Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place

Re:Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (MetroplexJim)

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:24:36 GMT

joerogo recently posted this pic from Filomena's in Georgetown (WDC).
I think this pretty much defines "Old Style Italian"!

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (smokestack lightning)

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:52:39 GMT

Occidental is a cool town. And these two restaurants are fun. I have been going for decades.

And Nick Gravenites is greeat. he wrote the soneg "Born in Chicago" for the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. But these two restaurants serve very mediocre old style Italian food.

In SF a great example would be Ernestos on Clement.

BackRhodes

Northern California:

BANCERO's - Hayward, CA ... (East SF Bay Area) Mission Blvd north of downtown...Ravioli that melts in your mouth, and the toasted garlic is how all places should prepare & serve it...and you CAN get it "To Go"...

NEXT IS A TALE OF 2 RESTAURANTS IN THE SAME VILLAGE (Across the street from each other)...I suggest grabbing a hotel room and doing each place on different days...

NEGRI's, Occidental, CA - Bohemian Hwy, Sonoma County...My father used to know Joe Negri (several decades ago) and we NEVER walked away from the table hungry, served family style...

UNION HOTEL, Occidental, CA - Bohemian Hwy, Sonoma County...Italian Food, famous musician Nick Gravenittes sometimes plays there...

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (Twinwillow)

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:08:49 GMT

BackRhodes

Northern California:

BANCERO's - Hayward, CA ... (East SF Bay Area) Mission Blvd north of downtown...Ravioli that melts in your mouth, and the toasted garlic is how all places should prepare & serve it...and you CAN get it "To Go"...

NEXT IS A TALE OF 2 RESTAURANTS IN THE SAME VILLAGE (Across the street from each other)...I suggest grabbing a hotel room and doing each place on different days...

NEGRI's, Occidental, CA - Bohemian Hwy, Sonoma County...My father used to know Joe Negri (several decades ago) and we NEVER walked away from the table hungry, served family style...

UNION HOTEL, Occidental, CA - Bohemian Hwy, Sonoma County...Italian Food, famous musician Nick Gravenittes sometimes plays there...

The old Union Hotel brings back tons of good memories for me. Although I did try Negri's once, it's always been the Union for me. Going back to 1955 when my late dad first took me there. My vineyard was not that far away in Healdsburg and we'd go to the Union for lunch fairly often. Especially if we had guests visiting from Dallas. We'd always eat out on the patio unless it was too cold. Just over the hill a few miles away is the coastal town Of Bodega Bay. Famous for where "The Birds" was filmed. Great wineries abound nearby as well.
It's a "must stop and eat" for anyone in northern California! I dare anyone to finish their entire meal. We never left without a "doggy bag".

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (gregys)

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:23:48 GMT

I don't see many restaurant names, what the op asked for. I got two places in mind.

Cicanti's near Pittsburgh.

Piero's Pasta, Geneva on the lake Ohio, summer only, Piero is the ONLY cook, and he only serves up to 4 hours an evening. Menu changes. Tomato or olive oil dishes and white sauces.

There are other good places in Pittsburgh.

Greg

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (BackRhodes)

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 04:12:58 GMT

Northern California:

BANCERO's - Hayward, CA ... (East SF Bay Area) Mission Blvd north of downtown...Ravioli that melts in your mouth, and the toasted garlic is how all places should prepare & serve it...and you CAN get it "To Go"...

NEXT IS A TALE OF 2 RESTAURANTS IN THE SAME VILLAGE (Across the street from each other)...I suggest grabbing a hotel room and doing each place on different days...

NEGRI's, Occidental, CA - Bohemian Hwy, Sonoma County...My father used to know Joe Negri (several decades ago) and we NEVER walked away from the table hungry, served family style...

UNION HOTEL, Occidental, CA - Bohemian Hwy, Sonoma County...Italian Food, famous musician Nick Gravenittes sometimes plays there...

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (phatphil)

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:13:21 GMT

good italian sausage on italian bread with carmelized onions at lunchtime or for dinner a good crunchy chicken parm with stewed tomatoes and cheeze over a good paste with salad and garlic bread, and for desert......pepcid

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (NYPIzzaNut)

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:25:17 GMT

How about pizza?

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (stricken_detective)

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:19:23 GMT

Tiki: EXACTLY!!!!!

John Fox: I tend to agree with most of what you wrote. I just erased a lot of crap I wrote picking on the OG. You're welcome.

In all seriousness, my boss went to Italy a few years back & was appalled to find NO spaghetti & meatballs there. I wish she'd asked me before she left--madonn!

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (Ted Steak)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:20:31 GMT

Vic's, Bradley Beach, NJ. I go for the pizza!

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (NYPIzzaNut)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:07:40 GMT

MetroplexJim

[id="quote"]quote: [id="quote"]Originally posted by Twinwillow

[id="quote"][id="quote"]quote: [id="quote"][id="quote"]Originally posted by MetroplexJim

[id="quote"][id="quote"][id="quote"]quote: [id="quote"][id="quote"][id="quote"]Originally posted by Bruce Bilmes & Sue Boyle

MetroplexJim has it right. That is what we meant.

[id="quote"][id="quote"][id="quote"]

Thanks. Thought so.

Over the years (I'm 60) I've noticed that many, if not most, "Old-Style Italian places" are owned and operated by Greek immigrants. Anyone have an idea of how this came about?

[id="quote"][id="quote"]

Here in Dallas, the so-called "red sauce" Italian restaurants and many pizza joints are mostly owned by Albanians and such. Their kitchens are manned by Latino's. And, actually, the food is pretty good for the most part. One in particular, Cafe Amore, with two locations, is impossible to get into on a Friday or Saturday night.

[id="quote"]

Aha! Then it's really a Balkan Peninsula thing. Makes sense: cross the Adriatic from Greece or Albania and you run smack into Italia!

My favorite pizzeria in southwest Ohio is Troni's in Kettering and it is owned and operated by a family of Albanians. Their pizzas come as close to NY style as is available presently in this area of the country.

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (the grillman)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:51:32 GMT

Hard choice, they are all so good. Red checkered tablecloth places are a cliche, I know, but it's comfort food!

Start with antipasto platter or some simple cracked and marinated olives and crisp bread sticks from the jar on the table.

Have a salad that must include romaine lettuce, olives, tomato, red onion, and artichoke hearts, with a good Italian dressing and some Parmesan cheese, and optional anchovies.

main dish? Either spaghetti and meatballs or veal picatta If that doesn't do it for you, a big hunk of lasagna made with Italian sausage and lots of ricotta cheese.

Good crusty Italian bread with all; washed down with some chianti.

Dessert is either spumoni or cannelloni. Black coffee, please.

I guess I'm a traditionalist.

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (John Fox)

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 09:49:01 GMT

tiki

[id=quote font="arial, helvetica"]quote: Originally posted by hutt

Being an Italian has nothing to do with it. Nothing at all. Anyone who makes the effort and uses a good recipe will turn out the same food.
I suppose African-Americans make the best fried chicken, too?
There's millions of Italians that can't cook to save their lives. It's the individual, not the race or nationality.

I personally wasnt saying that ALL Italians are great cooks when is aid i dont eat in Italian places run by Wasps---i also dont eat in nChinese places where the cook are Irish---or Greek places run by Aussie---its a matter of ETHNICITY---when i eat Ehtnis i mwant to taste the Flaovrs of the Culture and AS A RULE that is hard to capture if you have not LIVED the culture--although it CAN be one can be learned -it is NOT the rule in MOST American food venu-exceptions do exist for sure--i know that i make lots of great Chinese style dishes-Thai-Mexican and lots of others--i also know that my BEST cuiisine is Italian--i grew up with it--i LIVED it---we raised the food--cooked it--served it--etc--BUT i do know ==that if i am out for diner--it is USUALLY better to go to a place --of any ethnicity-that is run run by folks FROM that group---especially if you are ONE OF THEM--AS CHANCES ARE GREAT THAT YOU WILL NOT BE SATISFIED ANYWAY BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW--NOBODY CAN COOK AS GOOD AS "MY GRANDMOTHER"!!! I certainly did not mean to say that only Italians can cook Italian--just that for THIS Italian--if you wqant my MONEY for it--you better be REALLY good---cause i know i can do it myself cheaper than you can serve it to me.

This is an interesting subject. I believe that if you have a good recipe and have been taught well, you can turn out ethnic food of the same quality even though you are not a member of that particular ethnic group. However, this is probably the exception rather than the rule. It's no coincidence that you don't see any other than Chinese at your local Chinese restaurant. Most Italians probably can't make Shepherd's pie. And so forth. Generally speaking, those from a particular culture are those who are better able (from experience) to make these dishes.

It seems that the best pizza and Italian food is made by those living in areas where there is a large Italian population. Pizza is lousy down south, out west, and other areas where there aren't a lot of people who have been exposed to the culture.

Ah, but the exceptions. I know a guy (not Italian) who was adopted by an Italian American Family. He was taught to cook growing up. He loved it and eventually went to a Culinary school (the CIA?) and became a chef and eventual owner of an Italian restaurant with a good reputation.

A friend of mine who went to the Olive Garden, which many Italians don't consider authentic Italian food, told me that he peeked into the kitchen and saw that the kitchen staff were all Mexicans. There was a pizzeria located on my old mail route that I ate at frequently. Still do occasionally. They have better than average pizza. The owner is from Italy. I've noticed that 90% of the time the pizza is outstanding. The other 10% just ok. One of the deliverymen told me why. Ironically the pizza was made most of the time by the Mexican guy. The other 10% of the time the owner made it.

I'm not Italian, but I think I can make an Italian Hot Dog as good as anyone. I attribute this to my passion for this sandwich, my experience eating them from many places, and knowing and asking questions of those in the business. My daughter used to work at an Italian Hot Dog restaurant that was known for the quality of their product. At the time there were a few people who were trained by the owner to be cooks. One of the young men was Indian. He made the sandwich as good as anyone since he had been working there awhile and was trained by the owner who was trained by the previous owner who was trained by the owner of the place where this sandwich was invented who was trained by the son of the man who invented this sandwich. Who was trained by his father, Jimmy Buff himself, whose wife made the first Italian Hot Dog. Still, my daughter told me that there were many times when customers walked in and saw this young Indian guy behind the counter and said, "oh, the store has been sold" and walked out!

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (wheregreggeats.com)

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 08:48:18 GMT

I just stopped at the type of place that comes to mind:
http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/tm.aspx?m=467028

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (brickie)

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:43:07 GMT

Try this... http://www.antonios-672main.com/

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (Twinwillow)

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:58:19 GMT

Ev1L

My deepest regret in this world is having been born into the "fast food" generation. Many quality places have shut down and people even talk about how much better the food was at mcdonalds way back when.

I am 38, born in 1970, and I really regret not having the same opportunity to sample great foods that are now a memory. There are a few good Italian places here in CT. I just sent my bro a text message on my blackberry to let him know we're leaving the women at home and hitting NYC for a trip to pete lugers.

Are there any places people can recommend for great AUTHENTIC Italian food in the middle of CT or heck, anywhere in CT. It wouldn't be road food if there was not a road trip involved.

Ellen's posts from local eateries border on pornography

Yeah, food porno. I love it!

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (Ev1L)

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:55:08 GMT

My deepest regret in this world is having been born into the "fast food" generation. Many quality places have shut down and people even talk about how much better the food was at mcdonalds way back when.

I am 38, born in 1970, and I really regret not having the same opportunity to sample great foods that are now a memory. There are a few good Italian places here in CT. I just sent my bro a text message on my blackberry to let him know we're leaving the women at home and hitting NYC for a trip to pete lugers.

Are there any places people can recommend for great AUTHENTIC Italian food in the middle of CT or heck, anywhere in CT. It wouldn't be road food if there was not a road trip involved.

Ellen's posts from local eateries border on pornography

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (claracamille)

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:49:29 GMT

My favorite old style Italian restaurant is Fazio's in Charleston, WV.

The Fazio family has had a restaurant at their Charleston location since 1934. The first pizza I ever tasted came from Fazio's about 1955. At that time Fazio's was in the worst part of town, the very,very worst!!! My dad worked for the railraod nearby. He brought home a pizza with anchovies. I did not like the anchovies then(noe I eat them right out of the can!!).

Every time I go to visit my mom, we usually end up at Fazio's. Everything is great, big portions. I especially love the garlic bread.

West Virginia has a lot of great Italian restaurants- many Italians immigrated to work in the coal mines. One word- Pepperoni Rolls!!!

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (PostcardPam)

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 22:02:44 GMT

Sorry Born in OKC but I am in the same boat as Stricken Detective. When my grandmother died, the baccala recipe died with her.
Thanks for the recipe tips. I will check them out.

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (stricken_detective)

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:37:27 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by PostcardPam

Being new to this site, I was a little hesitant to post but this subject makes me feel right at home. Like a lot of you, I am of Sicilian descent and don't eat sauce outside of my house. However, as a home cook, I find that it is very difficult to find really good veal. So my husband (also Sicilian descent) and I do go to the old-school restaurants for veal piccata, marsala etc.

Does anyone know of any restaurant in America that serves baccala? I mean the Christmas Eve, tomato and potato stew type. I would drive anywhere for that.

Tomato & potato stew? I have a recipe where you do 2 layers of potatoes, tomatoes, green pepper & onion & you bake it under a nice blanket of cheese. But in our family, baccala meant fish on Christmas Eve. The baccala died with Aunt Rose, she was the only one who ate it & also the only one who knew how to make it.

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (Born in OKC)

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:28:15 GMT

PostcardPam,

You asked if any place in the country served a Christmas eve style baccala. Just a little bit of GOOGLING revealed what is purported to be a Rao's recipe for that dish, so I guess they serve the dish seasonally. Of course most of us on this message board will never get to go to Rao's so really your question remains. There are several Christmas Eve or baccala with tomato, potato, and black olive recipes though.

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (MetroplexJim)

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:14:41 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Twinwillow

quote:
Originally posted by MetroplexJim

quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Bilmes & Sue Boyle

MetroplexJim has it right. That is what we meant.

Thanks. Thought so.

Over the years (I'm 60) I've noticed that many, if not most, "Old-Style Italian places" are owned and operated by Greek immigrants. Anyone have an idea of how this came about?

Here in Dallas, the so-called "red sauce" Italian restaurants and many pizza joints are mostly owned by Albanians and such. Their kitchens are manned by Latino's. And, actually, the food is pretty good for the most part. One in particular, Cafe Amore, with two locations, is impossible to get into on a Friday or Saturday night.

Aha! Then it's really a Balkan Peninsula thing. Makes sense: cross the Adriatic from Greece or Albania and you run smack into Italia!

Cafe Amore is definitely in Mrs. Metroplex and my future - as is Dunston's on Lovers. (A few weeks back we were cut off and sideswiped by a hit & runner who jumped through a gap in the pylons and hit us in the uber-dangerous HOV lanes on the Central, so we'll be making a few trips to Park Place's body shop off Lemmon). We'll stop and say "Hi"!

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (Born in OKC)

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:37:40 GMT

PostcardPam,

I hope ou can share a recipe for the Christmas eve baccala!

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (rumaki)

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:22:27 GMT

I ate a lot of eggplant parmigiana at Old Style Italian spots in Chicago when I was in college. After I moved to the Washington, DC area, I loved Spaghetti alla Caruso at Sabatino's in Baltimore. I moved to Minneapolis in 1999, and haven't been back to Baltimore since then, so I don't know how it is now, or even if it's still on the menu.

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (PostcardPam)

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:00:39 GMT

Being new to this site, I was a little hesitant to post but this subject makes me feel right at home. Like a lot of you, I am of Sicilian descent and don't eat sauce outside of my house. However, as a home cook, I find that it is very difficult to find really good veal. So my husband (also Sicilian descent) and I do go to the old-school restaurants for veal piccata, marsala etc.

Does anyone know of any restaurant in America that serves baccala? I mean the Christmas Eve, tomato and potato stew type. I would drive anywhere for that.

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (leethebard)

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:59:58 GMT

And Hot chili pepper pizzas!

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (stricken_detective)

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:55:37 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by leethebard

Hey is Joe,wearing a Sombrero????????? Spanish meatballs????

With cilantro instead of Italian Parsley??

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (leethebard)

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:21:27 GMT

Hey is Joe,wearing a Sombrero????????? Spanish meatballs????

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (wheregreggeats.com)

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:42:51 GMT

I enjoy Joe's in Northampton, MA.

Another place around here is the Skyline, in Windsor Locks, CT.

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (Willly)

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:02:17 GMT

Easy -- Mario's in Westport, CT. A true old-style red-sauce place. Prime rib, Lamb chops, Steaks, Pastas, and Martinis.

I get long hots with anchovies and onions, salad with Gorgonzola vinaigrette, and Lamb chops, med rare, with spaghetti on the side. Sometimes I get a meatball with the pasta...

Great place...

RE: Your Favorite at an Old-style Italian place (Sonny Funzio)

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:56:01 GMT

My choices at an old style Italian Restaurant ...
I like the veal. I love eggplant.
As far as a dish, if they'll make it for me - or if it's on the menu, which is not very often - I'll order Pasta Cicci (a pasta dish made with cicci peas).
And I always ask if they have homemade Italian breadcrumbs to sprinkle on top of my pasta, whatever I ordered.