A NEW pasta bar has started up in Hereford offering authentic Italian food with a twist.

The team at Mea Via started serving locals in the Butter Market on October 18 and are apparently already receiving great feedback.

The bar is open Monday to Saturday during lunchtimes and offers authentic Italian food with unique Japanese influences.

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Co-founder Sonny Castaldo is an experienced artisan pastaio and makes efforts to use high-quality, local ingredients when crafting his menu of ragus, parmigiana and more.

Mr Castaldo is an Italian by birth but spent many of his younger years living in London. In his career as a professional chef, he has become versed in a variety of culinary traditions beyond his native Italian cuisine, developing a penchant for East Asian food whilst working for a Japanese company.

He moved to Herefordshire alongside co-founder Giorgia Tesenti to be closer to family and worked for a time at the Yard’s Bookshop and Burger Shop restaurants in Aubery Street before starting this new venture.

The pair are very happy with the reception they have received within their first week and are excited to share their passion for fresh pasta with locals, whilst contributing to Hereford’s diverse food scene.