Azi’s Pasta Plates blends Italian staples with Caribbean flair
Published:Thursday | October 2, 2025 | 12:07 AMNyoka Manning/Gleaner Writer
Azi’s Pasta Plates has established itself as a destination where fresh pasta meets bold, inventive flavours. The restaurant has fostered loyalty through hearty portions, house-made sauces, and creative twists on classics.
With a menu that seamlessly fuses Italian and Caribbean influences and signature dishes, such as the creamy shrimp pasta, curried goat pasta, oxtail linguine, and crispy fried pasta squares, there is a clear commitment to unique flavour experiences. “Currently, our fried pasta squares with filling of choice, salmon pasta, curry goat pasta, wings and pasta combo, and our signature chicken and shrimp pasta are our customer favourites,” Owner Asia Thomas told Food.
Other customer favourites include the creamy Alfredo, classic marinara, and more adventurous creations that highlight the chef’s imagination and commitment to quality. “It’s about giving people more than just a plate of pasta,” Thomas explained. “It’s about flavour, freshness, and an experience they want to come back for.” That same commitment is reflected in the kitchen, where every sauce is made from scratch, and consistency is a cornerstone. “Since I started this business, I have made every single pasta exactly how I made it the first time I discovered I made good pasta. I put quality over quantity, keeping up the same recipe no matter what,” Thomas added.
Beyond the food, the restaurant’s aesthetic mirrors its culinary philosophy. Thomas envisioned a space that would transport customers without alienating them. She aimed to deliver comfort, vibe, and Italian sophistication, with the added advantage of Jamaica’s entertaining energy and achieved that with clean lines, warm lighting, and considered décor to create an inviting space. “I wanted customers to experience the most welcoming vibe they will get nowhere else. From the energy, the scent, and the scenery of Italy, I wanted to create a calm, romantic atmosphere, with the option to give it a Jamaican feel if requested,” said Thomas, noting that diners can set the mood, whether for a casual lunch or a special evening out.
SELF-TAUGHT CHEF
The story behind Azi’s is rooted in Thomas’s own journey. A self-taught chef, now honing her skills at culinary school, Thomas grew up fascinated by food and inspired by her grandmother and mother. “I basically grew up in an environment where food was always available and always tasty … But I never tried cooking for myself until I was 20,” she recalled. Her early cooking experiments were humble – rice and corned beef, ackee and dumplings, and salty chicken. But persistence led to mastery. By the time COVID-19 began, cooking had become her passion, and she launched her first venture, 4 Meals Cuisine, with her mother.
The focus on pasta began by chance. “Like a regular night, I went home and decided to make pasta for the first time … When I made it myself, it was like the recipe had been waiting inside me,” Thomas said. Encouraged by praise, she sold pasta from home while in nursing school and when daily orders outgrew her capacity, she secured a storefront. “I saw an empty shop and inquired … It all seemed so unbelievable because the location was a dream come true,” she explained.
With a new storefront, Thomas plunged into research and design. She curated the menu and atmosphere. “I wanted it to look striking. I explored every idea, saved images, and unified them,” she said, noting that the décor revealed another talent: interior design.
Faith and philosophy guided the venture. Devotions bookend every shift, fostering respect, motivation, and shared purpose. “We treat each other like family… [the team comes] ready to grow Azi’s Pasta Plates, inspired by my drive and consistency,” she said.
Challenges, especially financial ones, have tested Thomas’s resolve. Building her space involved tough negotiations and navigating a male-dominated trades industry. Yet these hurdles have not slowed her ambition. Looking ahead, Thomas’s goals are bold. She hopes to expand throughout Kingston, across Jamaica, and eventually internationally. “In a few years, Azi’s Pasta Plates will be preparing the best pastas in town … then worldwide,” she said.
For now, the plates speak – brimming with scratch-made sauces, infused with Jamaican seasoning, and presented in a space designed to inspire both appetite and emotion.