This place feels like the good old Italian restaurant from the childhood in New Jersey that I never had.
It has all the trademarks of fine Italian dining:
- Dim lighting
- Red-and-white-checkered tablecloths
- Candles on the tables
- Burn marks on the plastic menus from the candles on the tables
- A jolly Italian proprietor
- Paintings of Italy on the walls
- Sparkle stars on the ceiling
- Wicker-wrapped Chianti bottles all over the place
The food is fairly simple and hearty — lots of carbohydrates and garlic. I tend to get the pizza (thin crust, plain pepperoni) and the spaghetti and ravioli combo. Everything is good; you just always order the same thing, because that’s the kind of place this is.
They seem to close for months at a time, apparently when the owners go back to the old country. This is either charming or frustrating, depending on when you show up.
★★★★☆ (4.0) — El Centro, CA