Little Italy sucks for food?

[LordJezo]

<p>I always thought the food I got in Little Italy in NYC was pretty good.&nbsp; I have been going to Pasano's now and enjoyed the good cheap food that they serve, O/A always talking about them made me try it.<br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I was reading in some tourist message board about how Little Italy is total crap and people should stay away, it's only for clueless tourists. &nbsp;</p><p>So have I been missing out or something?&nbsp; Has the food I have been eating there actually garbage like the other folks say?&nbsp;</p>

[LongIslandRob]

food in little italy is totally ghetto italian food.&nbsp; If you served that to someone from Italy, they'd hurl.

[Tall_James]

<strong>LongIslandRob</strong> wrote:<br />food in little italy is totally ghetto italian food.&nbsp; If you served that to someone from Italy, they'd hurl. <p>I thought that applied to the Olive Garden or Romano's Macaroni Grill</p>

[LongIslandRob]

those definitely fall into the category of ghetto italian

[feralBoy]

<p>I've been to paesanos.&nbsp; I think the food there is pretty good.&nbsp; Italian food is such a weird thing, because there really are so many types.&nbsp; Food in italy is nothing like the Italian food here.&nbsp; But it can't really be, they have different weather/environment, which makes&nbsp;different ingredients more readily available.&nbsp; Plus, it's so long, that the food in the north is so&nbsp;much different than the food in the south.&nbsp; </p><p>Foods that we consider italian in the US, e.g. lasagne, chicken parm, eggplant parm, are actually american, albeit, italian american.&nbsp; I am italian, and i've been to italy, and there food there is nothing special.&nbsp; It's just as good as the food here, just different.&nbsp; With that being said, there are plenty of places that you can get more authentic, and higher quality italian food, but the price will reflect that.&nbsp; For the price, I think paesanos is great.&nbsp; For a change, in the west village, Da Andrea is pretty good and cheap.&nbsp; Check that place out.&nbsp; Also, Faiccos pork store on bleeker has the best sausage in the city.</p>

[Doctor Manhattan]

<strong>Tall_James</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>LongIslandRob</strong> wrote:<br />food in little italy is totally ghetto italian food.&nbsp; If you served that to someone from Italy, they'd hurl. <p>I thought that applied to the Olive Garden or Romano's Macaroni Grill</p><font color="#990000" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #990000; font-family: verdana">You are not going to get great food at any chain restaurant</span></font>

[Tenbatsuzen]

<strong>Tall_James</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>LongIslandRob</strong> wrote:<br />food in little italy is totally ghetto italian food.&nbsp; If you served that to someone from Italy, they'd hurl. <p>I thought that applied to the Olive Garden or Romano's Macaroni Grill</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>My boss and my best friend are full blooded italians, yet, for some reason, they completely ADORE the Olive Garden.</p><p>My boss confided in me that although home cooked and mom and pop stores are good, he enjoys olive garden.... and it's good to take the kids to.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[angrymissy]

Been to Paesanos twice, and was not impressed at all.&nbsp; Horrible, bland food and slow ass service.

[suggums]

<p>hey paesanos, its the super mario brothers super show!</p><p><img border="0" src="http://pressthebuttons.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/smbss.jpg" />&nbsp;</p>

[ADF]

Umbeeeeeeeeeerto's clam house!<br />

[chgojim]

<p>Little Italy Italian Food = Overly hyped, Overly spiced, Overly done.</p><p>&quot;The world is full of rubes&quot;</p><p>- &quot;Carnie&quot; Ron Bennington</p>

[JustJon]

I've been to Paesanos, and like missy, I found the food to be bland as well.&nbsp; There are some good restaurants down there, though.<br />

[silera]

<p>I grew up in Little Italy, and it's nothing like it was 20 yrs ago.&nbsp; While things are different, I will say that there are still great places to eat down there.&nbsp; </p><p>Ballatos on East Houson and Mott Street- small menu, intimate environment,&nbsp;easy on the wallet.&nbsp; Far removed from the main tourist area.</p><p>BrickOven pizza place on Spring and Mott street- fucking phenomonal.</p><p>Ray's pizza on Prince between Mott and Elizabeth- pizza has gotten shittier but the restaurant side is still pretty good, plus it has the same employees for the last 15 yrs and really gives a family feel.</p><p>Little Italy has been taken over by Chinatown and Soho, so you're not going to find the same mom and pop authentic feel that was its charm.&nbsp; Doesn't mean all the places suck, just that the chances of eating at a shitty one have increased.</p><p>That being said, the Italian Feast is a shithole traffic jam that lasts for 2 weeks.</p>

[curtoid]

<p><img height="314" src="http://www.livebaltimore.com/UploadedImages/NeighborhoodMapImages/little_italy.gif" width="300" border="0" /></p><p>Big fan of Little Italy - especially in the summer</p><p><img height="262" src="http://baltimore.maryland.com/articles/graphic.php?img_id=630&407223670" width="400" border="0" /></p>

[badorties]

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>just go to brooklyn&nbsp;or queens ... try bamonte's in williamsburg or salvatore's in middle village</p>

[BeerBandit]

<strong>chgojim</strong> wrote:<br /><p>Little Italy Italian Food = Overly hyped, Overly spiced, Overly done.</p><p>&quot;The world is full of rubes&quot;</p><p>- &quot;Carnie&quot; Ron Bennington</p><p>Agreed.&nbsp; I highly recommend Mario's or Amelia's on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx.&nbsp; Fantastic food for much cheaper than Mulberry Street.&nbsp; Also go to Egidio's for canoli and cheesecake.&nbsp; Fuck that Junior's shit.</p>

[zildjian361]

<strong>silera</strong> wrote:<br /><p>I grew up in Little Italy, and it's nothing like it was 20 yrs ago.&nbsp; While things are different, I will say that there are still great places to eat down there.&nbsp; </p><p>Ballatos on East Houson and Mott Street- small menu, intimate environment,&nbsp;easy on the wallet.&nbsp; Far removed from the main tourist area.</p><p>BrickOven pizza place on Spring and Mott street- fucking phenomonal.</p><p>Ray's pizza on Prince between Mott and Elizabeth- pizza has gotten shittier but the restaurant side is still pretty good, plus it has the same employees for the last 15 yrs and really gives a family feel.</p><p>Little Italy has been taken over by Chinatown and Soho, so you're not going to find the same mom and pop authentic feel that was its charm.&nbsp; Doesn't mean all the places suck, just that the chances of eating at a shitty one have increased.</p><p>That being said, the Italian Feast is a shithole traffic jam that lasts for 2 weeks.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; growing up in Brooklyn San Genaro was great every year, calling it a shithole traffic jam is pretty rough, unless your a truck driver trying to get to the Holland Tunnel to Jersey.</p>

[TheQuestion]

<p>The &quot;Italian&quot; food you get in little Italy is about as authentic as the &quot;Chinese&quot; food you get from your local delivery/take-out place.&nbsp; </p><p>It's Americanized fast food, and the real cuisine is a thousand times better.&nbsp; Healthier too.&nbsp; If you ever have the chance to visit Italy, do it!&nbsp; And while you're there, count how many overweight people you see.&nbsp; If you spend a week you'll still be able to count them on your hands. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

[Hottub]

<p>&quot;How's the Italian food in this restaurant?&quot;</p><p><br />&quot; Good. Try the veal, it's the best in the city.&quot; <br /></p>

[narc]

The food here is generally less expensive and more plentiful which accounts for a lot of the differences between American and Italian American cuisine. A lot of the immigrants were too poor to have things like veal parm in their country, whose ingredients are plentiful here. We eat a lot more here generally and in a shorter amount of time, which helps account for the weight difference. But the food itself really isn't any better in Italy. The baseline of food is probably better in Italy, but otherwise it pretty much balances out.

[Tenbatsuzen]

<p>&nbsp;</p><strong>TheQuestion</strong> wrote:<br /><p>The &quot;Italian&quot; food you get in little Italy is about as authentic as the &quot;Chinese&quot; food you get from your local delivery/take-out place. </p><p>It's Americanized fast food, and the real cuisine is a thousand times better. Healthier too. If you ever have the chance to visit Italy, do it! And while you're there, count how many overweight people you see. If you spend a week you'll still be able to count them on your hands. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The most ironic thing here?&nbsp; P.F. Chang's is KILLER chinese food.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[FUNKMAN]

<p>maybe the rents are just too high and they have to skimp?</p><p>thing is you can have simple dishes that are just delicious such as pasta and peas, broccoli rabe, and frittata(egg and potatoes), toasted pizza bread with fresh mozz and gravy&nbsp;...</p><p>we had a small corner deli/luncheonette in downtown jersey city named Nicky Basille's and they served these simple dishes for lunch and it was satisfying every time...</p>

[Bulldogcakes]

<p> </p><p> </p><strong>silera</strong> wrote:<br /><p>I grew up in Little Italy, and it's nothing like it was 20 yrs ago. While things are different, I will say that there are still great places to eat down there. </p><p>Ballatos on East Houson and Mott Street- small menu, intimate environment, easy on the wallet. Far removed from the main tourist area.</p><p>BrickOven pizza place on Spring and Mott street- fucking phenomonal.</p><p>Ray's pizza on Prince between Mott and Elizabeth- pizza has gotten shittier but the restaurant side is still pretty good, plus it has the same employees for the last 15 yrs and really gives a family feel.</p><p>Little Italy has been taken over by Chinatown and Soho, so you're not going to find the same mom and pop authentic feel that was its charm. Doesn't mean all the places suck, just that the chances of eating at a shitty one have increased.</p><p>That being said, the Italian Feast is a shithole traffic jam that lasts for 2 weeks.</p><p> </p><p>If your willing to venture a block or so outside of &quot;little Italy&quot;, I'd recommend &quot;IL Corallo&quot; 178 Prince. Good authentic Italian (not Italian-American) food, moderately priced. Order anything that looks good on the menu, it will be. Yet to be disappointed there. For shopping to cook at home, DiPaolo's on Grand St in what is now Chinatown is still a wonderful family run institution. And pick up your pasta and ravioli at Rafetto's on Houston. The best.&nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As far as &quot;real neighborhood&quot; Italian places, you have to go to the few remaining neighborhoods. Court Street in Cobble Hill Brooklyn, 18th Ave in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, Arthur Ave in the Bronx. </p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Bulldogcakes on 5-10-06 @ 9:42 PM</span>

[CruelCircus]

<p>There is good food in Little Italy.&nbsp; Da Nico on Mulberry Street is always great- I love the Fra Diavlo.&nbsp; At La Mela, you won't get the absolute best food, but you will get good food and you WILL have a great time.&nbsp; Such a fun, old-school place.&nbsp; I've yet to venture up to Arthur Avenue, but I hear there is really great places up there.</p><p>There's a place on East 31st- about 6 or 7 tables, no sign, no menu.&nbsp; They serve the same thing every night, and it's great and for the life of me I can't remember the name.&nbsp; Anyone know?&nbsp; I'll try and find it.</p><p>I've made 3 trips to Italy, and the best food IMO was in Tuscany, esp. near Siena.&nbsp; Sicily was overall disappointing given our impressions here in America and Rome is decidely underwhelming, but there are great restaurants to be had.</p>

[A.J.]

<strong>curtoid</strong> wrote:<br /><p><img height="314" src="http://www.livebaltimore.com/UploadedImages/NeighborhoodMapImages/little_italy.gif" width="300" border="0" /></p><p>Big fan of Little Italy - especially in the summer</p><p><img height="262" src="http://baltimore.maryland.com/articles/graphic.php?img_id=630&407223670" width="400" border="0" /></p><p>&quot;Come si dice <em>'hon'</em> in Italiano?&quot;</p>

[furie]

little italy is great for chinese food

[mendyweiss]

Move in on up&nbsp; a little to Patsy's. Its the real deal.

[angelinad128]

<strong>mendyweiss</strong> wrote:<br />Move in on up&nbsp; a little to Patsy's. Its the real deal. <p>Patsy's is really good. But when I want real Italian, I make it myself. First generation american here, grew up with my mom saying &quot;come see how you make this for when you get married&quot; LOL</p>

[FUNKMAN]

<h1 class="sec_hdr marginBottom5">Patsy's Restaurant</h1><p>332 Bergen Blvd<br />Fairview,&nbsp;NJ</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>you will not be disappointed!</p>

[IrishAlkey]

<strong>FUNKMAN</strong> wrote:<br /><h1 class="sec_hdr marginBottom5">Patsy's Restaurant</h1><p>332 Bergen Blvd<br />Fairview,&nbsp;NJ</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>you will not be disappointed!</p><p>That's like two minutes from my house.</p><p>I think I'll go tonight.</p><p>It's your ass if it sucks.</p>

[Hottub]

<p>That's only a few towns away from me. I'll try it.</p><p>And if it sucks, I'm bangin' Alkey's ass!</p>

[mendyweiss]

Don't blame me, I'm talking about the one on W.56th St in NYC

[PanterA]

<strong><font size="1">Little Italy sucks for food?</font></strong>I heard it was Roberto favorite place to eat....because he's small.....and it has little in the name....

[Bulldogcakes]

<p>&nbsp;</p><strong>angelinad128</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>mendyweiss</strong> wrote:<br />Move in on up a little to Patsy's. Its the real deal. <p>Patsy's is really good. But when I want real Italian, I make it myself. First generation american here, grew up with my mom saying &quot;come see how you make this for when you get married&quot; LOL</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Let me guess. When you do go out to an Italian restaurant with your family. Your Mom thinks everything is cooked wrong. Because they dont make it <em>her </em>way.</p><p>BTW-I thought Woodside was all Irish. &nbsp;</p><blockquote /><p>&nbsp;</p>

[FUNKMAN]

<p><strong><font size="1">Little Italy sucks for food?</font></strong> </p><p>and the money...</p>