About
Louise's Story
Hi neighbors, my name is Allison (Louise is my middle name), and here's the short version of a long story...
The pretty lady in our logo is my grandmother, Louise, who taught me how to cook. I wish she was still around to see this, though she would be totally embarrassed to see her image all over our restaurants!
I started Pasta Louise after moving back to Brooklyn from an 11 year stint in Oakland. I lost my sister, Lenore, to cancer, and my family and I moved back to NY to be closer to her daughters, Jasmine and Scarlet, and my parents.
I owned a mac + cheese restaurant back in Oakland, and sold it before moving to Brooklyn. I knew I wanted to open a restaurant out here... but my intention was never to open a restaurant in the middle of a pandemic. Pasta Louise was slated to open April 2020, until the world went upside down, COVID hit, and construction halted.
I then started selling pasta from my stoop because there were none on the shelves in grocery stores. Before I knew it, I had an email list a mile long and I was selling out in minutes. Turned out, besides wanting fresh pasta, people really wanted the sense of community during this dark, isolating time.
Pasta Louise finally opened in July 2020. It's a community restaurant where you can gather to eat fresh pasta, sip a glass of wine, hang out with friends, have some homemade soft serve. You can pick up a coffee on the way to work, and a pasta kit on your way home. Sit down with us at any of our outdoor tables... we even have fans and shelter from the rain!
We make everything from scratch... sauces, bread, desserts, and of course, pasta. We're not your typical Italian restaurant. Our food is bright and simple, a mix of Oakland and Brooklyn.
Once covid receded, we knew we needed to find a place to bring our guests back inside. We found the perfect second home at the corner of 12th Street and 8th Avenue. Our full service restaurant was born and the original location got a new life as a Cafe and take away spot.
In March of 2024, we launched Bar Louise, our third location on 7th Avenue in the north slope. It's a stunning cocktail bar in the tradition of a 1940's lounge. We like to think it might have been a place Louise would have visited as a young woman in New York. For more info, visit the website here or follow on instagram @barlouisenyc.
Whether you dine with us at our full-service restaurant, take home some pasta + sauce from the cafe or share a bite over drinks at our dreamy bar, we want you to feel welcome. We started out as a beacon of light for the Park Slope community during the dark days of covid... and we plan to continue that mission for the years to come.
Giving Back to Brooklyn
Pasta Louise is not just about the pasta. We focus on ways we can give back to the community. One of our major initiatives is the Pasta Rose Scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to high school students in Brooklyn who have lost a parent to cancer, helping them achieve their goals and pay for college. All of you can support the scholarship fund by looking out for monthly fundraising events at the restaurant, or by donating online.
The Pasta Louise Family
We are currently 85 strong and growing! We are passionate about food, about service... about giving back to our community. We are woman- and minority-owned and proud of our diverse and knowledgeable staff, who join us from all over New York City. Please say hi next time you come in!
