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Arabella Casa di Pasta
Marigny: 2258 St. Claude Ave. 504-267-6108. Map.
Casual.
AE MC V
Website
ANECDOTES AND ANALYSIS On the top edge of the Marigny Triangle lies a delicious and slightly unexpected Italian restaurant with a light heart--to judge by the pun-laden descriptions of the many fresh pastas and ingredients to toss it with. It harbors a small array of salads and appetizers, but the focus is on the sizable portions of pasta. I’m in a pasta-hungry stage lately, and I've been hooked by Arabella since the place opened. The staff is happily involved in serving your pick from the myriad possibilities that come about with seven pasta shapes (one of them gluten-free), six sauces, and seven miscellaneous toppings. This review by Thomas Pearce.
WHY IT'S NOTEWORTHY The two major Italian restaurant in the Marigny are both packed all the time and at the other end of the Triangle. Arabella is less well known, and stronger in the food department.
WHAT'S GOOD Most of the menu is generated by a popular current formula: it asks the customers to assemble their entrees by mixing and matching. You get an inkling of it from the spicy meatball appetizer atop thick slices of French bread. It's made of beef, pork, and andouille sausage, and is more robust than most. Another good starter is the bruschetta, made with fresh tomatoes and tasteful use of balsamic and basil. Despite the groaner of a name, my go-to entree sauce is the John Belu-Cheese, which features a creamy Jack Daniel's whiskey sauce with chicken, bleu cheese crumbles, green onion & fried chicken cracklin' over rigatoni. While I have tried every other specialty pasta on the menu and several custom orders, this is my pick for the best dish they serve. They have weekly specials that generally have some exotic meat or veggies, they are hit or miss but it all depends on your taste at the time. Sometimes you want a creamier sauce, sometimes a play on Carbonara sounds good. Also: Cannoli and espresso before you hit the door. Pistachio option, please. I'd like to see a little more guidance from the chef, but at these prices it's hard to complain about anything.
BACKSTORY Arabella was at first a pop-up restaurant Uptown (hence the mislocated name). It moved to an empty spot next to a bar in the Marigny in 2014. Owners Mowgli and Amanda Pierlas dispense with almost all formalities, and has the feeling many of us have come to love in the Marigny restaurant district.
DINING ROOM
It is a cozy, shotgun-style space with a maximum of about 40-60 seated patrons. As is popular in this area, you place your order at the counter with one of the very friendly staff members and then be ready to grab the first table available. While th3e dining room can fill to the discomfort line during peak hours, the experience winds up being pleasant. .
REVIEWER'S NOTEPAD
[title type="h6"]FULL ONLINE MENU[/title]
BEST DISHES
Starters
Spicy meatballs of beef, pork and andouille sausage
Bruschetta (garlic, fresh basil & balsamic reduction)
Caesar salad, pecorino Romano cheese, roasted red peppers
Spinach salad, strawberries, goat cheese, roasted pecans, honey balsamic
Arugula salad, red onion, Roma tomato, pecorino Romano, lemon oil vinaigrette
"The Don" ("A wopping portion of romaine, artichoke hearts, red onion, feta, tomato, olives, cucumbers & Italian dressing" [their words, not ours])
Entrees
PASTA CHOICES
Fusilli
Gluten free fusilli
Rigatoni
Vegan rigatoni with roasted red peppers
Vegan spaghetti
Fettuccine
Black pepper fettuccine
SAUCE CHOICES
Pomodoro (tomatoes, onion, garlic, fresh basil)
Puttanesca (spicy tomato sauce, serrano peppers, anchovies, olives, capers)
Spicy tomato cream sauce
Pecan pesto
Portobello mushrooms, shallots, garlic, brandy cream sauce
Grandma's bolognese
TOPPINGS AND TOSSINGS
Organic chicken
Roasted red peppers
Italian sausage
Artichoke hearts
Meatballs
Asparagus
Gulf shrimp
Mushrooms
Broccoli
CHEF'S ENTREES
Shrimp picatta (arugula, lemon-infused extra virgin olive oil, fettuccine
Marco Pollo (chicken [get it?], artichoke hearts, tomatoes, white wine, parmesan cheese, black pepper fettuccine)
The Spaghettisburg Address (spaghetti, meatballs, pomodoro sauce with fresh basil)
John Belu-Cheese (creamy whiskey sauce, chicken, blue cheese, green onion, fried chicken cracklings, rigatoni
Desserts
Cannoli made to order, with a choice of sprinkles and nuts
Tiramisu
FOR BEST RESULTS
See Margaret for a fantastic cocktail and a great attitude. Arabella is a great spot for late lunch, early dinner, or getting your pasta fix at night. One thing I’ve learned is to stick to the menu. They offer a custom dish option and while that is unique to a small establishment, it’s only necessary for the pickiest of eaters. Their specialties are all delicious and have traits all their own.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
FACTORS OTHER THAN FOOD
Up to three points, positive or negative, for these characteristics. Absence of points denotes average performance in the matter.
- Dining Environment +1
- Consistency +1
- Service+1
- Value +2
- Attitude +2
- Wine & Bar
- Hipness +1
- Local Color +3
SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES
- Live music some nights
- Good for business meetings
- Unusually large servings
- Quick, good meal
- Easy, nearby parking
- No reservations
