The Best Pasta Dishes in West Palm Beach

A carb-lover’s guide to fall in South Florida

As fall drifts in (yes, even here in Florida), the air starts to cool—just enough to awaken cravings for cozy, comforting bowls of pasta. I always come back to Federico Fellini’s words: “Life is a combination of magic and pasta.” And what better place to experience that magic than West Palm Beach, where Italian food is flourishing in ways both traditional and totally unexpected.

Here are a few of my favorite pasta dishes around town—each one a reminder that good pasta is more than a meal. It’s a mood.

Ristorante Santucci

Authentic Sicilian soul, served fresh

In a world of chain restaurants and chef-driven concepts, finding a truly authentic, family-owned Italian gem feels rare. But for over a decade, Emilio Eugenio and Selena Santucci have kept the dream alive in West Palm Beach. Their labor of love,Ristorante Santucci, is a warm, intimate homage to Sicily—and it’s where you go when you’re craving the real thing.

Bucatini all’Amatriciana

Thick, hollow bucatini catches every drop of the rich tomato-Parmesan sauce, sweetened with caramelized onions and punctuated by crispy guanciale. The acidic pop of tomato against the pasta’s chewy texture is chef’s kiss.

Spaghetti Carbonara

Forget what you think you know about carbonara. This one is pure comfort: creamy, salty, and silky from an emulsion of egg, pecorino, and guanciale (think rich, melty, unsmoked bacon). It’s deceptively simple. Devastatingly good.

Mezzaluna di Ossobuco

Can’t choose between Osso Buco and pasta? Now you don’t have to. These delicate half-moons are stuffed with tender veal shank and dressed in a butter-sage sauce, finished with a lemon glaze. Rich, aromatic, and unforgettable.

Lynora’s

A legacy of fresh pasta and family tradition

Lynora’s has grown from humble beginnings into a South Florida staple with multiple locations—but its heart has never changed. For nearly 50 years, the Abbenante family has been feeding generations of pasta lovers with their signature fresh pasta and time-honored sauces.

Short Rib Ravioli

Fall-apart tender short rib meets earthy porcini cream sauce in this bold, addictive dish. One bite and you’ll understand the obsession.

Pappardelle e Polpette

A serious upgrade from spaghetti and meatballs. These hand-cut ribbons of pappardelle hold their own against house-made meatballs, all dressed up in tomato sauce and a dollop of ricotta. A classic reimagined.

Pasticcio

A deconstructed lasagna that eats like a warm hug. Layers of bolognese, béchamel, and mozzarella melt into a gooey, nostalgic masterpiece. Rainy-day comfort food—even if the sun’s still shining.

Grato

Seasonal, soulful, and a little bit sexy

Chef Clay Conley’s Grato is what happens when a classically trained chef gets playful with Italian tradition. The menu rotates with the seasons, but the pasta section is always the star. Here are a few recent standouts:

Tagliatelle Carbonara

Silky ribbons of handmade tagliatelle tossed with guanciale, sharp pecorino, and a surprising hit of freshness from mint and peas. It’s carbonara—but brighter, lighter, and totally addictive.

Radiatore

These fun, frilly pasta “nuggets” are the ideal sponge for umami-rich porcini bolognese, mascarpone butter, and a whisper of truffle. Funky, earthy, and deeply satisfying.

Maine Lobster Ravioli

This dish tastes like summer clinging to its last breath: sweet lobster wrapped in delicate pasta, with crème fraîche, lemon zest, and fresh herbs that make every bite sing.

Whether you’re in the mood for rustic, handmade Sicilian classics or modern, chef-driven creations, West Palm Beach is a paradise for pasta lovers. And as the nights get a little cooler and the cravings get a little stronger, one thing’s clear: life really is a combination of magic and pasta.

-Raheem Vaziralli

photo credit: Grato