John and Cathy Lanci of Lanci’s Ristorante on Putnam Street know that and came up with a new way to draw customers in.

“You used to go to your grandmothers house for pasta on Sundays,” Cathy said.

The couple decided to take advantage of a slower Sunday and bring back Nonna’s (grandma’s) traditions.

John said they are keeping it very easy, with all pasta dishes. The menu will vary week-to-week.

He said they are calling it “pasta e basta” which means pasta is enough.

“It is simple Italian comfort food,” Cathy said.

John said pasta at Nonna’s house was the typical Sunday meal.

“Everything was centered around family,” he said.

He said on Sunday, Jan. 6 they had the inaugural Pasta e Basta Sunday, which drew a pretty good crowd.

“People talked, relaxed and laughed,” he said.

He said people can expect the same level of cuisine from Lanci’s, just in pasta form. He said they will have carafes of wine for customers to choose from too.

John said besides having four pasta dishes that he makes to choose from, the customer will have the opportunity to have the Chef’s Surprise Pasta.

“We will have a community chef each Sunday,” he said.

He said anyone with a signature dish should get a hold of them if they are interested in being a community chef. There are some community chefs scheduled for the upcoming weeks, and they will be next to John in the kitchen.

“We supply the food and they supply the technique,” he said.

Cathy said a lot of people have the dream of being a chef.

“We are just giving them an opportunity to do so and have fun,” she said.

John said they are going to run the pasta Sunday through March. The restaurant opens at 5:30 p.m. Anyone interested in being a community chef should e-mail Cathy and John from their Web site, www.lancisristorante.com.