Pasta isn’t typically what springs to mind when I think of a food van, so I was naturally curious to see what The Pasta Bar would offer during my visit to Ely Market. While I prepare a lot of pasta dishes at home, it’s rarely my go-to when dining out.

However, after hearing positive feedback from local vloggers and influencers, I decided to trust their recommendations and order some lunch.

The menu is concise, featuring just three main course options, all priced around the £10 mark. There are also two side dishes available, each for £7. The short rib bolognese immediately caught my eye. It sounded absolutely incredible and I knew straight away that’s what I’d be ordering. The concept of fried lasagne bites also aroused my interest – I couldn’t quite imagine what a dish like that would entail, so I ordered it out of sheer curiosity.

Both dishes were ready in about five minutes, which is a perfectly reasonable wait time for a food van. They were served in deep, recyclable bowls and looked absolutely fantastic. The rich, deep colours of the short ribs and sauce were particularly appealing, promising a wealth of flavour to follow.

Short Rib Bolognese

This dish features pappardelle, a thick, ribbon-like pasta, generously coated in a rich tomato sauce. The sauce itself is made with short ribs that have been slow-braised, resulting in an incredibly rich and meaty flavour. At my request, a scattering of Parmesan cheese was added, imparting a salty, cheesy depth that truly elevated it into a bowl of pure indulgence.

Although the bowl didn’t look enormous, it was densely packed with so much flavour and substance that it was easily enough to satisfy even the biggest appetite.

Fried Lasagne Bites

The deep-fried lasagne bites are precisely what you’d expect. These delightful morsels are crafted from small squares of lasagne which are then breaded and deep-fried. This process adds a deeper, more robust flavour and a satisfyingly crispy texture. These balls of absolute joy were as delicious as they sound and their hearty nature made them a surprisingly robust snack.

More, please!

The Pasta Bar in Ely has genuinely impressed me, offering a fresh and high-quality take on Italian classics from a convenient food van on the market.

The short rib bolognese was a standout today that came a deeply satisfying and flavourful main that exceeded all expectations (I will be thinking about that rib pasta sauce for days). And while the fried lasagne bites might sound unconventional, they proved to be a genuinely tasty and clever snack with a lovely crunch.

For anyone visiting Ely Market and looking for a hearty, flavourful, and well-executed meal with a twist, The Pasta Bar is an absolute must try!

I am already looking forward to my next visit!

Thanks for reading!