Tucked into the streets of D.C. is a newly opened family-owned pasta restaurant, perfect for anyone who is craving a freshly made meal. Inside the Western Market food hall located on Pennsylvania Avenue, Gigi’s Pasta offers a variety of foods including pasta, salads and desserts, all made with ingredients sourced straight from Italy.
“Everyone loves pasta; it’s a comfort dish for a lot of people,” said Alexia Green, an employee at Gigi’s Pasta. “It’s really easy to come [in] and build your own pasta, so you have this ready-made meal that’ll keep you full.”
Gigi’s Pasta had its grand opening on Nov. 4, 2025, with hopes to give residents in the area a taste of Italy without having to spend a fortune. However, Gigi’s Pasta is not like your typical pasta chain.
“I feel like it’s different because in [other pasta] places, they have ready-made [meals], and you pick from their menu,” said Green. “Whereas here we have choices [and] options for people to mix and match.”
The layout of the restaurant is homey and bright, with dangling lemons and lampshades that remind people of a sunny day on the coast of Italy. The inviting atmosphere is what initially draws customers to the restaurant, but the smell of freshly made pasta is what gets them to stay.
“[The restaurant] has a very multi-coastal Italian vibe,” Green said. “I feel like the [decorations] and the paint and the yellow and the green, all kind of tie [it] together.”
On their menu, they offer a build-your-own-pasta option, where customers can create their perfect pasta. They have their pick of the pasta shape, sauce, and protein, giving them complete freedom to choose their own meal based on their preferences.
“I really like the build your own option here, because a lot of times at other restaurants they don’t have the exact pasta I’m looking for, or there’s a certain [component] that I just don’t want,” sophomore Penelope Glasser said.
If customers are not in the mood for a build-your-own dish, Gigi’s Pasta also offers four different, unique types of signature pasta, as well as two selections of baked and ready pasta.
“Our recipes are inspired by the dishes and flavors that we have fallen in love with while traveling, especially throughout Italy,” said Stephanos Andreou, co-owner of Gigi’s Pasta.
Although Gigi’s Pasta is not considered a high-end restaurant, they still ensure that all of the ingredients are one hundred percent fresh and flavorful.
“All of the pasta that people get is completely fresh; there’s no box pasta or anything like that,” Green said. “[There’s] quite literally somebody standing here with these 2 machines and they’re making pasta the entire time.”
Despite the high quality of the ingredients, Gigi’s Pasta manages to keep its prices low, offering a budget-friendly option for customers. They also include a free piece of focaccia with each order, which pairs terrifically with every meal.
“I think the pricing at [Gigi’s Pasta] is really reasonable, especially because restaurants in D.C. are usually really expensive,” Glasser said. “For the big portions and fresh ingredients, it’s definitely worth it.”
Maintaining such low pricing is often difficult, especially for a family-owned business. However, the restaurant owners, Constantina and Stephanos Andreou, never give up and always give their customers the best possible dining experience, while making sure that their employees are treated fairly.
“The owners are coming in and out all the time, and overall, it’s a really positive work environment,” Green said. “I feel like the owners are doing a pretty great job of really bringing that family style into the business.”
It’s not always the easiest job to run a small family business, but in Gigi’s Pasta’s case the community and family in the restaurant helps them overcome every challenge.
“A second location is something that we would love to explore when the time is right,” Andreou said. “But for now, our biggest focus is perfecting the Gigi’s experience and building a loyal community around it.”
