Pasta Pizzaz in Oklahoma City: A Specialty Pasta Shop with Made-to-Order Fresh Noodles

Pasta Pizzaz is a small independent grocer focused entirely on fresh pasta, dried pasta imports, and complementary Italian ingredients, located in Oklahoma City's Midtown neighborhood. Unlike the pasta aisle at a conventional grocery store, this shop stocks 30+ fresh pasta shapes made daily on-site, dried imports from Italy and regional producers, and sauces, oils, and cheeses chosen to pair with specific pastas rather than fill shelf space.

What Pasta Pizzaz actually is

The shop occupies a compact storefront and operates as a working kitchen. Three pasta shapes are typically available daily (pappardelle, fettuccine, ravioli), with specialty shapes rotating weekly. All fresh pasta is made between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.; afternoon visitors may find limited selection. The dried pasta collection emphasizes producers under 50,000 cases per year, many from southern Italy, with bronze-cut Rustichella d'Abruzzo and Martelli positioned as house standards. This is not a full-service grocery; there is no produce section, meat counter, or frozen foods.

Fresh and dried pasta pricing

Fresh pasta sells by the pound. Filled shapes (ravioli, tortelloni) run $8.99 to $11.99 per pound; unfilled shapes (pappardelle, tagliatelle) cost $5.99 to $7.99 per pound. A typical dinner portion is 0.25 pound, so one ravioli purchase often yields two meals. Dried imported pasta ranges from $2.49 (standard bronze-cut) to $4.99 (specialty shapes or organic lines). House-made fresh pasta is available for advance order; a 5-pound batch of a custom shape costs $28 to $35, with 48 hours' notice required. Prices are stable but verify current imported costs, as tariffs occasionally affect dried goods.

How it compares to Oklahoma City grocery options

Most Oklahoma City shoppers buy pasta from Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's, or conventional chains like Crest Foods and Albertsons. Whole Foods carries fresh pasta from local producers and dried imports; a 1-pound container of fresh ravioli typically costs $9.99 to $12.99. Trader Joe's offers fresh pasta at $3.49 to $5.99 per package (preportioned, not by weight). Neither store makes pasta on-site or rotates shapes weekly. Pasta Pizzaz occupies the niche between these options: prices are higher than chain-store dried pasta but lower than specialty grocery fresh offerings, and the selection depth is unavailable anywhere else in Oklahoma City. Choose Pasta Pizzaz if you cook pasta several times weekly and want to experiment with shapes and producers; choose a conventional grocer if pasta is a secondary purchase and you need one stop for vegetables, dairy, and protein.

Who suits and who does not

This shop works best for home cooks age 30 and older with time to research pairings, recipe readers who follow cookbook instructions for specific pasta shapes, and people living or working near Midtown. It does not suit shoppers seeking convenience (limited hours, small selection), those on strict budgets (fresh pasta costs more per meal than boxed alternatives), or anyone treating pasta as a staple carb to buy in bulk. Parents with young children should note the shop has minimal seating and no children's products.

What the first visit involves

Park on the street or in the small adjacent lot. Enter and scan the cooler cases along the back wall, which display that day's fresh pasta in 1-pound clear containers. A chalkboard lists shapes and availability. Dried pasta is shelved along the left wall, organized by producer and then by shape. Sauces, oils, vinegars, and 8 to 12 cheese varieties occupy the front counter. Staff will recommend pairings if asked (e.g., tagliatelle with ragù, bronze-cut spaghetti with aglio e olio) and can point you toward producers matching your preferences. Most visits last 15 to 20 minutes.

Hours and logistics

Pasta Pizzaz is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Mondays. Fresh pasta production typically ends by 2 p.m., so arrive early if you want the widest selection. No online ordering or delivery. Street parking is free; the lot holds 4 cars. Confirm current hours by phone, as holiday schedules shift.

Pasta Pizzaz fills a genuine gap in Oklahoma City's grocery landscape, offering depth and daily rotation that no chain store matches for cooks willing to invest slightly more in ingredients and planning.