Almost everyone loves a good pasta dish. It’s warm, comforting, and delicious. But there’s a problem many people face when they order pasta to go. By the time they get home, the pasta is cold and soggy. The sauce doesn’t taste fresh anymore. The texture is ruined, and the meal that was supposed to bring joy becomes a disappointment. Busy people who don’t have time to sit down in a restaurant often choose takeout.
Yet pasta is one of the worst foods for takeout because it just doesn’t travel well. Many customers end up wasting their money on a meal that loses all its quality before it even reaches their table. This problem is common in big cities where people rely on delivery or need fast meals on the go.
Brandon Fay saw this problem firsthand and wanted to fix it. That’s why he created Pasta by Hudson, a fresh pasta bar that makes pasta dishes to order right in front of you. He wanted to make sure customers could enjoy perfectly cooked pasta, fresh sauce, and tasty extras like meatballs without worrying about the meal getting cold or mushy.
Brandon took his idea to Shark Tank in Season 11, hoping to get help from the sharks to open more pasta bars and expand his dream. He asked for $150,000 in exchange for 10% equity in his business. During his pitch, he impressed some sharks but worried others. In the end, he made a deal with two sharks who believed in his idea. But what happened next?
Did Pasta by Hudson become a success story, or did the challenges of the world get in the way? This article explores everything about Brandon’s journey on Shark Tank, the sharks’ reactions, the struggles he faced, where you can buy his food today, and what happened to his company after the cameras stopped rolling.
Pasta By Hudson Net Worth Shark Tank Update
Brandon was looking for an investment of $150k in exchange for 10% equity in the company. At the time of the episode, he valued his company at $1.5 million. Brandon successfully secured a deal on the show with Lori and Mark for an investment of $150k for 30% equity in the company. The investment adjusted the company’s net worth to around $500k. After the show was aired, the company experienced a good boost in exposure, survived the pandemic, and public listings still show it operating in New York with delivery and an active Chelsea location. As per my rough estimate, the current net worth of Pasta By Hudson is around $4 million.
Shark(s) name
Offer & Demand
Counteroffer
Accepted?
Lori Greiner and Mark Cuban
$150,000 for 30% equity
N/A
Yes
Kevin O’Leary
Out
N/A
N/A
Barbara Corcoran
$150,000 for 50% equity
N/A
N/A
Daymond John
Out
N/A
N/A
Brandon Fay Backstory + Their Initial Pitch
Brandon Fay had worked in the food industry for many years before starting Pasta by Hudson. He always loved pasta and knew how much people craved it, especially when it was fresh and cooked just right. He wanted to take his years of experience and build something unique. That’s how he came up with the idea of a fast, high-quality pasta bar.
His plan was to offer customers a choice of pasta shapes, sauces, and extras like meatballs, all made fresh on the spot. Customers would get a warm, delicious meal they could eat right away or take with them without worrying it would get ruined on the way home.
The first Pasta by Hudson location opened in a busy part of New York City. Brandon chose a small shop in the Turnstyle Underground Market, a place with a lot of foot traffic. He believed this location would give him a steady flow of customers who needed quick meals but didn’t want to sacrifice taste or quality. His idea quickly attracted attention.
People loved being able to pick exactly what they wanted and watch it being made fresh in front of them. Reviews were positive, and the business began to grow.
When Brandon came to Shark Tank, he knew he needed more money to expand. His goal was to open three more locations in New York City. He wanted to create a chain of pasta bars so more people could get fresh, hot pasta whenever they wanted. He asked the sharks for $150,000 in exchange for 10% equity in his company. During his pitch, he brought samples for the sharks to taste.
The sharks loved the food. Barbara Corcoran even said the meatballs were the best she had ever tasted. Brandon explained how his business worked, shared his sales numbers, and talked about his dreams for the future. He wanted the sharks to help him grow into more locations and eventually sell his pasta and meatballs in grocery stores.
Queries + Sharks’ Responses, and Final Deal
As soon as Brandon finished his pitch, the sharks started asking questions. Daymond John went first. He told Brandon he loved the idea but had to be honest about his health. Daymond said that pasta gives him acid reflux, which causes him pain. Because of this, he couldn’t support a pasta business even though he liked it. He wished Brandon well but said he was out.
Kevin O’Leary asked Brandon about his numbers. He wanted to know how much money Brandon was making and what his costs were. Brandon explained that he had made $590,000 so far in the year of filming. Kevin said the numbers were good but not enough for a franchise. He felt Brandon needed more proof that he could open multiple locations and keep them profitable. Kevin told Brandon he didn’t believe it was ready for franchising and decided to go out.
Barbara Corcoran shared that she loved the food, especially the meatballs. She said the meatballs were amazing and better than any she had ever tasted. However, Barbara didn’t think the pasta business itself was a good investment for her. She said she would invest in the meatballs alone but wasn’t interested in helping Brandon open more pasta bars. Because of this, she also went out.
Mark Cuban then started asking questions about delivery. He told Brandon that he thought delivery was the future of the food business. He asked Brandon if he had considered opening cloud kitchens. Cloud kitchens are small kitchens that only make food for delivery, without any dine-in space.
Mark thought this could help Brandon avoid the costs of opening big locations while still serving a lot of customers. Brandon liked the idea but said he wanted to have both physical pasta bars and delivery options.
Lori Greiner spoke up and said she believed in Brandon’s passion. She said she thought he had something special with his pasta bar idea. Lori offered to invest $50,000 for 10% equity. Mark then joined her and offered an additional $100,000 for 20% equity. Together, they made a deal for $150,000 in total for 30% of Pasta by Hudson. Brandon accepted their offer right away, excited to have two sharks backing his dream.
Product Availability
Pasta by Hudson offers freshly made pasta dishes that customers can customize. You can pick your favorite pasta shape, choose a sauce like marinara or Alfredo, and add extras like meatballs. The pasta is cooked to order right in front of you. This means it doesn’t sit around getting cold like other takeout pasta. The servings are large and filling, making them a good value for the price.
Most meals cost between $9 and $13, which is reasonable for fresh, restaurant-quality pasta in New York City.
In addition to pasta, Brandon’s meatballs have become a standout item. Many customers say they are the best meatballs they have ever tasted. Pasta by Hudson now sells these famous meatballs online. You can order them on the company’s website, pastabyhudson.com, and have them shipped directly to your home.
The meatballs are sold frozen, so you can heat them up whenever you want a quick, delicious meal. Pasta by Hudson also started offering “Shark Tank Cheesy Meatballs,” a special product inspired by the positive reaction on the show.
The first Pasta by Hudson location is still operating in the Turnstyle Underground Market in New York City. Brandon has also opened an additional location in the city, giving him two pasta bars serving fresh meals to hungry customers. These shops are in busy areas where lots of people need quick meals on the go.
Brandon continues to look for opportunities to expand, including exploring cloud kitchens or pop-up locations to reach more people. Customers who can’t visit the stores can order meatballs and pasta dishes for delivery online.
What Happened To Pasta by Hudson After Shark Tank?
After appearing on Shark Tank, Brandon’s company went through a tough period because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales dropped sharply when the city shut down, and Brandon had to find new ways to reach customers. He worked hard to pivot his business to focus more on delivery and online sales. Even though the pandemic slowed his plans for new locations, he kept his original pasta bar open and found creative ways to stay in business.
As of 2024, Pasta by Hudson is still going strong. Brandon has grown his revenue to around $4 million a year. That’s a big achievement considering how difficult the restaurant industry has been during and after the pandemic. His online meatball sales have become a hit, and many customers across the country order them to enjoy at home. The two pasta bar locations in New York City continue to serve fresh pasta to locals and tourists alike.
Brandon’s story shows that determination can help a business survive even in the worst circumstances. While his dream of quickly opening many new locations was delayed, he has still grown his brand and adapted to challenges. He keeps looking for ways to expand, and his partnership with the sharks has helped him think creatively about how to reach more customers. Pasta by Hudson is a success story of perseverance and passion.
Conclusion
Pasta by Hudson started with Brandon Fay’s love of pasta and his desire to make fresh, hot pasta available to busy people on the go. He created a unique pasta bar where customers could choose their pasta, sauce, and extras, and watch their meal being made fresh. On Shark Tank, he impressed the sharks with his food and passion. Brandon secured a deal with Lori Greiner and Mark Cuban for $150,000 in exchange for 30% equity.
After Shark Tank, Brandon faced serious challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic. His main location lost most of its customers during lockdowns, but he worked hard to adapt by selling meatballs and pasta online. His business survived, and today, Pasta by Hudson makes around $4 million in annual revenue. Brandon continues to grow his company and looks for ways to expand.
His journey shows that with passion, hard work, and the right support, it’s possible to overcome even the toughest obstacles.
Hey, I’m Amna Habib, an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Shark Tank has always been one of my favorite TV shows because it offers a unique glimpse into the world of entrepreneurship. The way entrepreneurs present innovative solutions to everyday problems aligns with my academic interests and fuels my curiosity about business strategies. Each pitch showcases creativity and strategic decision-making, which I find both insightful and inspiring. Watching the show has deepened my passion for business and motivated me to explore the world of entrepreneurship even further. Beyond business and writing, I love food, shopping, and spending time with my friends and family.
