About ten years ago, I was a regular customer at a restaurant called Sotto Cinque, Italian for “Under Five.” Nothing on the menu was actually under $5, but the food was cheap, filling, and good.
Now a new restaurant has come along that fills that void and then some. It’s name is Pasta Flyer, and everything on the menu is $8 or less. That’s the good news. The better news is that the man behind the restaurant is Mark Ladner, a veteran of Del Posto who knows his noodles.
Even better is that Pasta Flyer is a semi-fast food restaurant, which means your dinner will be ready within three minutes of placing your order. Not even Pasta Presto, another blast from the past, could serve up pasta that presto.
Don’t expect anything fancy at PF, which is cafeteria-style and where the bowls and utensils are disposable. Do expect capably-crafted fusilli in pesto ($7), fettucine Alfredo ($7.25), and spaghetti and meatballs ($8). Shapes and sauces can be mixed and matched. If you’re in the mood to splurge, there is wine for $7 and beer for $6.
Pasta Flyer, 510 Sixth Avenue, bet. 13th and 14th Sts. Open for dinner daily.
