The Pasta House Co. will open its doors at Saint Louis University on Monday, Nov. 18. The Pasta House is located near the Village Apartments, at 3757 Laclede Ave.
Lunch and dinner is served seven days a week. Hours of operation are Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant is open on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight.
Special features have been announced for University students, faculty and staff. Billiken Bucks will be accepted, and there will be no sales tax with a SLU ID.
A frequent diner’s program is also being implemented. For every $250 one spends, the diner is rewarded with a $25 gift certificate. Patrons will also receive a pasta dinner compliments of the Pasta House on birthdays and a candlelight dinner for two at a special price for anniversaries.
On Sundays the restaurant will feature Nonna Tucci’s traditional spaghetti and meatballs with a salad and ice cream for $7.99. The Tuesday night special includes all-you-can-eat pasta, salad, rolls and butter for $8.99.
Look for specials in the weekly Student Government Association newsletter, as Tim Kearns, general manager, said he plans to advertise there.
The Pasta House Co. menu will be comparable to that of other Pasta House locations, with a few exceptions. The menu does not offer steaks or calamari. Instead of the normal pizza luna that the restaurant is known for, 9-inch, 12-inch and 16-inch pizzas are on the menu. Lunch specials range from $7 to $9, which includes an entree and salad. At dinnertime, meals start at $4 for toasted ravioli and $13 for pasta, Kearns said.
A continental breakfast buffet is offered on the weekdays from 7 — 10 a.m., in addition to the lunch and dinner menus. The breakfast includes: bagels, muffins, juice, coffee and other such items. The breakfast will be launched on Tuesday Nov. 19.
The breakfast is “strictly for the students, but all faculty and staff are invited,” Kearns said. “The prices were set for a quick breakfast for students on the way to class.”
The building can seat up to 160. Reservations are not necessary, as seating is given on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Take-out orders are available at any time. The restaurant is looking into beginning delivery, after the first of the year.
“We expect the place to be busy at lunch and dinner for the first few months,” Kearns said. “(It is our) honeymoon period as everyone wants to come and see the new Pasta House. Our objective is to keep them coming.”
If a large party of 20 or more plans on eating there, the management asks that someone contact them ahead of time, so that proper arrangements can be made. Party banquets can be held for groups up to 60. Catering is also available for departments and student organizations.
In preparation for opening, everything went as the Company planned. The kitchen stayed the same, and not a lot of changes were made. The front was made more appealing, and the entire restaurant was given Pasta House Co. atmosphere.
Kearns does not anticipate a great parking problem as it is “expects that a majority of the clientele will be students will just walk down here,” he said. Any parking issues that may occur will be handled by the University, he added.
While SLU owns the building and the franchise, the Pasta House Co. will manage the restaurant. The Pasta House Co. opening means an increase in jobs for students. Currently the Company is training more then 50 students. Applications are still being accepted Mondays through Fridays, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. All applicants need to provide proof of a Hepatitis A shot. No prior experience is necessary to apply.
Pasta House Co. can be contacted at 977-PHC1 (7421).
