text: I do not quite get PastaBARnnThis place is right in my wheelhouse Passionate about one thing Focus on getting that completely right Focus on quality ingredients I would heard positive recommendations by many friends and colleagues I respect I was expecting to love it How could I notnnI do not know Maybe my expectations were way out of whack They had been knocked down a bit that same night by or friends that had been there I was in the area and itching to go even though I would heard multiple comments that it was kind of mehnnWell we ended up going later in the nightnnFirst of all I get the space It is cool Has character No problems there nnService was great as well No issues at allnnNo problem with the pricing or portions In fact I thought it was quite reasonablennI first tried the buffalo mozzarella basil pesto heirloom tomatoes It was nice I dug it Would have happily eaten more No fireworks though And maybe I am unfair for expecting themnnThen I tried the two entrees I most wanted Both had gotten rave reviews in a recent article I ordered the chitarra alla carbonara guancialebacon farm egg local onion pecorino and I tried the orecchiette con salsiccia homemade sausage greens pecorinonnNow over the past couple of years I have really developed an appreciation for people doing simple or standard things really really well That was what I was expecting here nnThe food was definitely good but with all the pub that it is gotten it definitely did not knock me off my chair nnAnd the thing is that I have recently been repeatedly knocked off my chair by other spots doing standard simple homemade pastas with killer killer ingredients Have been hit totally out of left field and could not believe how amazing a pappardelle with homemade sausage was Or a linguine with clamsnnIm guessing that maybe my expectations were out of whack but I left appreciating the meal but saddened that I felt no hurry to rush back