Porano By Pastaria

Slick interior design. Not a large menu but good enough options. You can also customize your own bowl and pick a base, a sauce and a topping. The pizza was like cheese covered focaccia. It's not an upscale Italian restaurant but go with the expectation of a Italian fast food experience and you'll be satisfied.

Complete with an upper level loft style dining are and Foosball table this fast casual dining spot in the heart of downtown st louis is a great spot for lunch or dinner. They primarily focus on pasta and pizza dishes with freshly made ingredients. There are several pre-made options or you can build your own bowl. Regular sized meals are typically less than 10 dollars. Large bowl options are typically at least 13 dollars. Overall worth the stop

Porano is very sleek. The interior design is very well done, and the plants they have incorporated are a nice touch. The food is fresh and easy to order, the staff was helpful and friendly. We were working a gymnastics tournament across the street in the America's center. So if you are looking for a quick bite but don't want to get fast food and also don't want to go very far then Porano is a perfect option. One thing that was very unique about Porano is the soda selection. Check it out.

This place is amazing for fast pasta. Gerard Craft who owns several restaurants in town made this his beacon of fast casual cuisine. It's like Chipotle but for pasta. The roasted red pepper sauce has no flavor other than hot. When. I went they were out of Alfredo. Given there was no rush I'd expect them to have product. Albeit my pasta noodles were tasty cooked just right, and their topping selection is phenomenal. Try rissota balls for a real friend treat!!

It's basically a Chipotle but for pasta. I could go there every day for lunch and not get burned out. I recommend not getting too crazy with your order the first time you go. You can get a pretty basic meal there and it still tastes amazing. The regular bowl is enough food for me. Only get the large if you're used to really big meals or need leftovers. Also, the have Excel Soda, which is out of southern Illinois, I'm a big Coca-Cola fan and I actually like their cola better. The cane sugar makes a big difference. Beer and wine options too. They tend to be a little more generous with portions during dinner than lunch.

Only reason I gave four stars is because Chelsea was phenomenal, earning 3 stars for her place of employment. She educated us about the local fountain drinks, answered questions we had about places to go on the area, and before anything else, she asked us how our day was going and if she could help us find anything. Her customer service was above and beyond and even though she may have had to get other things done, she tended to us, as the customers, first, which was highly important and much appreciated. We grabbed two pasta bowls with a beverage. The fountain drinks are a local company that taste similar to name brand products. Best option is to mix the drinks with the tea and light ice for more flavor. Otherwise, the $2 bottled water is a better option. The pasta tasted a little rubbery, clearly having sat for awhile. I later learned they drop pasta every five minutes. If that was the case, after taking at least 7-8 minutes deciding what to order, the pasta should have been changed and it wasn't. Then, the cooks poured fresh food, chicken and veggies to be exact right on top of the old and noticeably old food (veggies). A quick dumping and wiping of the dead broccoli pieces at the bottom of the bowl would have been a better solution and acceptable but that's just my opinion as a customer that witnessed this. Glad I didn't order the veggie bowl, but I definitely had a slight concern if whether or not our food would taste fresh. But since we already ordered our food, we figured why not find out. Going forward, Not a good look mixing old food with fresh. Side note: I wondered if a staff meeting had just ended with all the random people standing around and walking behind the counter. Sanitary issues are always a concern when dealing with food. Anyway, our cashier who also served us was great and very patience while we internally decided if we would eat there or not, which is why I gave the last (one) star. Point of advice- get a tad extra sauce with the large bowl to avoid dry noodles and keep your back to everyone because the manager walks around looking at empty tables and tray holders way to often to even feel comfortable while you're eating. Food at best was decent. Portion size was good. Quality was okay not fantastic. Customer service was amazing for the reasons outlined above and security is definitely on point (manager). Thanks.