A spaghetti western showdown is unfolding between two Sydney restaurants, with shots fired on social media by inner west pasta institution The Italian Bowl.

The owners of the Newtown restaurant took to their Facebook page on Tuesday night to dispel rumours that they are behind Pasta La Vista, a new pasta restaurant that opened in Belmore last month. They have accused the latter of wholesale copying of their concept and menu.

Customers queue outside The Italian Bowl restaurant in Newtown. Credit:Wolter Peeters

The kicker for The Italian Bowl co-owner Alexi Spyridis is that the people behind Pasta La Vista are his former staff.

"These cooks started off washing dishes and have been taught everything they know about cooking from the owners of The Italian Bowl," the lengthy Facebook post stated.