Italian restaurants revisited
Well, Italian restaurants are certainly a hot topic, as we found out yesterday. I think 40 comments on one post is a record for me.
In case you missed it, Jim Seay raised an excellent point that certainly deserves a response:
I assume you have never owned a restaurant. The friends I have that do work incredibly hard to make their places a success. I am sure the food at Cinghiale is good (I feel I am practically an investor at their other restaurants I go so often) but to crown them as top ten without going there is a slight to those that have established successful businesses already such as Tiburzis in Canton. ...
(Amy Davis/Sun Photographer)
In an ideal world, Jim, you are absolutely right. Unfortunately, if you haven't read this blog before, you missed my Official Disclaimer. (Scroll down a bit.)
I have been to Tiburzi's, but that was before it expanded, which I'm gathering it must have by now. At the time I said, "Tiburzi's feels more like a neighborhood bar with decent food than cafe at the moment." I don't think it would be fair for me to judge it one way or another from that. Clearly I need to get back.
I like to think of my list as actually the Top Ten Italian Places Outside Little Italy I'd Want My Rich Uncle to Take Me to When He's in Town, but that's kind of a cumbersome title. So bear with me.
If it were that list, then I could rank the restaurants, and it would go like this:
1) Cinghiale
2) Osteria 177
3) Sotto Sopra
4) Cafe Troia
5) Pazza Luna
6) Trattoria Alberto
7) Liberatore's
8) Aida Bistro
9) Sammy's
10) Victor's Cafe (I've never been there either)
Think of me as someone you ask (because I eat in a lot of restaurants and hear from a lot of people about their experiences in restaurants), "I want Italian. Where should I go?" And I answer to the best of my ability. I take the suggestions of readers of this blog seriously, so knowing what I know now I might well have included Pasta Plus (remember, this is a joint effort), but unfortunately no one mentioned it when I asked for suggestions.
Comments
I too, like Jim Seay, was wondering how Cinghiale was a slam dunk on the top 10. We went there, read the menu, looked around, and thought that it seemed more like a place that belonged in Inner Harbor. Vito's Cafe in Cockeysville would get my vote over Cinghiale. We are at La Scala.
Posted by: Dave | October 24, 2007 1:28 PM
Tiburzi's, Tiburzi's, Tiburzi's. Quality, portions and service are all outstanding.
Posted by: Bobby | October 24, 2007 2:13 PM
Fazzini's in Cockeysville will earn no points for style. It's essentially a carry-out with seat-yourself tables and no ambiance to get excited about...
But the food! It blew my mind! They make all their own pasta, their sauces are out of this world, their pizza is delicious and they even have a great Cream of Crab soup. It's one thing I miss about living north of the city, being able to grab a Pasta Fazzini on the way home.
Posted by: Miles | October 24, 2007 2:17 PM
Places your wish your right uncle would take you? Come on Elizabeth. I know everyone in Baltimore likes to think of themselves as blue collar, but I don't think you can quite pull that off. Anyone who reads this blog knows you always off to LA or Rome, and that you probably live in Roland Park, Homewood or Ruxton.
That's why I can't afford to go to these places on my own :-)
Posted by: Robert | October 24, 2007 2:33 PM
I have been to Tiburzi's several times. The food, service, and atmosphere are excellent. Pasta and sauce is wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!! Move over Little Italy, as this is the best.
Posted by: Missy | June 12, 2008 1:12 AM