I like the theme, lets just change the cuisine.
I honestly don't have a go-to place for italian food outside of my own kitchen. I'm not worried about pizza or special events. I'm looking for an every day type place that will make you think that your name ends in an 'i' or and 'e'.
La Cena - a little pricey for a Wednesday after baseball practice - more of a special occasion type place for me.
Primi Piatti - I've hit it up every once and a while, and though it's good, it's not knock your socks off awesome. Though I do get some funny looks when I show up in a visor and ratty shorts from baseball practice. ;)
Taverna - I don't make it to San Marco very often. I've been a few times, the food's great, but I'm looking for something a little closer to home - Riverside / Westside
Pizza Italian - Chef Boyardee style Italian, but for the price - it can't be beaten, unfortunately they close at 8, and I rarely get out to eat before 8:30 / 9:00.
Uhhhhhh... that's about it for me. I know there's a little place on Normandy (near Cassat), but I never know if they're open or closed or who's ownership.... I used to eat there fairly regularly, but haven't been in a few years.
All suggestions are welcome, but I'm really looking for something nearby.
Vito's - Baymeadows and San Jose (This place is consistent and has the Sunday dinner from your italian aunt's house feel. It fits the criteria set forth.)
Mama Lucia's - Beach Blvd. and St. Johns Bluff Rd. (Nice old Italian couple serving good Northern Italian dishes.)
Quote from: aaapolito on March 09, 2012, 08:43:36 PM
Vito's - Baymeadows and San Jose (This place is consistent and has the Sunday dinner from your italian aunt's house feel. It fits the criteria set forth.)
Mama Lucia's - Beach Blvd. and St. Johns Bluff Rd. (Nice old Italian couple serving good Northern Italian dishes.)
The same Vito's at the landing and used to be just off JTB in the hotel?
Haven't been impressed, but I've only been to the one at the Landing. The other closed before I ever made an attempt - a few years after D&B opened.
I'm not sure if Vito's is related, but the one on Baymeadows and San Jose is pretty good.
Let me qualify my first post with this: I'm from New Jersey and I'm Italian, so neither of these places are truely up to par, but they are the best that I have found so far in my 4.5 years in Jax.
I'm open to suggestions.
Mezza Luna used to be my favorite, but the quality seems to have taken a hit the last few times I've been out there.
Really miss Giovanni's too.
Tonino's Trattoria
http://toninos.com/
Prima Piatti is the best within reasonable driving distance, it's a neat little place.
Went to Primi once, the food was good but the I thought the prices were really high for what I got- almost $20 for 4 or 5 ravioli. It was good, but those were seriously appetizer portions.
They came down to reality with the prices, I went when they first opened and liked the food but also thought it was expensive. Back then all the entrees except maybe one or two were $20+. Now most of the entrees are in the low teens. Obrothers went through the same thing when they first opened.
Quote from: sanmarcomatt on March 09, 2012, 11:15:52 PM
Number 1 is easy for me: Enzas (Whole foods shopping center on San jose)
I hear Enza's is great. Haven't been though...
Personally, I've yet to come across as an Italian place as authentic and delicious as Sorrento's on St. Augustine Road. There linguine with red clam sauce is to die for. Their garlic dressing for the salad, and their pre-dinner rolls, are equally fantastic.
My mother-in-law is born and raised Sicilian. When I took her around the local joints, she was less than impressed with La Cena (overcooked pasta, bland food, high prices). Again, haven't been to Enza's, but Sorrento's was a huge hit.
I always liked Josephs on North Main Street, I don't know if the beaches location has the same homemade qualities. But the knock your socks off best of show is in, of all places, 'downtown' Green Cove Springs! D'Fontana's Pizzeria & Ristorante http://dfontana.com/ (904) 529.5515 No. 324, Ferris Street, Green Cove Springs, FL.
D'Fontana is worth every inch of the drive down to Green Cove Springs! It's tiny, it's mom and pop, and you'll be lucky to find a seat, but the food is worth the effort.
Went to Mario's in Neptune Beach for the first time tonight.
I must say, I was quite impressed.
One of the better Penne a la Vodka's that I've had.
I really miss Fazoli's, now that was a place that had good authentic Italian food! JK
Haha, Fazoli's- I think you'll have to take a trip to Valdosta to indulge in their Chef Boyardee-ish luxury.
Have to agree with The Professor +1 Tonino's Trattoria. Merrill Road in Arlington. Good food. I'm a chicken marsala guy. And excellent lunch specials. Live music Thurs - Saturday. Check out Harvey on Friday nights. Great atmosphere. A real treasure located in the Arlington area.
For hearty red sauce lasagne and spaghetti, dense meatballs the size of baseballs, meatball sandwiches, homemade blue cheese dressing, big portions, and low prices, I like Luigi's on 5912 University Boulevard West across from Winn Dixie, about 1/2 mile from I-95 going toward Beach Blvd. It's a little stand alone restaurant, and I think there's a tire store next door. It has been there for almost 40 years, and so have the employees. I almost always order the lasagne. One order lasts me at least two meals. I'm told they have wonderful pizza, but I haven't tried it because I love the lasagne. :-)
Okay. I have to get my two cents into the Italian thing. First of all, I don’t eat out much cause I don’t put my money where my mouth is. However, I have eaten at several Italian restaurants over recent years, one at the Landing, one on the east side of 17, south of Orange Park, and some in Arlington and Southside.
A couple on the Southside, and Merrill road, were overall tolerable. The one on 17 being so terrible, I never went back because I sensed that the problem was quite settled in. Some restaurants offer the feeling that any problem meals or mediocrities are temporary, but occasionally one gets the feeling that there is simply no hope.
I am sure that there are some excellent Italian restaurants around Jax. For curiosity I will experiment with some appearing on this thread to see if anything beats La Cena. Yes, yes, yes…. La Cena, run by the famous pasta nazi we’ve all come to love and admire, and hate, for his unique and colorful approach to the homeless problem. Well…..if we all don’t love and admire, we at least might understand, much as we understand and love a distant uncle whom the family agrees is somewhat unique.
Seriously though, the pasta at La Cena, made fresh every evening, has to be some of the best in Jax. Some restaurant pastas remind me of something I would pull out of a can, rather uninteresting, always drowned with excess to hide the mediocrity of it. The pasta on 17 was so bad, I knew as I walked out that I would never return.
But there is more to an Italian meal than pasta. What of the total mix, which can arrive as a work of art, not only in appearance, but in taste, in the exciting whiff when set upon the table which informs you that it was most likely prepared not by a couple of hired cooks, but by an experienced chef, as in Jerry’s case.
Seriously, there is not a hint of mediocrity at La Cena. The quality of the pasta is equaled by the seafood, the fresh made bread, the music, the experienced service, and the quiet setting. And the price should be somewhat appreciated, as it is one reason why one never sees a loud family with four kids yelling around a table. La Cena has to be one of the best Italians in this city. But I intend to experiment, as I am curious about some others my MJ friends have mentioned.
Okay, admittedly, another reason I frequent La Cena is because to dine there I must walk only twenty feet down the sidewalk from my apartment. However, as particular as I have become about the taste and quality of food, I would not eat at La Cena as often as I do if it was not quite above the average.
Quote from: Debbie Thompson on March 18, 2012, 09:05:29 AM
I like Luigi's on 5912 University Boulevard West across from Winn Dixie, about 1/2 mile from I-95 going toward Beach Blvd.
Debbie, do you know if Luigi's is still open. I drive by it once or twice per week on my way to Karam's, and I always think that I should stop sometime because it looks like a nice mom-and-pop place. It has a good ranking on Urbanspoon, too.
The last week or so, however, it has looked like Luigi's is closed. Hopefully, they're still in business. I'll check later this week.
Quote from: JaxByDefault on March 18, 2012, 12:21:57 PM
Quote from: Debbie Thompson on March 18, 2012, 09:05:29 AM
I like Luigi's on 5912 University Boulevard West across from Winn Dixie, about 1/2 mile from I-95 going toward Beach Blvd.
Debbie, do you know if Luigi's is still open. I drive by it once or twice per week on my way to Karam's, and I always think that I should stop sometime because it looks like a nice mom-and-pop place. It has a good ranking on Urbanspoon, too.
The last week or so, however, it has looked like Luigi's is closed. Hopefully, they're still in business. I'll check later this week.
Same experience here.
Also, can anyone comment on Kostas (sp?) in 5 Points? Looks terrible, but obviously has been in business forever.
Casa Dora in Downtown is good.
Kostas is great. Go there with my grandparents all the time. Super cheap and you get lots of food.
Quote from: fsujax on March 19, 2012, 08:33:53 AM
Kostas is great. Go there with my grandparents all the time. Super cheap and you get lots of food.
Kostas = Pizza Italian ?
yes.
Enza's, La Cena, Mezza Luna and Andiamo are personal favorites of mine.
Quote from: fsujax on March 19, 2012, 08:33:53 AM
Kostas is great. Go there with my grandparents all the time. Super cheap and you get lots of food.
Not being the food snob, as I'll (happily) go either way: is this Americanized, heavy cheese, lasagna/baked ziti style Italian? Or is it more in line with a Sorrento's/La Cena? Again, I'll go either way, just curious.
Kostas-family restaurant, looks like you walked into 1984, cheap food with large portions.
La Cena-authentic food, large portions, excellent pasta(very good cappelletti and trenette), good wine list, possible uncomfortable rant from Jerry Moran, not cheap.
Completely different restaurants.
Quote from: fieldafm on March 19, 2012, 09:37:04 AM
possible uncomfortable rant from Jerry Moran, not cheap.
;D
Quote from: JaxByDefault on March 18, 2012, 12:21:57 PM
Debbie, do you know if Luigi's is still open. I drive by it once or twice per week on my way to Karam's, and I always think that I should stop sometime because it looks like a nice mom-and-pop place. It has a good ranking on Urbanspoon, too.
The last week or so, however, it has looked like Luigi's is closed. Hopefully, they're still in business. I'll check later this week.
I'm not Debbie, but I can tell you luigi's is still open. I was in there 2 weeks ago. Maybe they were on vacation? I'm going to call them tonight and pick up a pizza, if closed, I'll report back ;D
For those at the bottom of the beltway, check out Santioni's. Never had a bad meal there:
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/481507/restaurant/Mandarin/Santionis-Cucina-Jacksonville
Anyone know how that new place in Miramar is? Toscana or whatever?
I really like Primi Priatti.
I have to put in a vote for Casa Dora on East Forsyth downtown. Great food and Freddy the manager is a character.
Quote from: coredumped on March 21, 2012, 01:23:15 PM
I'm not Debbie, but I can tell you luigi's is still open. I was in there 2 weeks ago. Maybe they were on vacation? I'm going to call them tonight and pick up a pizza, if closed, I'll report back ;D
Thanks! I drove by yesterday and they looked open--lights on and more cars than I've ever seen in their parking lot. Let us know for sure after you go tonight.
Quote from: JaxByDefault on March 21, 2012, 02:46:45 PM
Quote from: coredumped on March 21, 2012, 01:23:15 PM
I'm not Debbie, but I can tell you luigi's is still open. I was in there 2 weeks ago. Maybe they were on vacation? I'm going to call them tonight and pick up a pizza, if closed, I'll report back ;D
Thanks! I drove by yesterday and they looked open--lights on and more cars than I've ever seen in their parking lot. Let us know for sure after you go tonight.
Jeez. Some days it looks abandoned/shut down/closed for good. Some days it looks like you couldn't get a table if you wanted to. I wonder what their deal is...
Luigi's. Don't know. Some days may be slow. They may have closed for vacation last week. I ordered take out for 25 last month. It was GREAT. Ziti and meat sauce, and a couple dozen of the amazing meatballs. I have their phone number programmed into my cell, and sometimes I'll call them as I leave work, and stop and pick up a meal on the way home. One meal feeds both of us with leftovers. One of these days, I'm gonna have to order a pizza. I appear to be a one-note song with their lasagna.
We went in LaCena one night, but it was a bit too pricey for our budget, so we didn't stay to eat. We ate once or twice at Joseph's on Main Street, and it was good, but the lasagna wasn't as good as Luigi's. IMO, you may feel differently.
Quote from: JaxByDefault on March 21, 2012, 02:46:45 PM
Thanks! I drove by yesterday and they looked open--lights on and more cars than I've ever seen in their parking lot. Let us know for sure after you go tonight.
They are OPEN. Was there last night and picked up a large pie to go, it was pretty good too. I'll be back for sure. There were about 3 tables with people so it was pretty quiet. If you haven't been, it's nothing fancy. Vinyl tablecloths, tiled floor and a counter to get takeaway orders from. But don't be put off by that, it was clean and the waitstaff was friendly. Might not be a great romantic first date, but certainly worth visiting.
What, no love for Pele's wood fire?
Quote from: JaxJerry on March 22, 2012, 02:37:52 PM
What, no love for Pele's wood fire?
I believe the minefield you want to dance on is located over here:
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=14028.0
Quote from: knhknh on March 18, 2012, 07:56:05 AM
Have to agree with The Professor +1 Tonino's Trattoria. Merrill Road in Arlington. Good food. I'm a chicken marsala guy. And excellent lunch specials. Live music Thurs - Saturday. Check out Harvey on Friday nights. Great atmosphere. A real treasure located in the Arlington area.
+1 on The Professor for Tonino's. Great food, nice little martini bar, oh and the Thursday night live music is my daughter, WWW.AlainaColdingMusic.com. :)
Dean 8)
Quote from: JaxJerry on March 22, 2012, 02:37:52 PM
What, no love for Pele's wood fire?
Too expensive for what you get.
I just can't get behind eating Italian food in a restaurant setting. I dunno.. growing up we had three major influences in our house for cooking. Those influences being good ol' southern food, Pennsylvania Dutch cooking and Italian.
Italian food has always been one of those "you make it yourself if you want it done right." Because no one will ever make the ravioli the way that you like them, or make the sauce the way that you like it, or put the love into it that you do. Something always comes up short of expectations. No matter where I eat Italian. It's easy enough to slop some Restaurant Depot mass produced sauce on some pasta and call it spaghetti and charge 10 bucks a plate. But it's something entirely different when the chef puts attention and love into a meal.
That being said, I've never eaten at La Cena, mostly because I can't see spending that much for something that I can probably do better in my kitchen. So I won't compare it to anything that I've had and I won't trash it, because I have no experience. But after eating at almost every other Italian place in town, I find myself returning to Kosta's over and over again. Mostly because it's cheap and tastes good. But also because you can look right there in the kitchen through that little window and watch that man cook his heart out , and I can watch him love every minute of it. I don't want this to be a "glowing" review of the place. Because the place is old and dirty and the decor is the same as it was (as someone mentioned before) in 1984.
I dunno, that's how I feel about Italian. I'd rather spend all day making the perfect marinara than going some place to be served sauce out of a giant tub or jar.
Quote from: TheProfessor on March 10, 2012, 03:33:16 AM
Tonino's Trattoria
&
Quote from: DDC on March 24, 2012, 05:28:07 PM
Quote from: knhknh on March 18, 2012, 07:56:05 AM
Have to agree with The Professor +1 Tonino's Trattoria. Merrill Road in Arlington. Good food. I'm a chicken marsala guy. And excellent lunch specials. Live music Thurs - Saturday. Check out Harvey on Friday nights. Great atmosphere. A real treasure located in the Arlington area.
+1 on The Professor for Tonino's. Great food, nice little martini bar, oh and the Thursday night live music is my daughter, WWW.AlainaColdingMusic.com. :)
Dean 8)
Took my son there tonight for his birthday, dude loves italian food, and it was incredible. I won't swear because I don't know, but it felt like the gnocci was hand rolled based on the appearance and texture. The little bits of onions in the vodka sauce made me think it to be made from scratch, too. They had to make an extra run to Publix for the bacon for mini-me's carbonara, so I know that sauce was from scratch.
My favorite part of the meal, aside from the food itself, was walking up to the counter, we were the last ones there at 8:30 so no need to make the server come all the way out to the patio 3 times to collect the payment, and saw 2 older women (I assume to be the owners/owners wives) eating the same dish I had - really makes me think it's as authentic as I was hoping.
Thanks Professor and others, you guys were spot on. I'll make that drive anytime.
bump
I went to Casa Dora for dinner tonight....possibly the best stromboli I've had since I left Philly 18 years ago!
Quote from: tufsu1 on July 26, 2012, 09:11:33 PM
bump
I went to Casa Dora for dinner tonight....possibly the best stromboli I've had since I left Philly 18 years ago!
Hit Casa Dora for lunch today. Always a favorite. Freddie and Andrew cook up some great food.