Gastromaniac Homemade Pasta & Pizza

I got the clearly labeled vegan items on the menu- malfadine pasta with simple red sauce. It was bomb! All of the pasta is made from scratch and doesn’t contain egg (as of today 05/03/25). You can also get pizza marinara or pizza with evoo. I also loved the artichoke appetizer. Amazing and simple Italian food.

We visited Gastromaniac twice, and while the food was good, the major issue was the lack of honesty from the staff, which made for a very disappointing experience.

On our first visit, we were shown to a table where we could sit. Orders are placed at the counter, like in a fast food setup, rather than at the table. However, before we even ordered, we were told that the pasta we wanted would take longer than expected, without any real explanation, and that we’d need to wait around 20 minutes before sitting. The real reason became clear when a group of five/six, clearly friends of the owner, arrived just after us and took the table. I would have understood if this had been explained honestly, but to be misled with an excuse about delayed dishes was unnecessary and frustrating.

We eventually ate with only a short delay, and the meal was good (though the cheese pasta tasted more like cream sauce as the cheese flavor was quite subtle).

The following evening, we arrived at 7:25 pm, well before the posted closing time of 8:30 pm. To our surprise, despite several tables still eating, we were told that there had been a power outage and the kitchen had to close early. It was obvious there had been no power outage, but with the restaurant not busy and upcoming closed days, it was clear they preferred to close the kitchen early. Again, we would have understood if this had been communicated honestly, but being told a fabricated story was extremely unpleasant and left a sour impression.

In short, while the food here is decent, the lack of transparency from the staff made both visits disappointing. I hope the restaurant reconsiders its approach to communication with customers.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 1

Delicious pizza made from imported from Italy ingredients,and you can taste the difference..

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Easily one of the best pastas and pizzas I have ever had. Super fresh, authentic and yummy. The tiramisu was also great and tasted homemade. Highly recommend

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Ordered 2 pizzas. You can taste the ingredients the way they are naturally supposed to taste. Clean and fresh. The crust on the pizza is spectacular. Slightly crisp. Light char on the bottom. Sauce is savory. Just enough toppings to taste all of the ingredients and not overwhelmed by just sauce or cheese. Will definitely come back for the past because it looked beautiful in the display. With food so warm and inviting, the interior is a little cold. Nevertheless, I'll be back many times. Many many times.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Prosciutto Funghi, Tomato Basil, Fresh Ingredients

Delicious homemade pasta and pizza made in house every day. Generous portions, and plenty of vegan options! Highly recommended!!!

Dietary restrictions: They have a vegan marinara sauce that is delicious!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

this place is aggressively mid. I agree with every other review the cheese pasta is amazing but they don't have a kids portion of it so..... ordered arancini got one big ball not small ones, alright you made a choice it was crisp but the peas on the inside were cold 😐 alright then. on to the pasta course. cheese pasta 10/10 no notes (usually my least favorite variety of pasta) kids marinara was alright but at least this one came out the size I was looking for for small children. then mine came I ordered bolognese. it was really quite bland and still salty. having had it in Italy I expected more especially with all the hype. Then had the tiramisu, it was good.
we ended up spending $100 on one appetizer, 2 adults and 1 childs worth of pasta and one dessert no drinks this was mostly because this restaurant had a mandatory tip of at least 18%. I am happy to pay 20%+ on a full service restaurant but I abhor paying significant tips on a counter service restaurant. especially when we had to chase down water and our dessert. I paid it and won't be back.

The pizza was outstanding. Service was fast and very friendly. Small dining room with a small outdoor eating area. The sidewalk is a great place to eat at this location. Surprisingly, I always find parking here also. All around excellent place to eat. I'll be back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best Gnocchi I’ve ever had! Great service and the food is amazing!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

What a great place! We are lucky to have it in our city. Great pizza, great fresh pasta, super sauces. Just excellent.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Basil Pesto, Arancini, Mafaldine Ribbon Flat Noodle

Pizza was pretty good. Something didn't agree with us though and made us a little sick a few hours later. Not sure if it was their food or something else we ate that day.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

So confused by the positive reviews. I wouldn’t eat here again. The Bolognese was okay but the pesto gnocchi was actually kind of bad. It was like a weird puréed fake pesto. The fried artichoke was a sick joke - the size was actually laughable but at least it tasted decent. Terrible portions and overpriced.

Great freshly-made pasta at a reasonable price point for such a touristy location. Fast-casual concept. The pizza crust was cracker-like and had way too much cheese (and this cheese blend was way too salty). The pizza’s not for me, but I’m sure some people will like the sound of it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This is a gem in South Lake Tahoe for pasta lovers. Their homemade pasta is excellent, and the pesto is fresh and flavorful. It's easily one of the best spots for pasta in California. A must-visit if you're in the area!

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Margherita Pizza, Pesto

Great pasta, great pizza and great espresso!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5