Mamma mia! There's a new spot for handmade pasta open in Vancouver's Little Italy.
Oca Pastificio has just opened their doors in the former Absinthe Bistro space at 1260 Commercial Drive. Absinthe has moved into 952 Commercial Drive.
The restaurant is the project of a duo who are both long-time friends as well as Vancouver restaurant vets, including from the acclaimed Italian spot La Quercia. Oca Pastificio is billed as "a cozy, sans chichi spot, serving honest, fresh, handcrafted pasta, based on local and seasonal ingredients."
The menu at Oca will be constantly changing based on what's in season and what the chef wants to work with, and will be presented chalkboard style. Opening dishes include things like a vitello tonnato, salads, foccacia, and fresh-made pasta like orecchiette with broccoli and anchovy and cappellacci with swiss chard and ricotta. A six-course tasting menu for the whole table is available while supplies last each night for $60 per person.
You can pair your pasta with any of several wines Oca has lined up.
The restaurant is open 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday nights.
