Fresh pasta worth seeking out in Boone

The Pasta Joint | A husband-and-wife Italian spot in a Boone building with a past

The Pasta Joint opened in September 2025 in an old house just off downtown Boone — turns out the building was once the town's first jail, which gives the place a bit of a story before you even sit down. (In case you missed the pun, “joint” is a slang term for jail.) A husband-and-wife team runs it, the menu is built around housemade pasta, and the tagline is "we roll our own." (Sounds like another pun playing off a different meaning for “joint.”) The food really is as good as the puns.

The basics: Italian, with a full bar and a solid cocktail menu. Lunch and dinner, closed Tuesdays. Reservations recommended.

What it is: Walk through a wrought-iron gate and you're in a gardeny outdoor space before you even get inside. There's a little porch, seating inside the old building, and a nice bar. The atmosphere leans intimate and slightly upscale without being stiff about it.

The menu centers on fresh pasta — a few different gnocchis, pappardelle and whatever specials are running. Half-portions run $15-19, and full pasta portions run $24-30. They also do salads and fish, and the short rib ($34) gets mentioned as a standout. The rhubarb and peach cobbler is worth a look on the dessert list.

What to order: The pappardelle with truffles, mushrooms, and Pecorino is worth your attention. The roasted beet salad with greens, Pecorino, and pistachios ($12) is a solid start, as is the apple and pear salad ($13). The half-portion pasta option lets you try a few different courses without filling up.

Good to know: This place feels like it's still in the process of being discovered — popular with locals who've found it, but not yet on everyone's radar for visitors. That window won't last long.

The move: Go for dinner on a weekend night. Order one of the fresh pastas, get a salad to start, and ask what the fish special is. Skip the cobbler only if you're genuinely full.