Shop Six Pasta Bar

"Superb food at a great price, absolutely delicious. The atmosphere was perfect, not too formal, not too casual. The staff were attentive and polite, and the food arrived relatively quickly.
We ordered two mains, one starter and two glasses of wine for less than $100 - which is pretty good for a proper dinner out these days.
Absolutely would return, we had a great time."

Adam Shand

"We were drawn to this spot with high hopes, eager to sample its take on Italian classics. Choosing to sit indoors, we quickly realised our mistake as the dining area filled to capacity, leaving us practically wedged into our seats. Outside, there was ample seating with plenty of space and fresh air, which in hindsight would’ve been the better option.

We started with the house bruschetta, which, unfortunately, missed the mark. The thinly sliced bread was over-toasted to the point of char, and the polenta fries on the side were crisp but overly hard, lacking the creamy interior we’d hoped for. They looked intriguing but delivered little in terms of flavour or texture balance.

For mains, we went with two signature pasta dishes. The ragu alla bolognese pappardelle came with pasta cooked al dente, a positive, but the sauce lacked depth and was surprisingly bland for a ragu, almost as if it had been rushed. The radiatori con ragu di mare was perhaps the most disappointing. The tiger prawns were unmistakably frozen, lacking that sweet, fresh ocean flavor, and the clams seemed shrunken and dry. The coral trout was shriveled and lacked the flaky, tender quality of a properly cooked fish. The seafood overall felt like it had come from a pre-packed mix, leaving us questioning the freshness.

To top it off, the sprinkling of Parmesan cheese across the seafood dishes struck us as misplaced. While some might enjoy it, traditional Italian cuisine rarely pairs seafood with Parmesan, and it detracted from the authenticity we were hoping for. This restaurant might offer a cozy ambiance, but for a genuine Italian experience, we’ll be searching elsewhere in Townsville."

N Rounds

"My wife and I visited Shop Six Pasta Bar last week, and we absolutely loved the experience. The restaurant had great vibes, and the food was freshly made. We were lucky enough to get a seat, as it was quite busy. I ordered the ‘Spaghetti con gamberi,’ which featured large tiger prawns and sundried tomato—delicious! My wife had the ‘House Bruschetta,’ which came with plenty of fresh toppings. There’s plenty of street parking near Strand and the surrounding lanes. The outdoor seating was a nice option but tends to fill up quickly. The staff were professional, and the chefs were impressively quick. It was our first Italian restaurant experience in Townsville, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend!"

Shahul Shaik