House Made Pasta Salt Lake City: Giuseppe Mirenda's Revolutionary Fast-Casual Vision at Basta Pasteria

When the aroma of freshly made pasta hits you as you round the corner past Nordstrom in Fashion Place Mall, you know you've found something special. At Basta Pasteria, the best Italian restaurant Murray Utah has to offer, Chef Giuseppe Mirenda is quietly revolutionizing how we think about house made pasta Salt Lake City. This isn't your typical mall food court experience—it's what happens when a James Beard-caliber chef decides that exceptional Italian food shouldn't require a special occasion or a hefty price tag.

"The real star of the meal was the gnocchi in tomato sauce. It was divine," raves one customer who discovered this hidden gem tucked between Fashion Place's retail giants. What they found was something Utah had been missing: authentic Italian cuisine that respects both your palate and your schedule.

From Sicily to Salt Lake: The Giuseppe Mirenda Story

Giuseppe Mirenda's life can be summarized in three "F" words—food, faith and family. Born near Sicily, Italy, where his family ran restaurants, Giuseppe grew up with flour under his fingernails and the rhythm of service in his blood. His connection and passion with food started as a young boy living near Sicily, Italy where his family was in the restaurant business. He grew up cooking and eventually went to culinary school before immigrating to the United States in 2012.

When he arrived in Utah over a decade ago, Giuseppe brought more than just recipes—he carried generations of Italian culinary tradition. His previous restaurants, Sicilia Mia and Antica Sicilia, earned him recognition as one of Salt Lake City's most respected Italian chefs. Antica Sicilia is one of four restaurants in the state of Utah to receive an award from the Distinguished Restaurants of North America and has received a plethora of Best of State awards.

But Giuseppe noticed something missing in Utah's dining landscape. Where were the places that served restaurant-quality Italian food without the restaurant wait times? "People haven't seen this concept here in Utah," Mirenda said. "[Customers] are enjoying the fact that they can get a good meal…and it takes about 10 minutes for fresh, homemade pasta."

That's how Basta Pasteria was born in February 2024—not from a business plan, but from a genuine desire to make exceptional Italian food accessible to everyone.

The House Made Pasta Experience at Murray's Fashion Place Mall

Walk into Basta Pasteria and you'll immediately notice the open kitchen concept. This isn't just for show—it's Giuseppe's way of honoring the transparency that defines authentic Italian cooking. Our commitment to using only the freshest ingredients ensures that each dish is a culinary masterpiece. Every strand of pasta is made fresh daily using only the finest Italian flour and time-honored techniques that Giuseppe learned at his family's restaurant in Sicily.

The menu reads like a love letter to Italy's pasta regions. The Gnocchi Pesto ($14) has become the restaurant's unofficial signature dish, and for good reason. "When you get pesto like the kind they're serving out at Basta—the kind that makes the back of your knees start to give out as soon as it hits your tongue—you realize how hard simplicity actually is," writes Salt Lake City Weekly's restaurant critic. The secret is in Giuseppe's house-made basil pesto, which manages to be both vibrant and deeply complex.

But the gnocchi itself deserves equal praise. "I'm happy to say you get plenty of perfectly prepared gnocchi with your order at Basta, so it will remain on my short list of Italian places that don't skimp on my most beloved of pastas." Each pillow of potato pasta is handcrafted and cooked to that perfect al dente texture that Giuseppe learned from his grandmother.

The Rigatoni Vodka ($17) showcases another side of Giuseppe's expertise. The rigatoni is "a savory delight when served up in the Rigatoni Vodka with some fresh Calabrian 'Nduja sausage." The sauce strikes that elusive balance between cream and tomato, with just enough heat from the 'Nduja to remind you that this isn't your chain restaurant's vodka sauce.

For those seeking something more substantial, the Pappardelle Ragu ($18) delivers. "The PAPPARDELLE BOLOGNESE - Nicely sauced, noodles are al dente. Good flavor," notes one customer. The wide ribbon pasta provides the perfect vehicle for Giuseppe's slow-simmered ragu, which follows a recipe that's been in his family for generations.

Fashion Place Mall's Best Kept Italian Secret

Located east of Nordstrom next to Macy's, Basta Pasteria represents something new for Fashion Place Mall dining. This isn't fast food—it's what Giuseppe calls "elevated casual dining." "I think they are two staple restaurants for Salt Lake City, and we're gonna keep it that way," he said. "When you come in the door, it's all about the customer."

The restaurant's counter-service model means you order when you arrive, then find a seat while your pasta is prepared fresh. Most dishes are ready in about 10 minutes, but don't mistake speed for shortcuts. The quick service reflects commitment to freshness—each dish is made to order—while generous portions make it clear that value accompanies excellence at BASTA Pasteria.

What makes Basta truly special is its beverage program. This might be the only mall restaurant where you can order a glass of champagne with your lunch. From our house-made pasta, creamy vodka sauce, and rich bolognese to our fresh basil pesto and hand-tossed salads, fine champagne & live music brought to you in a casual dining environment. Weekend evenings feature live music, transforming the space into something that feels more like a neighborhood trattoria than a mall eatery.

The pizza menu also deserves attention. The Margherita ($10) "is an excellent baseline, and tastes like something you might enjoy at a riverside market watching the lazy current of the Arno drift through Florence." Giuseppe's dough recipe and San Marzano tomato sauce create a Neapolitan-style pie that rivals dedicated pizzerias.

Murray's Italian Renaissance and Utah's Food Evolution

Basta Pasteria represents something larger happening in Utah's food scene. Mirenda said Basta has the potential to change the game for "fast food" by offering an affordable version of fresh pasta made with fresh ingredients. In a state where Italian-American chain restaurants have long dominated the casual dining landscape, Giuseppe is proving that authentic Italian food can be both accessible and quick.

The restaurant's success speaks to Utah diners' evolving palates. "10/10 I am coming back and recommending this to everyone. We order so much and everything was so so good!!" reads one enthusiastic review. Customers are discovering that house made pasta Salt Lake City doesn't have to mean white tablecloths and wine pairings—sometimes it means grabbing incredible gnocchi between errands at the mall.

Giuseppe's approach also reflects a deeper understanding of Utah's family-oriented culture. Basta Pasteria is a place for all, where families, friends, and couples can come together and create lasting memories. The casual atmosphere welcomes everyone from date night couples to families with young children, creating the kind of inclusive dining environment that Giuseppe experienced growing up in Italy.

The restaurant's commitment to quality ingredients also aligns with Utah's growing farm-to-table movement. While Giuseppe imports specific items like Italian flour and San Marzano tomatoes, he sources locally whenever possible, building relationships with Utah producers who share his commitment to quality.

Planning Your Visit to Basta Pasteria

Basta Pasteria is located at 6157 S State Street, Suite 1, in Murray's Fashion Place Mall, positioned east of Nordstrom next to Macy's. The restaurant operates Tuesday through Thursday from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, and is closed Sundays and Mondays.

As a walk-in only establishment, no reservations are needed, though weekend evenings can get busy during the live music performances. The best times to visit are early afternoon for a leisurely lunch or late afternoon before the dinner rush. Parking is plentiful in Fashion Place's lots, and the restaurant is easily accessible from both the State Street and Fashion Boulevard entrances.

For first-time visitors, the Gnocchi Pesto ($14) is essentially mandatory—it's the dish that converts skeptics into regulars. The Rigatoni Vodka ($17) makes an excellent second choice, especially for those who prefer a heartier sauce. Don't overlook the sides either; the house-made meatballs ($10) are a perfect addition to any pasta dish.

The restaurant accepts both cash and cards, and offers takeout for those shopping at the mall. Dietary restrictions are accommodated with gluten-free options available. Giuseppe and his team are happy to explain ingredients and preparation methods for those with specific needs.

Follow @bastapasteria on Instagram for updates on weekend live music performances and special menu items. The restaurant also offers catering for private events—contact them through their website at bastapasteriaut.com.

The Future of Fast-Casual Italian in Utah

The restaurant recently announced "huge news on the new Draper location," suggesting that Giuseppe's fast-casual concept is expanding across the Salt Lake Valley. This growth reflects not just business success, but validation of Giuseppe's belief that Utahns are ready for authentic Italian food that fits their busy lifestyles.

"In my experience, I think it's needed to understand what the experience of a customer is," Giuseppe explains. At Basta Pasteria, that understanding has created something genuinely new in Utah's dining landscape—a place where the best Italian restaurant Murray Utah can offer happens to be tucked into a shopping mall, where house made pasta Salt Lake City meets the convenience of modern life, and where every meal feels like a small celebration of what happens when tradition and innovation come together over a shared plate of perfect gnocchi.

In a world of fast-casual chains and assembly-line dining, Giuseppe Mirenda has created something different: a restaurant that honors both the speed of modern life and the timeless pleasure of exceptional food made with care. That's not just good business—it's a small revolution, one perfectly twirled forkful at a time.