uliveto

325 N Robinson St, Richmond, VA

The ultimate comfort food is pasta, you cannot tell me otherwise. Admittedly, your stomach feels fuller than full if you go ahead and consume heaps of it, but pasta is so multifaceted with all its shapes, sizes, and complementary flavors that you can whip up with it. Uliveto delivered massively in the pasta arena.

What was once a space called Secco, Uliveto's location is on the edge of the Fan and the Museum District, and feels both unpretentious yet still nice and contemporary. The menu was generously large with specials on top of it. I loved the wine bottles lining the walls near the ceiling and in the windowsills above the tables. The crab fingers were heavenly, smothered in a buttery sauce. We ordered the baked feta, which might sound basic, but the pickled onion and peppers on top were a nice, new touch.

As with a lot of these older Fan and Museum District buildings, space is quite limited. Sitting at the bar appeared to be quite snug, and I was thankful to be at a table. I think they make great use of the space regardless, and the waitstaff was more than accommodating and helpful. There were eclectic appetizer plates awaiting us as we were seated, and the glasses our drinks were served in were equally as diverse. There are a lot of good pasta joints in Richmond, but this new kid on the block knows what's up.