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After trying Allora, the upscale Italian restaurant which recently opened near Pearl, I had to spread the love to its sibling restaurant, Arrosta.
Allora gave me a chance to dress up, gather close friends and laugh over too much wine and shared pastas on a Saturday night. Arrosta, serving Italian street foods, fueled my morning on a solo trip through the Pearl area.
After leaving an assignment for the recently announced Stable Hall on Tuesday, March 15, I was famished. As a two-year work-from-home employee, looking presentable and putting on slacks and heels is a big effort. I spent most of the morning doing that and braving a.m. traffic. My only meal was a protein shake and I needed sustenance fast.
I found all of that and more at Arrosta. Here’s a quick look around.
Italian street food restaurant Arrosta is now open near Pearl.
Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.comFirst impressions:
Italian street food restaurant Arrosta is now open near Pearl.
Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com
The sunlit space inside the new Oxbow building is beautiful. It’s a minimal design with exposed ceilings, concrete floors, marble counters with tile, and natural wood touches that showcase tantalizing fresh pastries, juicy chickens rotating on a rotisserie spit, communal banquette seating, and plenty of al fresco dining opportunities. It was a serene spot to recharge after a buzzy, social morning.
There is a small parking lot near the restaurant as well as a garage (Arrosta offers validation up to an hour and a half), but free street parking is limited.
With a relaxed mood and internet connections, it could be the change of scenery your WFH life needs. It’s the kind of place TikTok romanticized “day in a life” vlogs are made of.
Italian street food restaurant Arrosta is now open near Pearl.
Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.comThe food:
After seeing a few people I follow on Instagram complimenting the chicken salad sandwich, I decided it would be a good place to start. I added a broccolini salad which is tossed with onions, pancetta, and walnuts. My check was $17.75 before tip and taxes.
The menu lists the chicken salad sandwich as a panini, but the creamy, pulled rotisserie meat comes stuffed in a room-temperature roll. I’ve tackled the messiest carne guisada tacos without dropping a bit of gravy out of the tortilla, but this behemoth bread left me a little puzzled. Do I cut down the center? Carve a little away at a time? Go completely rogue and bite in like no one was watching? I did a mixture of all three, finally getting to the chicken salad of it all. The blend of chicken, bell peppers, celery, and some nuts has a citrus taste and was perfectly chilled. The refreshing taste with the salad would be a perfect pick-me-up for the upcoming warmer months.
Arrosta also serves stuffed pizzas, Italian ham and cheese muffuletta, and a hot-off-the-rotisserie menu with chicken, pork, and beef steak options that can be ordered with two sides, dipping sauces, or bread.
Italian street food restaurant Arrosta is now open near Pearl.
Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.comMore to chew on:
There are fresh grab-and-go salads, like tuna and argula or the house option, which is a romaine and radicchio blend with pepperoncini, olives, red bell pepper, red onion, olives, salami, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella with oregano vinaigrette.
Arrosta is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Unlike its sister restaurant, reservations are not needed.
The restaurant’s drink menu includes coffee, espresso, hot or cold teas, Italian sodas, beer, and wine.
Peter Selig, president of Maverick Restaurant Group and La Dolce Vita SATX, chef Robbie Nowlin, and chef Chris Carlson are leading operations at Allora and Arrosta. Both restaurant menus are curated by the culinary trio.
Arrosta is located at 1803 Broadway, suite 101.
