New Jersey’s culinary scene has been buzzing about pastaRAMEN (about an hour outside New York City), the innovative restaurant concept blending Japanese and Italian flavors into a unique “Wafu-Italian” cuisine. Now, Executive Chef Robbie Felice is bringing this exciting fusion to the Entertainment Capital of the World with a highly anticipated one-month pop-up inside Bar Zazu at Resorts World Las Vegas, starting June 4, 2025. Get ready for a dining experience that defies expectations, promising a high-energy atmosphere and a menu featuring beloved classics and exclusive new creations. This pastaRAMEN Las Vegas pop-up is set to introduce the bold and boundary-pushing Wafu Italian cuisine to a new audience, showcasing why pastaRAMEN in New Jersey has garnered such a dedicated following.
The Art of “Wafu-Italian”: A Culinary Marriage
Executive Chef Robbie Felice describes pastaRAMEN’s cuisine as “Wafu-Italian.” When asked to elaborate on the key culinary principles and flavor profiles that define this unique fusion, and what inspired this innovative combination, Chef Felice shared, “This innovative combination was inspired by the obsession of trying to be different and do something that no one else was doing. During the pandemic while everyone was sitting on their butts I decided to start researching and came across what I call now Wafu Italian cuisine, the perfect marriage of Japanese and Italian cuisine and cultures. Honestly, the key culinary principles and flavor profiles that define this unique fusion are simple. If I cook you a Wafu Italian dish and put you on the spot and ask you if it’s Japanese or Italian, and you pause for 1, 2, 3, 4 seconds, then I’ve done my job. There really are no rules as long as the marriage of Japanese and Italian flavors and cultures is perfectly combined.” This philosophy underpins every dish at pastaRAMEN in Montclair and now in their Las Vegas restaurant pop-up.
Key Ingredients and Flavor Combinations in Wafu-Italian Cuisine
Reflecting on the establishment of pastaRAMEN’s unique culinary identity in New Jersey, Chef Felice explained, “Some key ingredients that I love to use are all the common ones in Italian and Japanese cuisine. Back when I was a young cook, I used to try to use things that no one knew what they were. That me is still around but it is more fun and exciting to combine flavors with ingredients that people are familiar with in Japanese and Italian culture. Our Temomi Shrimp Scampi Ramen is the perfect example of taking a dish that I feel all of NJ knows and loves, and putting a super Wafu Italian culinary twist on it. I can honestly say that it is our most popular selling dish.” This signature dish is just one example of the innovative flavor combinations that diners can expect at the pastaRAMEN pop-up in Las Vegas.
The pastaRAMEN Dining Experience: Beyond the Food
Beyond the innovative cuisine, pastaRAMEN aims to cultivate a distinct dining experience for its guests. Regarding the atmosphere, service style, and overall vibe in their New Jersey locations, and how this contributes to the restaurant’s local appeal, Chef Felice stated, “pastaRAMEN aims to cultivate the ultimate dining experience. It isn’t just about having good food and music; it’s about giving guests a reason to come back. We aim to curate a comfortable and fun environment, so that when a guest leaves, they still talk about us for days. This is accomplished through our different unique atmosphere with graffiti on the walls, Biggie playing on the speakers, and servers walking around the dining room offering guests sake bombs.” This unique restaurant atmosphere is a key part of the pastaRAMEN dining experience that they are bringing to their Resorts World Las Vegas pop-up.
New Menu Highlights for the Las Vegas Audience
The Las Vegas pop-up at Resorts World promises an all-new menu alongside some beloved classics. Chef Felice teased, “We have brought a lot of our favorites from Montclair, which honestly killed me. The more I spoke with my partner, Luck, he had to explain to me that people out here have not tried all of our winning dishes. He was able to talk me into keeping a large majority of these on the Las Vegas menu. But I was also able to hit this menu with a little Las Vegas flair. Summer in Vegas screams raw fish, and a special section on the menu is dedicated to that. Working with Chef Nicole Brisson got me super excited for beef, because last time we worked together, she was running Carnevino, which still to this day has been one of my favorite Steakhouses.” Diners can anticipate signature pastaRAMEN dishes with exciting new creations tailored for the Las Vegas food scene.
Sake Pairings and the High-Energy Vibe in Vegas
The pop-up will also feature curated sake offerings to complement the Wafu-Italian cuisine. Chef Felice explained the partnership, “We partnered up with heavensake for Vegas. They have been a great sponsor since the beginning of my pop-ups. I’m personally not a huge drinker, but I do love their sake variety and the uniqueness of its concepts. We decided on a few different bottles that would complement the specific food flavor profiles throughout the menu by personally tasting the sakes that paired best and did not overpower the food itself, but instead were a great addition.” This thoughtful sake selection aims to enhance the Japanese Italian fusion experience.
With limited seating for the Vegas pop-up, pastaRAMEN is aiming for a specific kind of dining experience. Chef Felice confirmed, “Definitely high energy and bustling. That is us at pastaRAMEN.” Guests can expect a vibrant and lively atmosphere mirroring the energy of their New Jersey locations.
Looking ahead, the success of this one-month pop-up in Las Vegas could pave the way for future expansion. Chef Felice shared his aspirations, “There are a lot of aspirations for pastaRAMEN’s future and so many incredible concepts under the pastaRAMEN umbrella that still need to come to life. But yes, I would love for this pop-up to lead to a more permanent presence in Las Vegas and am thankful to HexClad, Resorts World and Nicole Brisson, along with the team at Montclair Hospitality Group, for helping bring this exciting pop-up to life at Bar Zazu. Hope to see you there!” Don’t miss your chance to experience the unique culinary World of pastaRAMEN at Resorts World Las Vegas this season!
