Mirko Pasta on Athens’ Eastside offers patrons a multitude of dining and beverage options in a laid-back atmosphere. From their specialty entrees to a build-it-yourself pasta menu and an extensive drink list, Mirko’s affordable, yet first-class dining experience is suitable for a date or a relaxing night out with friends and family.
Restaurant
founder and chef Mirko de Giacomantonio is a native of a small coastal Italian
town. He has lived a life
surrounded by food, and learned very early how to cook. More importantly, however, he learned
how to prepare a dish with love and care from his grandmother. It’s this meticulous and careful nature
that allows his restaurants to cater to the even the pickiest of patrons.
After
working at restaurants in five countries, then moving to Atlanta, Mirko coveted
the relaxed feel of Athens and wanted to share that intimate, laid-back feeling
through food. He wanted it to feel
just like his grandmother’s house.
He succeeded.
Upon
first walking into the restaurant, you can smell the cheeses and sauces just
begging to melt in your mouth.
You’ll also notice how clean everything looks. Surrounding you are clean, empty tabletops ready for
dining.
At
first glance, the menu might appear a bit overwhelming: There are plenty of hard to recognize
Italian words. But don’t fear –
each menu option is followed by a detailed description and the cashiers are
friendly and happy to answer questions.
For pasta fans, there is also a large plate at the front which labels
each kind of pasta so patrons can know the length and thickness prior to
ordering.
There
is quite a bit of information crammed into one front-and-back menu, but Mirko
wants to offer nearly unlimited dining options, just like his grandmother
offered him. For fans of
appetizers, Mirko offers six unique types of salads and seven distinct
appetizers with varying breads, sauces or soups.
The
restaurant offers five different kinds of pre-selected filled pasta, as well as
eight types of Italian entrees, but the real fun comes in creating your own affordable
dish – between $9 and $12 depending on the type (although expect your bill to
be a bit more pricy if you opt for one of the larger
entrees). First, you choose from one of six short or long pasta types. Then you
can top it with any one of 13 delicious sauce options. I’d recommend something thick – perhaps
their Funghi sauce, rich with mushrooms and cream and coating the pasta
beautifully like paint on a canvas.
As
if a traditional Italian dinner isn’t enough, Mirko offers six desserts which
they display in a clear, glass case in the front counter – each appearing more
decadent than the last – and an extensive beverage list including coffee, wine
and beer. You can expect no fewer than 12-15 beer options, both bottle and
draft (beer selection will vary by location). They will also offer you a wine
to match the food dish you have chosen, but they list six to eight different
wines available by the glass, ½ liter or liter.
Perhaps
more impressive than their food though, is the atmosphere and what happens
after you order. Those same
smiling, friendly cashiers that you’ve already spoken to will bring you
drinking glasses and fill them for you.
They also bring out a plate of complimentary bread with oil and bean
dipping sauces. Once they bring
your food to you, they’ll continue to fill your glasses as needed and bring as
much bread as you desire. While I eat, I see them continue to clean tables and prepare
a wonderful dining experience for the next person.
I
leave wishing it could have lasted longer. Mirko offers a unique experience of letting you choose
exactly what you want, sort of a walk through his own kitchen and selecting
items as you go. The restaurant
offers a high-end menu with a laid-back, down to earth cost, and you can bet
I’ll be back again soon to see what other fantastic dish I can create.
Food and Beverage: A
Affordability: B
Atmosphere: A+
Overall Experience: A
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