"We hate to disrespect those Italian chain restaurants that dish up cardboard-flavored pasta, but why go there when you can get the real deal for even cheaper at Pastini Pastaria? A bowl of spaghetti topped with fresh basil and garlic is just a few bucks -- nothing here costs more than $9. The prices may be from yesteryear, but the scene is very today: bright and modern with an open kitchen and sometimes deafening crowds. The food is up to date as well, with some outstanding dishes such as cannelloni stuffed with shrimp and scallions or "Tony's Favorite Meatball" sandwich with melted Fontina. The service is speedy and efficient here, making it an excellent stop for a quick bite before a movie. It's equally enjoyable to kick back and relax. Bring the whole family; your wallet is going to love it." 

"...the Irvington neighborhood's Pastini is packing them in...It's not hard to see why. A satisfying sandwich or helping of pasta runs only $4.95 to $9.75; there's a full bar; and the classy interior gives the impression that you should be paying more for your meal. Bowls of steaming pasta mixed with quality tomatoes, fennel sausage, gorgonzola, etc., deliver instant comfort, as do inexpensive glasses of wine and beer."

"...Pastini genuinely captures what many Americans expect from Italian kitchens - noodles run amok, with fresh-tasting sauces and not bashful about piling on the cheese...preparations are straight-ahead, putting simple, fresh flavors first and fussy pretense on permanent hold. A simple bowl of spaghetti tossed with fresh basil and garlic sets you back only $4.95, while the most extravagant dishes top out at $9.75. Hearty tubes of cannelloni stuffed with shrimp and scallops and baked in a buttery beschamella cream sauce are a standout. Easier on the waistline, though no less succulent, is a bowl of spaghetti tossed with prawns, grilled tomatoes and mozzarella. Tiramisu, an Italian menu staple is nobly done here."

"Most people go to this place for the big bowls of yummy pasta, but there's another reason to bookmark it: antipasto. A huge plate with thin slices of legit Tuscan salami, spicy coppacola, room-temp buffalo mozzarella and provolone, gooey roasted eggplant, olives and tomatoes surrounding a center of greens happily hugging vinaigrette is finger-stickin' fun. The pastas (most $6-$8) are a draw as well and come from the open kitchen in a wide bowl perfect for dipping ciabbata into the sauce."

"The look is modern trattoria - high ceilings...nicely warmed with wood accents... servers are speedy, friendly and attentive. Fresh, inventive Italian food with an emphasis on value - nothing is more than $9.00. There are more than 20 pastas to choose from. Rigatoni Bolognese, big pasta tubes coated with a rich, complex sauce of braised beef and veal, is the perfect antidote for a cold, rainy Portland day."