A fig cookie filled with dark chocolate, cloves, and orange, then topped with lemon icing and rainbow sprinkles. Yeah, I’m definitely looking twice at that.
It comes from a family recipe credited to a real grandma.
The cookies share counter space with handmade pasta. The dough uses organic eggs from pastured chickens and domestic flour from North Dakota.
The hot pasta menu rotates, so the lineup keeps changing.
I like how this Missouri shop started small. It began as a pop-up at bars and concert venues, then grew into a full kitchen team.
That kind of climb takes real stubbornness.
Then there are the cannoli, in mini and large sizes. What gets me is how hard it seems to leave with just pasta.
Would you even try?
A Sicilian Family Story Lives Inside Every Noodle
Four Sicilian immigrants sit in the family tree behind Pasta La Fata. Owner Michelle La Fata, known as Shelly, is their great-granddaughter.
She grew up in a family that gardened and cooked every meal from scratch. That upbringing shaped her love of traditional Italian recipes.
I can see why the menu feels so personal. These aren’t recipes pulled from a trend board.
They come from a family that took dinner seriously every single night.
The business didn’t start with a fancy dining room either. It began as a pop-up, showing up at downtown Columbia bars and concert venues.
Shelly later ran things solo at the farmers market. Over time, that one-person setup grew into a full kitchen team.
That kind of growth tells you something about the food. People kept coming back, and the operation kept getting bigger.
Shelly also likes to say that food is medicine. It’s a simple idea, but it explains a lot about how she runs the kitchen.
So when you grab a bowl of pasta here, you’re tasting more than flour and eggs. You’re getting a slice of a Sicilian family tradition that made its way to mid-Missouri.
Fried, Crispy, And Hard To Share Politely
Here’s a fun word to say out loud: panzerotti. At Pasta La Fata, the meatball version leads a whole section of fried favorites called fritti.
Think of panzerotti as a small, fried, stuffed pocket. It’s a great pick if you want something handheld alongside your pasta.
The fritti list keeps going from there. Cheese toasted ravioli makes an appearance, which feels like a nice nod to Missouri food traditions.
Cheesy arancini bites are on the list too. These little rice balls are a classic Italian snack for good reason.
Polenta fritti offer something a bit different. They’re a crispy way to enjoy cornmeal, and they pair nicely with a bowl of pasta.
Craving heat? Calabrian hot chicken wings bring some spice to the table.
And for the classic crowd, mozzarella sticks are available. Sometimes you just want the familiar thing, and that’s fine.
I’d say the fritti menu is perfect for building your own sampler. Grab two or three items and pass them around the table.
Just know that passing them around requires trust. Once the arancini hit the table, friendships might get tested a little.
Sandwiches, Soups, And Salads Earn Their Own Spotlight
Pasta gets top billing, but the sandwich board deserves attention. A chicken parm sandwich, a meatball sub, and a Calabrian chicken sandwich have all appeared.
Each one leans into Italian flavors. The Calabrian chicken option sounds like a good fit if you enjoy a little kick.
Salads round things out in a fresh way. Options have included a harvest salad, a chopped wedge salad, and a simple side salad.
Soups also rotate through the menu here. That makes this a smart lunch stop when the weather turns chilly.
I like that you can build a full meal without ordering pasta at all. That’s handy if you’re feeding someone with different cravings.
Of course, mixing and matching works too. A side salad next to a bowl of rigatoni is a pretty balanced plan.
Drinks keep the variety going. House-made lemonades come in flavors like guava pear and mango.
Hot and iced coffee are available, plus iced tea and sparkling beverages. So whether you need refreshment or a caffeine boost, you’re covered.
Honestly, this section of the menu is where a quick lunch turns into a regular habit.
Good Luck Picking Just One Pasta From This Rotating Lineup
Crab ravioli in brown butter is the kind of dish that makes decisions hard. And it’s only one option on a hot pasta menu that rotates.
Past dishes have included sun-dried tomato pesto with bucatini and Italian sausage ragu with rigatoni. There’s also been spaghetti carbonara and a Bolognese lasagna slice.
Then things get even more tempting. Burrata tortelloni in Bolognese has shown up, along with broccoli, sausage, and cavatelli.
Comfort food fans get their moment too. Mac and cheese and chicken cavatelli have both made the menu.
Because the lineup changes, your favorite might not be there next week. Fair warning, that’s both exciting and a little stressful.
My advice is simple. Order what catches your eye today, because it could rotate out before your next visit.
The pasta itself is the real star. It’s handmade, using organic eggs from pastured chickens and domestic flour from North Dakota.
Those details matter in a dish with so few parts. When the noodle is the foundation, better ingredients make a big difference.
Bring a friend if you can. Splitting two bowls is the smartest way to sample more of the rotation.
Save Room, Because The Cannoli Are Watching You
Mini or large? That’s the big cannoli question at Pasta La Fata, and neither answer is wrong.
The cannoli come with toppings like pistachio and chocolate chip. Pistachio gives a nutty, classic Sicilian touch, while chocolate chip keeps things fun.
The mini size is great for a small treat after lunch. It’s also a sneaky way to try more than one flavor.
The large size is for serious dessert people. You know who you are, and nobody’s judging.
Cannoli make a lot of sense here, given the owner’s Sicilian roots. These shells and fillings come from that same island tradition.
The funny part is how easy it is to plan dessert first. You see the pastry case, and suddenly the pasta order becomes a side quest.
A smart move is grabbing a few minis to go. They make a nice surprise for anyone waiting at home.
Or you could keep them all for yourself. That’s a personal decision between you and your sweet tooth.
Either way, skipping the cannoli feels like leaving a story half-read.
Grandma La Fata’s Cookies Deserve A Spot In Your Cookie Jar
Some cookies come with a name tag that says family. At this shop, they’re called Grandma La Fata’s Italian Cookies.
The cuccidati is the showstopper. This fig cookie is filled with sweet figs and dark chocolate, accented with cloves and orange.
Then it gets a playful finish. Lemon icing and rainbow sprinkles go right on top.
I have to admit, that combination sounds like a celebration. It’s cozy and cheerful at the same time.
The giuggiulena takes a quieter path. This sesame seed cookie is subtle and barely sweet.
It’s described as resembling a seeded grissini breadstick. It’s also a staple in Sicilian family cookie jars.
That’s the detail I can’t get over. These cookies aren’t just tasty, they connect you to everyday Sicilian home life.
The ingredients get careful attention too. The cookies use non-GMO sugar and butter from grass-fed cows.
If you can’t choose, get one of each. The fig cookie brings the party, and the sesame cookie pairs nicely with coffee.
Grandma clearly knew what she was doing.
Your Freezer Is About To Get Way More Interesting
Weeknight dinner just got easier. Pasta La Fata sells fresh and frozen pasta, so you can take the shop home with you.
The frozen meal selection goes beyond plain noodles. You’ll find small-batch sauces, cannelloni, lasagna, and meatballs.
There’s also a rotating variety of specialty meals. So the freezer case can surprise you from one visit to the next.
This is a lifesaver for busy families. Grab a lasagna on Saturday, and you’ve got a dinner plan ready to go.
Fresh pasta is a great option if you like to cook. Pair it with one of the house sauces and you’ve done very little work.
I’d absolutely make room in my freezer for this. Having homemade-style Italian food on standby feels like a small luxury.
It’s also a nice gift idea. Bringing a frozen lasagna to a friend who just moved or had a baby is pretty thoughtful.
Pro tip: bring a cooler bag if you’re driving a distance. Columbia sits right in the middle of Missouri, so plenty of folks travel in.
Your future hungry self will thank you.
Local Farmers Get A Big Role In What Lands On Your Plate
All the meat here is 100 percent locally sourced. That’s a bold commitment for a busy kitchen.
Pasta La Fata prioritizes buying ingredients from farmers around Columbia, Missouri. It’s part of the owner’s belief that food is medicine.
Those standards show up across the menu. Pasta uses organic eggs from pastured chickens, and cookies use butter from grass-fed cows.
Okay, that’s impressive. Plenty of places talk about quality, but these details are specific.
The local connection runs deeper too. Remember, the business got rolling as a solo stand at the farmers market.
It still shows up there today. You can find Pasta La Fata at the Columbia Farmers Market on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon.
The market sits at 1769 W Ash St in Columbia. It’s a fun way to shop for produce and grab Italian treats in one trip.
I like how the shop never left its roots behind. The market stand is a reminder of where everything began.
Plus, a Saturday morning cannoli among farm stands sounds like a pretty perfect start to the weekend.
Grab A Seat Or Take It To Go, Just Plan Around Mondays
Cozy and charming is a fair way to describe this spot. It’s a counter-service restaurant that keeps things fast and casual.
You order at the counter, and meals come packed to go. Still, there’s a small dining room with 30 seats if you’d like to stay.
That setup works for almost any plan. Eat in with friends, or carry dinner home to the couch.
On your way out, the pastry case waits by the door. It has a growing menu of treats, including bombas and layer cakes.
The shop also hosts an Italian Dinner Series. Keep an eye out if you want a special night centered on Italian cooking.
You’ll find Pasta La Fata at 1207 Rogers Street, Suite 106, in Columbia, Missouri. It’s an easy stop for locals and road-trippers alike.
Timing matters here, so plan ahead. The store opens Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Weekend hours run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and Mondays are closed.
Show up hungry for pasta, and leave carrying a cookie box. That’s the move.
