Pasta joint will please your taste buds and wallet
Print Edition
THE newest addition to Shanghai’s Italian cuisine scene is Da Camilla, a tiny split-level pasta joint on the corner of Xinzha Road and North Shaanxi Road. Da Camilla’s unique mix-and-match concept — diners chose from 80 combinations of different pastas and sauces — prompted the Shanghai Daily to experience its tasty tortellini and savory spaghetti for ourselves.
The venue is decked out in white-washed wood paneling, with deep blue booths and tables made of a light-colored wood. The space is small but the design takes advantage of every inch, with a gently curving wooden staircase connecting the ground floor with the second-story split-level area. There’s a display area towards the front of the lower level, which is filled with olive oils and other Italian cooking essentials.
Guests go directly to the front counter to place their order, which is then prepared in the glass-enclosed kitchen underneath the upper floor.
One of the Da Camilla’s biggest draws its comprehensive menu. They have ten different options of sauce, ranging from the cheapest option of olive and basil parmesan to the mid-priced bacon and mushroom cream to the more expensive pesto al basilica. Not to be outdone, the pasta selection boasts eleven unique options. Short pastas like fusilli and gnocchi, among others, can be selected at no additional charge, while long (i.e. spaghetti) and stuffed pastas (such as their tortellini a funghi or ravioli ricotta e spinaci) will cost you an extra 10 yuan (US$1.50) and 20 yuan, respectively.
They also have a selection of soups and coffees. The best deal are their lunch sets — 78 yuan gets you a soup, pasta, and drink, while 108 yuan gets you all that plus a pastry and a coffee.
We tried the tortellini with truffle oil parmesan sauce and the ravioli with tomato basil sauce. We also added some olive oil and spices. The pasta had good flavor and bold sauces, although the filling was somewhat lacking in taste. The tortellini serving was also small. The ravioli was a bit undercooked, which is perhaps to be expected at a made-to-order pasta place. All in all though, everything was yummy and the prices were fair.
The service was also excellent. The waitresses were attentive and expedient. My order was taken by one server as another went into the back to prepare it. In less than fifteen minutes, a steaming bowl of sauce-drenched carbs was placed beneath my nose.
The two women on duty were also very helpful in providing extra olive oil and anything else I wanted from their stash of spices and add-ons.
Overall, we liked Da Camilla. The food is reasonably priced, flavorful and served fast. Moreover, the staff were attentive and eager to please. This isn’t high-end, gourmet Italian, but it’s perfect to satisfy a pasta craving. Plus, you can’t beat their lunch sets in terms of value. We recommend Da Camilla as a handy addition to your lunch repertoire.
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