Pasta Grill grows into statewide staple with scratch-made comfort food

Pasta Grill began in Russellville in 1994 and has since become one of Arkansas’s most acclaimed spots for Italian, steak and seafood. Owners Wes and Suzanne Hall expanded with a second location in Conway in 2012 and later franchised a third in Van Buren, creating a regional footprint that serves lunch and dinner, plus takeout, delivery, family-style dinners to go and event catering across the state.

The restaurant’s kitchen emphasizes scratch-made work. Classic Italian plates such as lasagna and manicotti are prepared in-house, while Cajun-leaning entries, shrimp and grits and a jambalaya pasta, bring regional flavor into the pasta lineup. Beyond pastas, the menu includes expertly grilled steaks, sandwiches, flatbreads, handcrafted soups, appetizers, desserts and salads dressed with house-made dressings. Savory cheesecake makes a standout appearance on the dessert list, underscoring the menu’s blend of comfort and creativity.

For community cooks and planners, Pasta Grill fills multiple practical needs. Busy families can pick up large family-style dinners to go or use delivery for weeknight rescue meals. Event hosts can book full catering for weddings and gatherings statewide, saving time on prep and offering a menu that spans crowd-pleasing steaks, seafood and pasta. The Conway, Russellville and Van Buren locations provide options for local meetups and rehearsal dinners, while the franchise model means availability outside a single town.

The menu mix reflects both traditional Italian technique and Arkansas tastes. Scratch-made pastas and sauces mean clearer ingredient control for people tracking allergens or dietary preferences, and handcrafted soups and dressings let diners expect fresher flavors than heavily processed chains. The addition of Southern staples like shrimp and grits positions Pasta Grill as a bridge between Italian comfort food and regional soul-food classics.

Menus and reservations are available through the restaurant website and its Facebook page, making it simple to check weekly specials, order ahead or arrange catering quotes. That accessibility matters if you’re coordinating a weekend family gathering or planning a midweek dinner swap.

The takeaway? If you want an al dente base for a crowd-pleasing meal or catering that balances Italian staples with Southern heart, Pasta Grill’s scratch-made approach and three-location reach make it a practical pick. Our two cents? Call ahead for family-style to-go orders and check online menus before you go, then bring a big appetite.