Ronzoni Bistro Rotini with Tomato and Basil

October 17, 2009 | Reviewer: Guest Reviewers

Price: 50¢ (sale at Dollar Tree)
Serving: 1 package, 8oz.
Calories: 260 per serving
Fat: 15%, 10g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 45%, 1000mg
Protein: 8g
Carbohydrates: 11%, 34g
Fiber: 12%, 3g
Sugar: 9g
Weight Watchers: 5 POINTS

Ronzoni Bistro says: A delicious combination of rotini in a savory vine ripened tomato sauce with onions, garlic, and basil.

Chang says: As far as I know, few of my acquaintances shop at Dollar Tree. I was there only because I was ordered to get 12 silver (looking) platters in an hour for an event, otherwise I never would have known this meal exists.

I always think buying non-candy food at a dollar store is bad enough, now imagine getting a shelf-stable pasta at a dollar store on sale for 50 cents. You can’t expect to much when it doesn’t even cost a dollar. I bought it because I was intrigued to see how bad it could be, not because I was craving pasta.

Heating up the bagged meal wasn’t a problem, in fact I’m glad I technically didn’t have to find a container for it since I can just microwave it in the bag and eat it out of the bag. As soon as I peeked into the steaming bag, I thought I accidentally bought whole wheat pasta. The color is definitely whole wheat color (see picture), but I scanned the bag again, and couldn’t find “whole wheat” mentioned anywhere.

I shrugged this off and took a bite of the worst pasta I’ve ever consumed. The texture was that of Spaghetti-os left sitting in a can for too long. I don’t expect Olive Garden level al dente from pre-cooked pasta, but it shouldn’t be so soggy that I can barely fork it up. That was not even the worst part of this experience! Even in very cheap and/or very bad pasta (like Banquet spaghetti or canned pasta) you should at least be able to taste the tomato and garlic, right? You know something is very wrong when you can taste zero out of the four items that are supposed to be in the sauce, no basil, no garlic, no onion, not even remotely tomato. Instead, all I could taste was a strange bitter metallic presence. I’m not sure where it came from because I was using a plastic fork.

I threw out the Ronzoni pasta after three bites, I won’t use the line “I got what I paid for” since I didn’t intend to make a meal of it. At least there’s one thing I can be smug about.

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comments

18 Responses to “Ronzoni Bistro Rotini with Tomato and Basil”

Chavi on October 17th, 2009

You know, I tried this before I went kosher and I really liked it.
Marvo on October 18th, 2009

I tried another variety of this. I picked it up for $1 when it was labeled “Reduce for Quick Sale.” Its colors match with your picture. It was edible, but I also tasted the essence of metal.
Debbi on October 18th, 2009

I am very surprised that you were generous enough to give it one star! It truly does look disgusting!
rob on October 19th, 2009

If they served that in prison the inmates would riot
christine on October 19th, 2009

I bought a couple of different ones of these when they were on a great sale with coupon and they are VILE! I got them for about 50 cents and even that was too much!! Metallic tasting, mushy…. ugh! Now I notice they are reduced for quick sell at my local stores… I wonder why? Imagine the poor souls who paid full pirce for these???
Jody on October 19th, 2009

I tried either this one or a similar incarnation of the same brand, and I agree they are horrible. (I say “they” because I may have tried two different ones over the course of a few weeks; and no I didn’t buy them, my mom did and gave them to me.)

No flavor but the metallic undertaste, and I felt sick for a while after eating it.
Josie on October 21st, 2009

Well, I saw the title and said, “Yay!”. But then I saw the finished product and said, “barf”.
lisa on October 28th, 2009

this looks nasty. pasta in a bag is never good.
where are you guys! i miss your reviews!!
Jeanette on October 29th, 2009

I bought a different flavor of this. Unfortunately I paid $2. It sat in my pantry until it passed expiration and I threw it out. In theory it seemed like it would be good, in practice I just couldn’t bring myself to try it.
Denise on October 30th, 2009

Oddly, I feel the urge for Alexia Sweet Potato fries :p

Hope everything’s going okay Abi!
Jillian (back to the nest) on October 31st, 2009

Yes, bring back the video review!!
Samantha on November 3rd, 2009

Did you ever notice that when Abi goes away she always leaves the grossest reviews up?
Denise on November 3rd, 2009

I think she does it to punish us.

We’re sorry Abi! We’ll be good.

Promise.
Spanky on November 4th, 2009

Abi is so pretty, and intelligent.
Maywither Dragon on November 4th, 2009

and sneaky
Jim on November 8th, 2009

LOL
@ Maywither Dragon
thatsgross on November 13th, 2009

I wouldnt go anywhere near that stuff EWWW
Jay on November 16th, 2009

LOL! As I read this. I bought two pouches at Dollar Tree. I actually ate one of them. The other is going in the trash. I wondered as I was eating how they could screw up tomato sauce? It is the most basic ingredient, except it does not taste like tomato at all. Banquet Spaghetti and Meatballs really is a banquet compared to this stuff!!