The world of fast food is certainly quick paced, so the second Domino's begun advertising five flavors of pasta housed in a bread bowl, it seemed everybody was buzzing about it. When Party and I first got word of these monsters, we were simultaneously shocked (who came up with the concept?), appalled, and eager to try them. Yesterday turned out to be the Domino's day of reckoning — to find out how the bowls stood up to their shock value, read more.
It's hard to fathom why Domino's rolled out this concept of carbs inside more carbs, but the fact that competitor Pizza Hut has already racked up more than $500 million in sales of its Tuscani Pastas and lasagna, puts things more into perspective. However, as soon as we opened the delivery, we were faced with many unanswered questions: How many people was each bread bowl supposed to feed? Was the dish designed to be eaten like a pizza, or were we supposed to eat the pasta first, then the bowl?
Pasta Primavera: This bread bowl was filled with pasta, baby spinach, diced tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and a goopy, oily Alfredo sauce. While the sole vegetarian option was filled with vegetables, I questioned whether the dish contained any protein.
Chicken Carbonara: Although this tasted somewhat like carbonara, it was covered with similar globs of white sauce.
Three Cheese Mac-N-Cheese: This was our least favorite. We love macaroni and cheese, but the flavors of the dish — bland, artificial nacho cheese, subpar penne, and a yeasty bread bowl — just did not seem to meld at all.
Italian Sausage Marinara: If we had to choose a best of the tasting, it would have been the Italian Sausage Marinara, which was rather reminiscent of regular pizza delivery with breadsticks. But then again, why not just order pizza and breadsticks?
Chicken Alfredo: All of the bowls were loaded with sodium (I drank water for hours afterward), but the Chicken Alfredo was swimming in a sauce that was over-the-top salty, to the point of being unpleasant to eat.
Unsurprisingly, the Pasta Primavera, Chicken Carbonara, and Chicken Alfredo flavors — which possess the same mysterious creamy white sauce — all taste remarkably similar. The bread bowl itself, which tastes a lot like Domino's breadsticks, was satisfying, but overall, unless we were starving and had no other options, or were carbo loading for a marathon the next day, we wouldn't eat this again.
Have you tried any of the Bread Bowl Pastas? If so, what was your assessment of them?






Matthew Williamson
I was also appalled when I saw this advertising for this new product. The average American waistline is 5 inches larger than in the 1970's. That is a huge increase! Putting products like this on the market is just contributing to American obesity. Domino's should be promoting healthy, organic items not gut-busting pasta in a bread bowl. Yuck!
1That just sounds like a recipe for distaste and disaster. All they needed to do was add french fries to hit the ever-reachable "Extra Gross" rating. lol
2This just looks and sounds gross. Like you said Yum carbs inside of carbs. Not appealing at all.
3Do they bake the pasta in the the bread? Looks kind of over done. Only could possibly eat it for an alcohol induced 4th meal.
4I haven't tried them, but based on your reviews, they sound about exactly how I pictured them to be...bland, fatty, pasty, and not very good-tasting. Good to know that I'm not going to be trying one anytime soon.
5I love soup in a bread bowl but pasta in a bread bowl just makes me scrunch up my face and go eeewwwww!! My husband always makes sure to turn up the volume and bring my attention to the commercials I find the idea so revolting.
6No thanks... it sounds like the pasta would be dry because of the bread bowl. That said, I do love Domino's new American Legends pizzas. I could eat the Spicy Hawaiian every day if it weren't hell on my diet.
7I laughed so hard when I saw this commercial the other night on tv.
8They've got to be kidding, right?
they look nasty no matter what. never liked Domino's and this just is another reason to avoid the place. all that fatty unhealthy food. my heart just siezed and stomach clenched in disgust just looking at the pictures.
9Heck no I won't even touch that..I'm Italiano!
10Ewww
11They tasted like pizza topped with pasta, but I have to admit, the crust was good. I'd never order one though.
12These are new, exactly. I visted a restaurant on Italy that served up something similar. The restaurant served what looked like a flat, baked dough (not a bowl) topped with a healty serving of olive oil and a pesto spread. Topped with Penne pasta and a whole grilled chicket breast. Topped that off with a creamy, white parmesan sauce with baby carrots and a portion of peas. Not sure on the calorie count, but it was delish ...
I thought the Dominos sandwiches look gross before trying. Now they are a favorite of mine. (A little greasy though). I will hold off judgement until I am able to taste one for myself. But upon first sight, it looks like a cheese, deep-dish pizza with pasta in the center. I would probably base the taste on say, an Olive Garden dinner. It's just pasta and cheesy bread sticks. All Dominos need now is to add side salad and Vo Lua, an Olive Garden meal delivery. ; )
13I haven't seen these in Australia (yet?!) and I hope I don't. Even if they tasted delicious its not something I'd eat anyway...as you've mentioned way too many carbs.
14I don't know, they sound kind of fun to me! I'll probably end up trying them at some point, why not? Life is too short to not try carbs! ha ha ha
15It just seems like too much.
16I got the pasta primavera, and it looked and tasted MUCH more appealing than the commercials made it look.
I enjoyed it and will probably order it again, although it is definitely carb-heavy, and half of one is enough to fill my tummy.
17"I questioned whether the dish contained any protein."
Are you kidding me? A serving has 20 grams of protein (40g if you eat the whole thing)!!! (http://www.yumyucky.com/All%20Pasta%20Combined.pdf). A difference of about 6-8 grams of protein per serving between the meat pizzas. Bread and dairy have protein. This is what kills me--people are so concerned about vegetarians getting protein when the average american eats more protein than they need, because protein is in more things than just meat.
Even with all that protein, I wouldn't touch it. Way too many unhealthy carbs and fat.
18honestly, if you want pasta & pizza, get the mac and cheese pizza at Cici's.... TOTALLY disgusting but at least it tastes like mac and cheese
I'm a carb-ivore, but this just sounds like it'd be more grease than carb
19I still think I'll be skipping these.
20In theory these things look awful, but a small part of me (okay, maybe a medium part of me) really wants to try one. Bread? Yes! Pasta? Yes! Cheesy white sauce? Yes!
I'm not gonna lie, I've eaten worse...
21I tried the chicken carbonara and I have to say that it was much better than I expected. My wife had the Italian sausage one and it was great too. Neither of us were able to eat but half before we were full. I would give it a 10 out of 10 and would order this over Macaroni Grill or Olive Garden espically for the price.
22Gross. Gross.
23My neighbors just ordered a bunch of these and invited us to come over. I said no thanks. I can hear the buttons popping off of their jeans from here. If I am going to overload on carbs or cheese or calories, it sure as hell is going to be something better than Domino's!
24It looks disgusting!
25This makes me feel deeply ill.
26I tried them and they weren't nearly as bad as you described. They're horrible FOR you but they aren't that bad tasting. My BF custom ordered an alfredo, chicken, diced tomato and onion bowl and it wasn't swimming in sauce. I got the sausage marinara and it didn't taste like regular pizza either. Again, they aren't good FOR you, nor are they real italian meals but if you're in a pinch and want something different they aren't bad tasting, bland, loaded with salt or whatever else you wanna call em.
27should this be on thisiswhyyourfat.com?
28These look like a nightmare!
When I was a teenager, I made a few mac 'n' cheese pizzas and a few spaghetti pizzas, just for kicks, to use up leftovers. Pretty tasty, actually, but I did use fresh ingredients when I made the pasta parts.
Don't know if I would order Dominos though. Too expensive and looks
none too fresh.
29Prompted by this review, I ordered one this weekend. The pasta primavera was actually pretty good, obviously not diet food, but it was all I ate on Saturday and I worked out all Sunday in the yard, so I felt justified. The spinach, tomatoes and onions all seemed very fresh and the alfredo sauce wasn't too thick. The bowl was a little doughy in some spots, but was overall pretty darn good considering you can easilly get two meals out of it for $6. You can get these pastas without the breadbowl too. Def. not an every day meal, but I recommend.
30Seriously, whoever thought of this should be fired. Not even close to looking edible. Then again, people love the Domino's 'Oreo Pizza'....
31Love it, love it! Got to try it for yourself. I am not a pasta person but sure s
Tatse better than any pasta joint esp for the price.
Just had the pasta carbonara and had to give a 5 stars. Good job Dominos! Just try before u judge.
32What a bunch of winers on this forum. Go out and excercise and when you are hungry you could eat one of these as a treat and allow yourself to enjoy it.
33some of u ppl are crazy it looks good and i would eat it forget carbs and calories if im hungry and i want it im going to eat it. I havent tried it yet but soon i will.
34I tried the carbonara and I thought it was bland and not good
35I guess by slamming the product before someone tries it is one way of keeping something that might taste good, but healthwise wrong...we know it can't be HEALTHY, anyway they can keep it off their plate. Most dining experiences are for pleasure anyway. What we should do and what we really do are two different things. Eat to live, not live to eat?! But if you can't enjoy life a little, then why wake up every day? I'd try it...
36These things are DELICIOUS. Especially for the price. They may not qualify as health food but they're worth it if you have a hyper-active metabolism like I do and can afford to eat fattening food. I'm a vegetarian so I've only tried the pasta primavera and mac & cheese varieties, but I thought they were really great. Have yourself a nice little pasta dish and then... a whole bowl made of garlic bread??? Soaked in pasta sauce??? WOOHOO!
WARNING TO VEGETARIANS though: The "hearty marinara" is made with chicken fat!!! I was going to build my own pasta with the marinara sauce and mushrooms, but was very disappointed to find out the sauce was not vegetarian.
37So far I only tried the Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bowl and I love it! Your review of this one is way off. The pasta, sauce and chicken are tasty and the bowl is too. I have had this flavor several times. Your review actually convinced me to try the Carbonara bowl!
38I've had the Pasta Primavera 3 times. Two out of three it was GREAT! The other time was from a different Domino's and ot was just OK. I am a fairly healthy eater but sometimes I splurge. This bread bowl won't make anyone fat if eaten in moderation. Hardly any fast food is healthy when eaten regularly. It is supposed to be a convenience not a lifestyle. Try it and enjoy it, occasionally!
39well to each their own, I absolutly loved the alfredo and 3 cheese mac and cheese. I'd make my own if I could figure out the spices they use on top of the bread.
40I love the people that comment on items they say they cannot eat.Too many carbs or too many calories give me a break.Nobody said you have to eat them everyday splurges are treats everyone should give themselves sometimes you people should lighten up and live a little here's a saying to live by: Don't take life too seriously because no one gets out alive.....Sorry to disappoint you with that tidbit...
41I tried the Italian Sausage Marinara and I was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't expecting lots of taste but I was fooled. It was really good. Easily enough for two people to share. It was worth the $6.
Not a diet food at all. But filling and could easily be a great comfort food for a cold winter night. Find a snuggling partner like I said it's enough for two.
42These people saying "gross!, EEEEWW!!, Too many freakin carbs!!"...why don't you just go live in Ethiopia...I hear they don't have food over there except for roots and berries, so you guys should feel right at home. I mean, God forbid anybody stop for a second to think how happy somebody from a third world country would be to eat this eeeww, eeeww, gross bread bowl pasta with too many carbs. GROW UP AND TRY SOMETHING BEFORE YOU START SAYING IT'S NASTY! YOU SOUND LIKE A BUNCH OF SPOILED FIVE YEAR OLDS!
43Ok...so I will be one of the few fat sounding Americans who actually really enjoys these things. They're not dry at all...and they don't taste as bad as it seems like they might. It's no different (carbs wise) than going to any italian restaurant and eating some bread..or bread sticks, and then having pasta...it's just delived and sorta melded together. I obviously would not eat this very often(or I may become morbidly obese) but on occasion...it's a good meal..and I get to relax when I order it!! (oh...and now it comes with a free chocolate cake....talk about carbs. haha YUM!)
44This guy's on crack.
45I ate one of the Chicken Alfredo pastas last week, it was extremely tasty! and I'm a slender 27 year old guy. It's not meant to be 5-star. but for 5 bucks it's perfect! In fact I only found this site because I was looking for online coupons to see if when I order one tonight I can get a discount! lol
46The pasta primavera is NOT vegetarian it has chicken base (chicken meat, chicken juices) in it!
47According to Domino's ingredients list (http://www.dominos.com/home/menu/ingredients.jsp) the Pasta Primavera Bread Bowl is not vegetarian. It contains a chicken base.
48Ask to have pizza sauce instead of the hearty marinara sauce if you want it to be vegetarian.
49I get the Italian Sausage Marinara vvithovt the bread bovvl for a dollar cheaper. It's great.
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