There’s one man behind the pasta, paninis, salads and soups at R Spot Takeout & Eatery in Sisters. Norm Garrett.

The chef and owner of the Italian eatery will soon celebrate the restaurant’s eighth year, several years after the pandemic bolstered business for the restaurant.

“I kept my doors open, my phone on, and I’d carry orders out,” Garrett said of the COVID-riddled years, adding customers would duck inside to pluck items out of the to-go case.

Convenience at its finest

Last Thursday, the fridge was stocked with pasta dishes including chicken fettuccine alfredo ($18), spaghetti and meatballs ($19), quarts of loaded potato soup ($13) and signature salads.

The fridge, tucked in the corner of the dining room, is convenience at its finest. Customers can walk through the wooden door that opens up to Elm Street and out with a home-cooked meal in a matter of minutes.

Although take-out makes up a significant amount of business, Garrett stays busy preparing meals fresh to order.

Daily specials

Specials mark the days of the week at R Spot. The Bahn mi sandwich ($16) is available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, adding a touch of Vietnamese influence amid a menu awash with Italian options.

Thursdays are for loaded potato soup. Those interested in a cup, bowl, pint or quart must arrive early, Garrett said. By 4 p.m. last Thursday, the loaded potato soup was sold out.

A generous amount of smoked turkey breast, Swiss cheese and spinach filled the turkey panini ($15), according to my husband. It was enclosed in a pub roll pressed with grill marks and served with a bag of potato chips. The addition of crumbled bacon and sun-dried tomato aioli added nuance.

R Spot is especially kind to the gluten-free crowd, preparing all of its sauces gluten-free in addition to offering bread and pasta alternatives. Even the cheese lasagna may be made without gluten if ordered in advance.

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The carbonara ($18) was held together with a creamy mascarpone sauce with chopped bacon and juicy peas blended throughout. The gluten-free pasta was cooked al dente and sprinkled with parsley and more cheese.

It was decadent without tasting excessively rich, every bite just as delicious as the first. The dish was also doled out in a portion generous enough for a second meal.

R Spot’s dining room is intimate, offering a respite from the winter weather with four tables with mismatching chairs and walls cluttered with vintage posters.

Garrett closes the Italian joint from 2 to 4 p.m. on weekdays to begin prepping for dinner. But those who arrive without the time to enjoy a sit-down meal aren’t turned away: When a small group of students arrived near closing time last week, the server encouraged them to order lunch to-go.

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