Famiglia Baldassarre

We were there about 10 minutes before they opened and there was already a queue of at least twenty people in front of their door. Understandable because the food served at “Famiglia Baldassarre” is undeniably fresh and delicious.
There is a certain purity in what they do as things are kept simple with a very compact but ever-changing menu. On any one day that you are there for lunch, you are likely to find two kinds of pastas and a few appetisers up on the boards for selection. Of course we had to order both pastas - the Spagettoni Aglio E Olio ($12) and the Ziti La Genovaise ($14). Very enjoyable both but the latter was my preferred. The long tubes of pasta were perfectly al dente and I thought the slow-braised sauce of beef and onions it was cooked in, sublime.
Indoor seating is limited to 10 people at any one time, so do aim to arrive really early if you wish to avoid waiting. This is to ensure you get included in the first round of seating that begins at 12noon. Alternatively, get your food as takeaway and sit at the tables outside to enjoy it with a side of fresh air.

These were the other appetisers we couldn’t resist getting too. Tissue-thin, the large slices of 16-months-aged Parma ham were velvety-soft, and had a lovely sweet and mild flavour. They were easy to savour as opposed to the kind I’ve come across with meat fibre that refuses to tear even under brute force.
Tender with a delicate snap to the bite, the succulent asparagus were prepared simply with olive oil. Spring seemed to burst forth in every bite of them.
I recommend you add these to share if you spot them on the ever-changing menu at @famiglia_baldassarre.

We queued for their freshly made pasta but were rewarded with more than that. The appetisers were just as delectable.
Smooth and almost perfectly spherical, Famiglia Baldassarre makes their buffalo mozzarella fresh on the premises every morning that they are open for business. When we cut it apart, its tightly bound layers were visible, resembling that of an onion’s. The snowy-white cheese was firm, chewy, and delicious whether eaten by itself or with the complimentary crusty bread. Which by the way, was crazy good.
Don’t miss out on these if you decide to check out this spot for lunch one day.