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Americans love pasta so much that dishes such as spaghetti and meatballs are thought of as more American than Italian. Restaurants serving pasta hit a variety of price points, but because they're often seen as romantic, they can be expensive. Luckily, there's affordable pasta to be found across the country. Here are top-notch spots to get a cheap pasta fix in every state and Washington, D.C.
Birmingham
At Giuseppe's Cafe, you can get plenty of pastas for $16 or less, and all come with a big chunk of homemade garlic bread. You can order a classic, red-sauce dish such as spaghetti and meatballs, or try something full of herbs and veggies such as fresh chicken pesto linguine.
Anchorage
Everything's expensive in Alaska, but you'll find some relative bargains on the menu at Pizza Plaza Ristorante in Anchorage. Get spaghetti, fettuccini, or spirilla with meat sauce or marinara for $18. It's served with garlic bread and your choice of soup or dinner salad, so it's a full meal.
Scottsdale
Although most people go to Casella's for fantastic Italian hoagies and cheesesteaks, this 40-year-old family-run deli also has two pastas on its menu: spaghetti with meatballs and lasagna. The lasagna is $10 and comes with a side of garlic bread, and the spaghetti is even cheaper.
Jacksonville
There are so many pasta dishes under $11 at Roma that it's hard to choose just one. Spaghetti with meatballs or sausage clocks in at $11, and you can also get something such as linguine with clams or a number of baked pastas topped with cheese for under 15 bucks.
Berkeley
A Berkeley favorite that takes pride in its made-from-scratch sauces, stocks, and meatballs, Gypsy’s offers a wide array of pasta dishes all under $12.75, including seafood options featuring calamari, scallops, and jumbo shrimp. Vegetarian options also abound, and all cost less than $9.75.
Multiple Locations
With four locations in Colorado and two in Minnesota, Panino's has a lock on traditional Italian favorites. Try a half-order of the spaghetti pie for $9 or the Sicilian scampi for $20.
Wethersfield
Why go to a fancy restaurant when you can get fresh pasta straight from the source? The staff at Carmela's make all kinds of fresh pasta and sauces by hand, and they're available cooked right in the store for lunch. Try the numerous ravioli flavors, such as wild mushroom and sausage, most of which top out at $11. If you like it enough, you can buy some uncooked pasta for later.
Wilmington
Mr. Pasta has been hand-making pasta in Wilmington since 1959. It's a no-frills spot where everything is made right in the building, so prices are low. Choose a plate of ravioli and meatballs for $8, or spring for lasagna or eggplant Parmesan for $13. Frozen pasta to go is available for $3.50 a pound.
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While Washington, D.C. isn't known for its cheap eats, this neighborhood spot comes close. The spaghetti with marinara is $12, while spaghetti with housemade meatballs is $15. Reviewers say servings are huge and quality can't be beat,
Tampa
This tiny restaurant is putting out some stunning pasta dishes at low prices. The entire menu at Piccola Italia comprises 10 pasta dishes, all for $13. Spaghetti carbonara is a good bet, or try pasta with tuna and cherry tomatoes. The daily specials on the chalkboard are worth the splurge, especially the osso buco.
Atlanta
With four locations around Atlanta, it's easy to get an inexpensive pasta fix at Figo. The menu is a build-your-own affair — choose a pasta and the sauce to go with it. Primavera with fresh veggies and a white wine sauce is a solid choice under $11.
Wahiawa
Hawaii isn't known for having inexpensive anything, but J P Spaghetti on Oahu has some great pasta deals. The laid-back shop has a walk-up counter and only a few tables. Seafood is popular, naturally, so try the shrimp special, which comes with huge shrimp, vegetables, and bacon in a white wine sauce.
Boise
This all-you-can-eat cafe offers pizza, salad, and dessert, but the make-it-yourself pasta bar is sure to have something to entice pasta fans. Pizza Pie Cafe offers sauces ranging from Alfredo and carbonara to marinara with and without meat. And the price? Under $10.
Bloomington
The Lucca Grill has been serving pizza and pasta in a homey, tavern-like atmosphere since two brothers opened it in 1936. House specialties include a baked ziti that's served steaming out of the oven for less than $10, plus lasagna with four different cheeses for about $15. Classic pastas such as spaghetti, fettuccine Alfredo, and cheese ravioli in marinara sauce are served with fresh bread and butter for an inexpensive, filling meal.
West Lafayette
Located just off the Purdue campus is Bruno's, an Italian joint and sports bar that's been around since 1955. While it's probably hard for students to pass up the pizza, there's a menu of pastas worth trying too: lasagna, Alfredo, and manicotti all come in under $14.
Mason City
This family-friendly restaurant puts pasta first in its name and on its menu. Lunch guests can choose from half a dozen pasta options all under $9, while Pasta Bella’s pasta specialties start at just under $11. For $13, there’s a baked pasta sampler featuring cannelloni, manicotti and lasagna.
Wichita
Albero Cafe is quaint inside, with big windows and inexpensive prices. Spaghetti and meatballs is $13, or upgrade to chicken scampi over angel hair for a few bucks more.
Louisville
The Come Back Inn has dim lighting and a cozy feel reminiscent of an old-school, red-sauce joint. Simple linguine with marinara sauce is $11, and you can add three meatballs or a whole Italian sausage for 3 bucks more.
New Orleans
It's hard to escape seafood in New Orleans, and why would you want to? Even Italian restaurants such as Two Tony's specialize in seafood as well as pasta. A spicy shrimp fettuccine will set you back $18, but if you forgo the seafood, you can get meatballs and capellini for under $14.
Related: The Best Seafood Restaurant for Takeout in Every State
Multiple locations
Originally opened in 1939, Sam's Italian Foods now has a number of locations across Maine. It's known for Italian subs and pizza but has some great deals on pasta, too. Ziti or spaghetti with meatballs is $9, and you can get a pasta sampler for $13.
Baltimore
You'll have to head outside of Baltimore's Little Italy to find cheap pasta, but Grano Pasta Bar is just as cozy as some of the better-known spots. It's called a pasta bar because the kitchen is behind the bar, allowing diners to see the action. The lasagna ($16) or carbonara ($15) are both good bets.
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Boston
A lunch-only spot catering to downtown crowds, Casa Razdora serves up freshly made pasta with a variety of sauces and toppings. Pasta with three meatballs and marinara is $13, or opt for one of the tempting daily specials such as cannelloni or seafood pasta.
Ferndale
Pop's for Italian is a modern Italian restaurant with industrial decor and high ceilings. The restaurant makes pasta daily, and you can get bolognese and hand-rolled noodle curls for $17.
St. Paul
Opened by a bootlegger in 1933 after Prohibition, DeGidio's has a long history in the Twin Cities. It's known for its $18 chicken parmesan, but a spaghetti with two meatballs is $16. And it's certainly doing its part to make diners with coronavirus concerns feel safe, boasting prominently of the "Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization technology" it's installed in the HVAC system and runs 24/7 to scrub the air of potential harms.
Biloxi
Located in a strip mall, The Sicilian II might not be too pretty on the outside, but murals on the walls inside make up for it. You can get Great, Great, Great Grandma's Lasagna ($17), scampi ($15), or Alfredo with shrimp ($15). The pastas come with breadsticks and soup or salad for a full meal.
St. Louis
Head to The Hill neighborhood in St. Louis for great, inexpensive Italian-American classics. Cunetto's is a classic red-sauce restaurant with dishes such as pasta with Bolognese and meat cannelloni for between $13 and $14. Don't leave without trying the toasted ravioli appetizer, which was invented in the city.
Bozeman
In Montana, Colombo's still serves a simple dish of linguine with marinara sauce for $6, though you can also venture into slightly fancier territory with a large spinach manicotti for $12 or eggplant parmesan for $13. But nothing's super fancy in this spot serving Bozeman since 1985, where there's lots of loyal customers and praise for the cheesy garlic bread. (If someone in your party opts for pizza instead of pasta, you'll likely go away happy, too.)
Omaha
Like other restaurants where you order at a counter, Mangia Italiana in Omaha generally has lower prices than full-service spots. Pasta with sugo, a long-simmered Italian tomato sauce with meat, is $8. Sugo and meatballs is $10.
Las Vegas
You're going to have to go off-Strip to find cheap pasta in Las Vegas. Head east of the Strip to the area around UNLV for a low-key pizza and pasta spot, Cugino’s Italian Deli and Pizza. Spaghetti with marinara sauce is $11 while linguini with fresh tomato and basil is $14. Lobster ravioli with vodka sauce goes for $21.
Multiple locations
The three locations of Fratello's each bring rustic decor and some inexpensive pasta choices to New Hampshire residents. Though you can also go upscale, some spaghetti with aglio olio or marinara sauce is just $9, and a bolognese is $15; stuffed shells are $15 and lasagne is $16.
Newark
It's not much to look at, but what Caffe Espresso Italia lacks in ambiance, it makes up for in homemade pasta just like Grandma used to make. While it specializes in Italian sandwiches, there's also at least one pasta special every day. Lasagna, penne with vodka sauce, and linguine with calamari are all popular — especially at $9. It doesn't bother with a website or online menu, but it's worth the trip to Adams Street.
Albuquerque
Head to Saggio's for pizza and pasta in a fun, vintage atmosphere filled with celebrity statues and tchotchkes. Get traditional Italian pasta such as ravioli or gnocchi, or pasta with a New Mexico twist such as penne with green chili sauce and chicken, all for under $12.
Manhattan
Everyone knows there's plenty of great Italian food to be found in New York City, but not much of it would be considered inexpensive. Head to Spaghetti Incident on the Lower East Side, where a bold carbonara is $19, or try homemade chitarra pasta with fresh tomato and homemade mozzarella for $19.
Charlotte
Leave it to college students to support cheap restaurants. Antonio's, located just off the University of North Carolina campus, sells plenty of pizza and pasta in a fast-casual atmosphere. Pasta prices range from $10 to $15, including some hearty choices such as lasagna and a breaded chicken and broccoli Alfredo.
Bismarck
Just because Bruno's plays up its pizza doesn't mean you should go along — not when its satisfying spaghetti and meatballs will run you $12, along with stuffed shells, chicken parmesan, and baked macaroni and cheese.
Columbus
Pasta Villa, a strip-mall eatery, offers a number of pastas for under $17, including prosciutto and portobello ravioli and baked ziti. Lobster ravioli goes for $18.
Oklahoma City
Although it's known for pizza and sandwiches, Falcone's serves up some mean pasta entrees, too. Spaghetti and meatballs is $10, unless it's the Monday special, when it's $8.50. Fettuccine Alfredo is $9, or $11 with chicken. The most expensive pasta dish is a three-meat lasagna for $12.
Portland
The Ooh, Pasta! food truck in Portland serves up nine Italian and Thai-style pastas for less than $10. There's clam linguine and penne alla vodka on the Italian side of things, or you can get Thai tipsy linguine or noodles and vegetables with a Thai-style peanut sauce.
Philadelphia
Sometimes it pays to experiment, and that’s what the owners of the DaMò Pasta Lab are doing. Natives of Italy, the couple, Danilo D’Eugenio and wife Monica, are quickly developing a following in the City of Brotherly Love. All items cost $12 or less for regular size dishes and a few bucks more for large size versions. Casarecce al Pomodoro checks in at $7 for a regular size and Tagliatelle al Ragu’ Bolognese is $12 for a regular size version.
Providence
In operation since 1924, Angelo's is a family-friendly and comfortable restaurant with a homemade red sauce known as "house gravy" that comes in healthy portions on spaghetti for $10.50. A big block of meat lasagna for $15.50 might be pretty tempting, though.
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Columbia
This little bistro in Columbia serves up an entire menu of pizzas and pastas for $15 or less. Choose from pastas such as spaghetti carbonara and meat tortelloni at Il Giorgione. Enjoy them outside on the patio in warm weather.
Sioux Falls
Head to Tomacelli's for a kid-friendly meal of Italian pasta. None of the pasta dishes tops $13, including "jumbo" portions of pastas such as shrimp Alfredo and jambalaya. Don't forget to bring along a marker — the staff lets patrons write and draw on the walls and furniture.
Memphis
The family that owns Dino's Grill has been in the restaurant business since 1945. They're still serving up classic Italian-American favorites to anyone looking for a bargain. Don't pass up the homemade ravioli or spaghetti. You can get them both as a half-and-half entree for $10. All the pasta dishes are $17 or less.
Houston
This homey Italian deli with a large dining area in Houston feels like it's been there forever (but really it dates to 1975). Mandola's Deli serves up spaghetti with meatballs for $10, or meat or spinach lasagna for $12. The staff doesn't doesn't skimp on the sauce, so there's lots to sop up with garlic bread.
Salt Lake City
Mediterranean Market & Deli is an Italian import store with a spacious restaurant area where you can munch on subs and other deli goodies. While the pasta menu is basic, it's dirt-cheap, too. You can get any combination of spaghetti, meatballs, and homemade marinara and sausage for $11 or less.
Related: 30 Best Delis Across America
Winooski
Papa Frank's has been serving Italian favorites to the families of Winooski since 1984. The entire menu is incredibly inexpensive, from simple pastas for $7 to chicken and broccoli Alfredo for $125. You can even get veal parmesan with a side of pasta for for a little more than 11 bucks.
Elkton
Ciro's Italian Eatery, a large restaurant in Elkton, has a very long list of low-cost pasta dishes. Eggplant parmesan with pasta, gnocchi with bacon and peas in cream sauce, and baked rigatoni with meat sauce are all $13 or less. For a few bucks more, you can get shrimp, clam, or chicken pasta dishes.
Seattle
Away from the famous Pike Place Market tourist mecca, the G.H. Pasta Co. earns high praise for the quality of its pasta dishes and its prices, which top out at $15. Gemelli with braised chicken, tonnarelli with black pepper and truffle, and spaghetti Bolognese can all be had for $13.
Charleston
Leonoro's has been open since 1915 and has lunch specials that keep customers coming. Get spaghetti with two meatballs, salad, and bread for $10.25, but get there before 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday to get the deal.
West Allis
Capri was an Italian restaurant in a Milwaukee suburb for decades before shutting down. New owners swooped in and reopened it as Capri di Nuovo. You can still get inexpensive pasta there, including spaghetti and meatballs for less than $13, or up the ante with a cheesy lasagna baked in individual dishes for $14.
Jackson
A popular casual pizza spot in downtown Jackson, Pizzeria Caldera also has some tasty pasta on the menu. Pasta marinara is $13 and a bison lasagna is $16. And really, every meal is worth a lot more when you consider the mountain views from the upstairs patio.