Syracuse restaurant has one of the best pastas in nation, Food Network says

A downtown Syracuse restaurant has one of the best pastas in the U.S., according to the Food Network.

A new list published by the Food Network named the 98 best pastas in the country, including the Chicken Riggies at Pastabilities in Armory Square. The creamy, spicy pasta dish is known as a Utica-Rome favorite, but other restaurants in Central New York have delivered their own delicious recipes.

“Up in Utica, the usual spaghetti and meatballs gives way to a unique regional specialty, chicken riggies,” the publication wrote. “Rigatoni (i.e. riggies) are mixed with chicken and hot or sweet peppers in a spicy cream and tomato sauce. The dish is so popular and so beloved that it has its own festival, Riggie Fest. Many locals have a favorite, but when Guy (Fieri) came to town on Triple D, he dove into the Wicky-Wicky Chicken Riggies at Pastabilities, under scallions and freshly grated cheese.”

Pastabilities has been featured on the Food Network multiple times, including “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” and the spinoff series “America’s Favorites.” The eatery’s famous spicy hot tomato oil is also a beloved Syracuse staple, often paired with stretch bread or used as a pasta sauce.

One other dish in Upstate New York was recognized by the Food Network: Spaghetti Parm at Chef’s Restaurant in Buffalo. The unique offering features spaghetti, tossed in sauce and butter, sprinkled with Parmesan and Romano and covered with slices of mozzarella cheese, then tossed under the broiler until the cheese melts. Locals then dip it into marinara sauce for a taste explosion, according to the Food Network.

Other pastas in New York state that made the list include Lasagna for Two at Don Angie (New York City); Sheep’s Milk Agnolotti at Lilia (Brooklyn); Fusilli at Marea (NYC); Baked Ziti at Parm (NYC); Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe at Via Carota (NYC); Estrella Pasta at Upland (NYC); Fusilli at Morandi (NYC); Kobe Ravioli at Tredici North (Purchase, N.Y.); Tumminia at Bella Gioia (Brooklyn); Squid Ink Pasta Bites at The Sea Fire Grille (NYC); Cacio e Pepe at Osteria Leana (Oyster Bay, Long Island); Lasagna at Dominick’s (Bronx).

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