I HATE family style italian restaurants.

[FMJeff]

Today was my last meal in a family style italian restaurant. When are restauranters going to figure out bigger is not always better? Sure, I can get a plate of pasta for 2 (which in actuality, feeds 6) for $26, but if the pasta is fucking terrible, which it always is, is it worth it? I don't think I've ever had a family style italian dinner I enjoyed. The quality just isn't there. Do I really need fourteen unchopped basil leaves garnishing my plate? Is it that difficult to chiffonade basil before you serve it?

And ENOUGH ENOUGH ENOUGH with Sinatra and Martin. We FUCKING GET IT. You enjoy the good old days before the Sopranos made the italians look like buffoons. If I have to listen to another rendition of aint that a kick in the head? or It was a very good year or fucking fly me to the moon I'm going to put a shotgun in my mouth. Don't you get tired of listening to the same fucking music, family style restaurant owners? Do you like NOTHING ELSE?

So aggravating...

Excuse me I have to go shit out fourteen servings of mozarella en corozza. This is gonna take me a good hour and a half, I'm sure. Fucking assholes.

[smiler grogan]

good for you , I agree on all of your points

[FUNKMAN]

along with that are restaurants claiming their italian and when you order a cold antipasta you get sliced coldcut provolone instead of chunk, and tomatas instead of roasted red peppers in olive oil and chunks of raw garlic. makes me want to throw the fucking thing on the floor

[Marc with a c]

i hate italian familys

[sailor]

what about family style chinese restaurants?

[Kris10]

FMJeff, where did you go??? I LOVE Maggiano's and I'll be crushed if you tell me thats the place.

[angrymissy]

I was just going to make this thread after our ridiculous meal, but jeff beat me to it :(

FMJeff, where did you go??? I LOVE Maggiano's and I'll be crushed if you tell me thats the place.

It was some shitty place in Massapequa

[Sinestro]

Did you at least get breadsticks?

[Gmann]

I like the word chiffonade.

[sr71blackbird]

I agree, they suck ass. I made the mistake once of not knowing and both my wife and I ordered two separate meals and they did not tell us anything and they show up with like 2 lasagna pans worth of food and it cost me like $100 and I was so pissed!

[SatCam]

family style italian restaurants.

Isnt that redundant?

[oh_kee_pa]

i have a great family style restaurant around the block from my house..
Mangiamos, which is in Huntington Village, not far from F.H. Riley's...
its actually very fantastic...
im sorry you dont enjoy

[TheMojoPin]

I hate Italians.

[smiler grogan]

wheres Blowhard to defend us Italians from these unwarranted attacks?!

[Hottub]

A REAL family style restaurant (Italian, or Polish or Mexican, etc) can be one of the best times you will ever have eating out. You just have to be sure it is an authentic, family run operation. They make sure the food is delicious and plentiful. They keep the drink flowing, and are always there to make sure you are having a great dining experience. Hell, I've had the chef sit down with us for a glass of wine at Migdalia's.
Please don't prejudge your experience with all restaurants.

[Devo37]

sounds like it's just a crappy restaurant serving banquet-quality food.

i like family-style meals. so many different tastes and flavors, rather than just one every-bite's-the-same entree.

[King Hippos Bandaid]

everyone bragged to me about Carmines, saying that family style is the best

it was mediocre and way too much low quality crap


I agree, family style sucks big dick

[ZigZagBigBag]

shoulda gone for the dingdamagoo instead.

[marcpsych]

2 very good Italian restaurants in North Jersey:

Castalia Trattoria in West Paterson
Francesco's in Paterson (on McBride Ave., near West Paterson)

Seeyuh!!

[Tenbatsuzen]

Today was my last meal in a family style italian restaurant. When are restauranters going to figure out bigger is not always better? Sure, I can get a plate of pasta for 2 (which in actuality, feeds 6) for $26, but if the pasta is fucking terrible, which it always is, is it worth it? I don't think I've ever had a family style italian dinner I enjoyed. The quality just isn't there. Do I really need fourteen unchopped basil leaves garnishing my plate? Is it that difficult to chiffonade basil before you serve it?

And ENOUGH ENOUGH ENOUGH with Sinatra and Martin. We FUCKING GET IT. You enjoy the good old days before the Sopranos made the italians look like buffoons. If I have to listen to another rendition of aint that a kick in the head? or It was a very good year or fucking fly me to the moon I'm going to put a shotgun in my mouth. Don't you get tired of listening to the same fucking music, family style restaurant owners? Do you like NOTHING ELSE?

So aggravating...

Excuse me I have to go shit out fourteen servings of mozarella en corozza. This is gonna take me a good hour and a half, I'm sure. Fucking assholes.

Buca di Beppo or Nona's?

[Tenbatsuzen]

FMJeff, where did you go??? I LOVE Maggiano's and I'll be crushed if you tell me thats the place.

Maggiano's isn't necessarily family style. It's a chain, but you get your own dish. I think Jeff is talking about Buca di Beppo or Nona's, which is a chain where you order one huge dish and the entire table shares.

I agree with Maggiano's. For a chain, they are very, very good. Pricey, but good.

[Kris10]

Maggiano's isn't necessarily family style. It's a chain, but you get your own dish. I think Jeff is talking about Buca di Beppo or Nona's, which is a chain where you order one huge dish and the entire table shares.

I agree with Maggiano's. For a chain, they are very, very good. Pricey, but good.

Well, I love the chain. I've never gone to anything else but I'd love to try!

[Tenbatsuzen]

Well, I love the chain. I've never gone to anything else but I'd love to try!

...you live near the Jersey shore. There's a proliferation of good italian restaurants down by you.

Olive Garden is the worst. I can't understand why people like it.

[Kris10]

noooo Maggiano's is the only Italian chain I like.... I need a good recommendation.

[Death Metal Moe]

I hate Italians.

It's not so much that I hate them, just that I'll never trust them.

[Tenbatsuzen]

noooo Maggiano's is the only Italian chain I like.... I need a good recommendation.

You live near TR, right?

What about Basil T's?

[Kris10]

You live near TR, right?

What about Basil T's?

Ya, Basil T's is good. They have a nice brewery. But they are chain as well.

[underdog]

Shitty food is going to be shitty food, no matter if its family style or not.

There's this place in the North End (of Boston) called Marco. It serves top notch italian food every day, and on Sundays they do Family Style. Its some of the best food I've ever eaten. And the family style is the best.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Shitty food is going to be shitty food, no matter if its family style or not.

There's this place in the North End (of Boston) called Marco. It serves top notch italian food every day, and on Sundays they do Family Style. Its some of the best food I've ever eaten. And the family style is the best.

There was the fucking awful place we ate at near Copley Square. Vinny T's I think the name of it was. Goddamn grease and crap.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Ya, Basil T's is good. They have a nice brewery. But they are chain as well.

Small Chain, I believe - locally owned, no?

[underdog]

There was the fucking awful place we ate at near Copley Square. Vinny T's I think the name of it was. Goddamn grease and crap.

It's a chain and they've closed a lot of them down. But it can be pretty bad a lot of the time. I just like them because their "small" meal feeds my wife and I and they give you focaccia with an entire bulb of roasted garlic.

But if you want Italian food in Boston, you have to go to the North End.

[Tenbatsuzen]

It's a chain and they've closed a lot of them down. But it can be pretty bad a lot of the time. I just like them because their "small" meal feeds my wife and I and they give you focaccia with an entire bulb of roasted garlic.

But if you want Italian food in Boston, you have to go to the North End.

I visit your city once every 18 years. I shall return again in 2025.

[TheGameHHH]

Isn't a true family style place a restaurant where you aren't even allowed to order, the house just brings you out huge portions of food and you eat whatever they choose for you? I've been to a few places like that in Little Italy and they were much better then any shitty Bucca chain I've been too. Carmine's is fucking awesome, but its not really a chain as they only have a four restaurants. They're the best family style I've eaten.

[drusilla]

Olive Garden is the worst. I can't understand why people like it.

it's the damn addicting salad dressing. thats the best thing about the place. & maybe the toasted meat ravioli appetizer. everything else there is crap. their marinara sauce might be the worst thing ever ever ever.

[JPMNICK]

Isn't a true family style place a restaurant where you aren't even allowed to order, the house just brings you out huge portions of food and you eat whatever they choose for you? I've been to a few places like that in Little Italy and they were much better then any shitty Bucca chain I've been too. Carmine's is fucking awesome, but its not really a chain as they only have a four restaurants. They're the best family style I've eaten.

there is a place in little falls, NJ called Rosa's that is like this and really good

[Tenbatsuzen]

it's the damn addicting salad dressing. thats the best thing about the place. & maybe the toasted meat ravioli appetizer. everything else there is crap. their marinara sauce might be the worst thing ever ever ever.

I can break your addiction to that salad real quick with one story. It's the majority of the reason I don't go to Olive Garden anymore.

[TheGameHHH]

there is a place in little falls, NJ called Rosa's that is like this and really good

yea, i know exactly where that is. ive never been there but i used to live about 7 minutes from that place.

[JPMNICK]

yea, i know exactly where that is. ive never been there but i used to live about 7 minutes from that place.

get a group of 5 or 6 people and go. it is a fun night

[FMJeff]

It wasn't a chain. The name of the place is escapes me, Amici's I think on Montauk Highway. Weak marinara, enormous portions. It's so hard to get an individual serving of pasta right, let alone a family sized portion.

Is anyone with me on Sinatra in Italian restaurants though? Talk about played out stereotypical italian restaurant dinner music...

[DreamWeaver]

If it was a real Italian restaurant then they'd be playing Jimmy Roselli.

And I think the only person that actually likes the Olive Garden is Kendra Wilkinson.

[A.J.]

Is anyone with me on Sinatra in Italian restaurants though? Talk about played out stereotypical italian restaurant dinner music...

Si`.

[Slumbag]

And I think the only person that actually likes the Olive Garden is Kendra Wilkinson.

Wow, and I always said people that like the Olive Garden should be drowned.







Guess I was right.

[drusilla]

I can break your addiction to that salad real quick with one story. It's the majority of the reason I don't go to Olive Garden anymore.

i'm good

[topless_mike]

olive garden is the mcdonalds of italian food.

[foodcourtdruide]

Before you make this statement Jeff, Trattoria L'Incontro in Astoria is absolutely amazing. I'm in the same boat as you though, totally sick of family style Italian.

I live on Staten Island now and ALL we have is family style Italian and it all SUCKS. Food on Staten Island is so ridiculously bad to begin with, and with the exception of one or two places the Italian food is pathetic.

[drusilla]

but the jays swears nunzios is the best pizza anywhere ever

[King Hippos Bandaid]

Before you make this statement Jeff, Trattoria L'Incontro in Astoria is absolutely amazing. I'm in the same boat as you though, totally sick of family style Italian.

I live on Staten Island now and ALL we have is family style Italian and it all SUCKS. Food on Staten Island is so ridiculously bad to begin with, and with the exception of one or two places the Italian food is pathetic.

true , lots of generic Italian joints with Mediocre Marina Sauce, I agree with Jeff, the sauce needs to be good, or all else fails

there are 3-5 good Italian non family style restaurants in Staten Island

Bella Mamas

Waterfalls

Brioso, which is in top 5 Italian Restaurants in NYC as a whole

Italianisimo Best Anti Pasta I have ever had,


Nunzo's Pizza isgood

but the best and highest ranked Pizza in SI is Deninos

[Furtherman]

I like to say Mundo Latino.

[The Jays]

Nunzios, Joe and Pats, and Deninos are the best for pizza, but that's besides the point.

Where on the island have you been eating that it's been terrible?

[drusilla]

on a side note: trying to be khb's myspace friend is like trying to break into the vault at the bellagio

[King Hippos Bandaid]

on a side note: trying to be khb's myspace friend is like trying to break into the vault at the bellagio

wow, I just fixed that

why did myspace put that there and make people know my last name and crap

[foodcourtdruide]

Nunzios, Joe and Pats, and Deninos are the best for pizza, but that's besides the point.

Where on the island have you been eating that it's been terrible?

By the mall. Gone to a few places and they've been terrible.

I'll check the places out that you and KHB mentioned.

[drusilla]

wow, I just fixed that

why did myspace put that there and make people know my last name and crap

requested!

[JPMNICK]

true , lots of generic Italian joints with Mediocre Marina Sauce, I agree with Jeff, the sauce needs to be good, or all else fails

there are 3-5 good Italian non family style restaurants in Staten Island

Bella Mamas

Waterfalls

Brioso, which is in top 5 Italian Restaurants in NYC as a whole

Italianisimo Best Anti Pasta I have ever had,


Nunzo's Pizza isgood

but the best and highest ranked Pizza in SI is Deninos

Brioso is a great restaurant. the only problem is that it gets really loud in there on a sat night, but the food is awesome

[Furtherman]

If you're ever in Hoboken, check out Leo's. It's italian, but not "italian style". Very good.

[CountryBob]

Does it get any better than Olive Garden?

Down here we dont have any choices worth a shit for true Italian so I envy you. I bet the worst up north is way better than the best in east TN.

[drusilla]

oh poor you

[CofyCrakCocaine]

Try eating pizza at Gettysburg PA. It's like eating french fried cunt kartoffel sauteed in fuck sauce. Pizzaman had a Josh Brolin moustache and talked about how some commy was smoking "wacky tobaccy".

I order spaghetti and marinara sauce and I get noodles in some ketchup!

[King Hippos Bandaid]

oh poor you

:lol:

Beefaroni is served as fine Italian fare in tennersee

[FUNKMAN]

If you're ever in Hoboken, check out Leo's. It's italian, but not "italian style". Very good.

years ago we enjoyed Michaels(around 2nd St if i remember correctly) and another named Anthony's, a block or two further going uptown...

Patsy's on Bergen Blvd in Fairview is a sweet stop. Cash or AmericanExpress though which almost got me a couple times thinking i was gonna use my Visa and luckily ahd enough cash on me

[ANC]

Today was my last meal in a family style italian restaurant. When are restauranters going to figure out bigger is not always better? Sure, I can get a plate of pasta for 2 (which in actuality, feeds 6) for $26, but if the pasta is fucking terrible, which it always is, is it worth it? I don't think I've ever had a family style italian dinner I enjoyed. The quality just isn't there. Do I really need fourteen unchopped basil leaves garnishing my plate? Is it that difficult to chiffonade basil before you serve it?

And ENOUGH ENOUGH ENOUGH with Sinatra and Martin. We FUCKING GET IT. You enjoy the good old days before the Sopranos made the italians look like buffoons. If I have to listen to another rendition of aint that a kick in the head? or It was a very good year or fucking fly me to the moon I'm going to put a shotgun in my mouth. Don't you get tired of listening to the same fucking music, family style restaurant owners? Do you like NOTHING ELSE?

So aggravating...

Excuse me I have to go shit out fourteen servings of mozarella en corozza. This is gonna take me a good hour and a half, I'm sure. Fucking assholes.

I agree with you for the most part. There are a few I've been to that are very good. But it's the Family style places like Carmines that might've been authentic when they opened, but just franchised out and the food suffers.

[ANC]

true , lots of generic Italian joints with Mediocre Marina Sauce, I agree with Jeff, the sauce needs to be good, or all else fails

there are 3-5 good Italian non family style restaurants in Staten Island

Bella Mamas

Waterfalls

Brioso, which is in top 5 Italian Restaurants in NYC as a whole

Italianisimo Best Anti Pasta I have ever had,


Nunzo's Pizza isgood

but the best and highest ranked Pizza in SI is Deninos

:clap:right on the head Hippo, I never been to Waterfalls though.