Chef Pat Pascarella uses the third ace up his sleeve, adding new mozzarella and wine bar Bastone to the Westside.
A peek at the fresh creations chef Pat Pascarella has lined up for Atlantans
Pascarella stretches mozzarella.
If the Westside weren’t buzzy enough, it’s now the home of your newest foodie obsession: a wine-focused mozzarella bar boasting made-to-order, handstretched mozzarella and a rare Italian wine menu. From The Porchetta Group, the same brains behind The White Bull (@whitebullatl) and cult-favorite Italian hub Grana (@granaatl), comes Bastone (@bastoneatl). “I feel like Atlanta has so much to offer, and when the old Bocado space became available, I wanted to see what West Midtown needed. My answer was Italian food,” shares chef-owner Pat Pascarella.
Bastone’s bright interior space, featuring high-tops, booths and table seating; plus, an oversize bar.
Pascarella certainly stuck to his roots with Bastone, as the latest addition to his Italian trio offers his familiar Naples-inspired fare. “We took what we’re really good at and focused it down even more—and then tripled down on mozzarella and pasta. It’s always all about pasta,” adds Pascarella. Paying homage to his Italian-born grandfather who used to yell “Bastone!” as he played his favorite card game, the Westside eatery invites customers to not only enjoy delicious dishes by themselves, but to share the ever-changing delicacies with those around them. “It’s a restaurant where you can try a bunch of different dishes because everything is meant to be shared. And it’s done so in a way for you to either create your own experience or leave it to us.”
Mozzarella and salumi serves as the perfect starter
The menu offers two entree items, and nearly every dish—even the cocktails!—will incorporate mozzarella in some fashion.
Red snap crudo
With an open floor plan and a small private dining area that serves as a pasta-making station during the day, Bastone brings a touch of Italy to Atlanta. “I want them to feel like they’re eating in a piazza in Italy,” says the chef-owner. Grab your friends and enjoy a craft cocktail such as the Cynar Mezcal Daiquiri while sitting at the white marble and wood bar top with an overhead view of hanging cured meat. For your main dish, opt for the cecamariti, a savory pasta made with white wine, yeast, honey and flour. (Inside tip: Grab a seat on one of the two outdoor balconies for the ultimate dining experience.) “We are creating something totally different by focusing in on something we do really well (mozzarella) in a fun way Atlanta hasn’t seen yet,” shares Pascarella.
The to-die-for cavatelli entree
So, the next time you’re on the hunt for handcrafted Italian food, you know where to head—and don’t forget your lucky deck of cards!
Photography by: Alondra Santillian
