The stretch of Pico Boulevard between Western Avenue and Arlington Avenue is lined with auto shops, laundries, Oaxacan cafes and Korean restaurants. Since October, Arlington Heights is also home to one of the best Italian restaurants in the city: Pasta Sisters.

The menu at Pasta Sisters is a mix-and-match; you choose your type of noodle:pappardelle, tagliatelle, spaghetti, penne, or gnocchi,and a sauce to go along with it. The outside patio of the restaurant had string lights hung end to end, black and white checkered flooring, and Italian music illuminating the space and creating an Italian ambiance.

One of Pasta Sister’s most namesake and delicious dishes is their incredible freshly made pasta. The pappardelle pasta is a personal favorite of mine, the uniquely shaped and rolled texture creates a pillowy feel of the pasta. The tomato basil sauce has a garlicky base with an intense flavor of basil that kept me longing for the next bite to touch my tongue. The dish was nothing short of spectacular with its intense combination of flavors, it feels as if I could’ve stayed indulging in the dish forever. 

Any delicious pasta is perfectly paired with the seasonal arugula salad.  The refreshing flavor of the crunchy red grapes are used to counteract the acidity of the balsamic vinegar reduction. The arugula salad is also topped with sweet candied pecans and salty parmesan reggiano cheese strips to create the perfect bite of sweet and salty 

Unlike the excellent food and service at Pasta Sister’s, the parking is truly a challenge. There is very limited parking in the area, and with the weekend crowds, it sometimes takes just as long to find a parking spot than to wait for a table. For their next location, Pasta Sister’s should scout an area with ample parking so customers don’t have to waste time while they are hungry in the morning.

With great customer service and flavorful food, Pasta Sister’s brings the Italian influence into the Los Angeles area. It is a unique dining experience, and one that I wouldn’t mind repeating over and over again. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants a taste of Italy in the heat of Los Angeles.