Over 4,000 copies distributed per month
to Clark, Westfield,
Rahway, and Springfield Shoppers.
"I not only taste their food. I look
at the quality of their food and
the cleanliness of their kitchens.
***
Giovanni taught his wait staff well. They are sharp with
the service and atmosphere. Although they are not five
star waiters, they were pretty close. Giovanni did some
renovations since the last time we were there - it looks
a lot better. It has that Italian decor you see in the
magazines and books about Italy. He has a large banquet
hall downstairs for private parties, which can seat about
200 guests.
I must say the food is very good for the price. We went
with the dinner menu special at $24.95 and it included
an appetizer, pasta, dinner, and dessert. We started with
Mozzarella cheese between bread with prosciutto and then
baked, and finished with capers, garlic, anchovies, and
olive oil. This was good, even though I am not an anchovy
person. The taste was there.
We then went to our pasta dish. I had the Vermicelli
with Meat Sauce. The sauce was just right, not acidic
like you would find in a pizza place, and the meat was
tender with no bone fragments. My wife had the Fettuccini
Carbonara. The sauce coated the pasta lightly and the
bacon gave it a nice flavor. Then the main course. My
wife had the Chicken Piccatta. The chicken was tender
and not too lemony like other restaurants, and the wine
was cooked out so that you didn't get that acid taste.
They could have used a little more capers for my taste,
but not everybody likes too many capers. I went for the
Veal Marsala. The veal was tender and cut with a fork,
and the sauce was made with sweet marsala, which gives
it a better taste. A few more mushrooms would have been
nice. When it comes to dessert, I always look for the
homemade items. They make their own Tiramisu, but that
is all I saw. The other items were Imported from Italy.
They were good, but nothing is like homemade.
Their kitchen was clean and the kitchen crew were friendly
and helpful. Mario, Giovanni's brother, is the head Chef.
They take a lot of pride in preparing your meal. The food
was top quality. They don't skimp like some other restaurants
that I know. They use choice cut meats and fresh vegetables.
They even have a garden with fresh herbs and tomatoes.
But one thing is for sure - this is your traditional Italian
Restaurant!
