What are some good side dishes with pasta?

Bread and salad, as far as I know, are the only sides for pasta.  I've never seen anything else offered at a restaurant.

Well I suppose it depends what type of pasta. But for either cream or tomato pasta sauce, A good side salad such as a garden salad is always nice. Also a nice crusty bread works well.

If you're after an entre for italian, tomato slices (1cm thick), leaf of basil and then with bocancini cheese slices (1cm thick) on top drizzled with olive oil and a dash or two of balsamic vinegar.

All quite simple sides or entres 

Yes to bread and salad. The latter doesn't have to be mostly lettuce or other greens -- things like sliced cucumbers, a Moroccan eggplant salad, or a Greek salad with tomato, onions, feta, and olives also work well.

Sometimes we do a side dish of wilted greens (chard, kale, mustard greens and such) with olive oil.

I like a side of meatballs with my pasta! Are you asking for pasta dishes to use as sides? That's how I read the title.

I see pasta as the side dish quite often, rather than the main course.

Chianti, Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello, Barbera, Pinot Grigio, Super Tuscan, Pinot Nero, Nero D'Avola, Prosecco, Malvasia Bianca?

Crap, that post made me really miss someone.

My staff restaurant serves pasta and chips (french fries to you USA lot) 

The again I remember in Liverpool getting fried rice and chips

Quote from: Jill F on November 08, 2014, 01:39:29 AM
Chianti, Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello, Barbera, Pinot Grigio, Super Tuscan, Pinot Nero, Nero D'Avola, Prosecco, Malvasia Bianca?

Crap, that post made me really miss someone.

Jill, I think we need to organise a dinner party.  So much beautiful wine (potentially!).

OP:  Actually, may I be a stickler on this thread and observe that pasta, in Italy at least, is its own course, and doesn't usually come with side dishes... 

I won't count bread as a side dish - in the Mediterranean countries it's as fundamental as salt!

xxx
J

Quote from: Cindy on November 08, 2014, 01:46:18 AM
My staff restaurant serves pasta and chips (french fries to you USA lot) 

The again I remember in Liverpool getting fried rice and chips

This is why I have a fondness for English culture and wouldn't mind visiting someday. Then again that would be one of many stops heading east across Europe and Asia before circling back to the states. Well that is if I don't get so mesmerized that I end up staying somewhere along the way.

Quote from: Julia-Madrid on November 08, 2014, 01:55:37 AM
Jill, I think we need to organise a dinner party.  So much beautiful wine (potentially!).

OP:  Actually, may I be a stickler on this thread and observe that pasta, in Italy at least, is its own course, and doesn't usually come with side dishes... 

I won't count bread as a side dish - in the Mediterranean countries it's as fundamental as salt!

xxx
J

Worked in college as an Italian food cook at two different restaurants. Pasta goes with wine.

Quote from: Jill F on November 08, 2014, 02:56:17 AM

Quote from: Julia-Madrid on November 08, 2014, 01:55:37 AM
Jill, I think we need to organise a dinner party.  So much beautiful wine (potentially!).

OP:  Actually, may I be a stickler on this thread and observe that pasta, in Italy at least, is its own course, and doesn't usually come with side dishes... 

I won't count bread as a side dish - in the Mediterranean countries it's as fundamental as salt!

xxx
J

Worked in college as an Italian food cook at two different restaurants. Pasta goes with wine.

Cough; wine goes with pasta

Cindy, Jill, I whipped up a goodly amount of pesto a couple of nights ago.  It should be nicely blended now.  Lunch at me tomorrow, but can I propose a nice Ribera del Duero? 

@Jill - like your new avatar, girl...!!

xxx
J

I wish we could all catch up! Jeez it would be an awesome party!

Quote from: Cindy on November 08, 2014, 03:38:51 AM
I wish we could all catch up! Jeez it would be an awesome party!

and pasta would make a perfect side for that get together.

Quote from: LordKAT on November 08, 2014, 06:42:21 PM

and pasta would make a perfect side for that get together.

I guess something has to soak up all that wine. 

Yup, and you have to admit, pasta is a good excuse for good wine.

Y'all are caught in a spaghetti/alcohol mobius strip!

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on November 08, 2014, 09:06:41 PM
mobius strip

Lol, you pulled off that word so well Devlyn, I'm stealing that, it has so many uses!

Green bleens.