
· All Previous Pasta Allegro Coverage [Eater PDX]

Image of Pasta Allegro courtesy Facebook