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The other night, we were in the mood for hearty, delicious Italian food but did not have the time to make homemade pasta or different sauces to satisfy our individual cravings or to perfectly bake and season crispy garlic bread. So what can we do? Call Bucatini Italian restaurant, of course.

Bucatini has been open for five years and had become very popular for a dinner out before the pandemic. The warm, comfortable setting is still there when you pick-up your take-out since they are not quite yet open for indoor dining. The team is so polite and helpful, so we will be sure to go back indoors when we can.

We toiled over the menu, with so many tempting options, and decided that we would each order one item and share. We ended up ordering off the Weekly Specials menu because the dishes were all so different and unique. The Salsiccia Fra Diavlo ($19) tasted just as it should have, with the wonderful mix of mild Italian sausage and roasted sweet peppers in a spicy tomato sauce (we went with medium). The spice level was just right and made sure the tomato did not overwhelm the sausage. Hearty and delicious.

The description of the Carciofo Teresa ($21) seemed necessary once we read that it comes with handmade artichoke pasta. Artichoke! Yum. Served with smoked pork belly bacon, sweet peas, and creamy Alfredo sauce, it was decadent and delicious. Oh, and speaking of unique, the Gamberi Affumicato ($21) gave us a huge serving of pappardelle (my favorite pasta) with a creamy marinara (can I say Yum again?). The sweet peas and smoked mozzarella created a fabulous base for the tiger prawns.

Finally, the last dish I was not able to taste since it has beef, but the reports were glowing. The Bolognese Al Forno ($19.50) is a baked pasta topped with mozzarella and bread crumbs, and the homemade Bolognese sauce is made with three meats (veal, beef, and pork). Bucatini is sure to meet the expectations of traditional Italian while tempting us with innovative options, as well.

The Bucatini garlic bread ($7.75) is far beyond what we usually get from restaurant garlic bread. It was perfectly charred, soft and crunchy at the same time, with a delightful garlicy oil drizzle. If you eat two pieces of bread along with pasta, well, it's very good. The salads ($8.50) were equally satisfying-the Caesar and House salad featured fantastic housemade dressings and helped us to feel a little less guilty about eating a few servings of the pastas we tried.

Maria Montalvo

Various pasta dishes are, of course, on the menu at Bucatini on Edmonds Way.

I will nearly always choose a big plate of pasta over a sandwich, but their Sandwich & Grinder menu is impressive. Each of our four pasta dishes were generous enough to mean leftovers, so maybe next time, we will mix in the Joe Pesci (Italian tuna with capers, tomatoes, red wine vinaigrette, and mixed greens) or a Chicken Parm sandwich.

Bucatini is located on 9818 Edmonds Way in Edmonds. They are open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Monday and Tuesday also feature a wine special of a $10 bottle of wine with any order and an extensive catering menu if you have many mouths to feed.

They are still only open for take-out, so be sure to call and pick up some of the most fantastic sandwiches and pastries, and feel comfortable walking out knowing you are supporting a truly small business dedicated to giving you the best meal that they can. Go to http://www.bucatiniedmonds.com to peruse the menu, but give yourself time since there are so many great choices.