Mike Q. wrote: > > Dusty R. wrote: > > > > Joseph C. wrote: > > > > > > Dusty R. wrote: > > > > > > > > Albert N. wrote: > > > > > If you're into more traditional Italian than places like Sfuzzi and > > > > > Mezzaluna serve, have you tried Reale's, Roscoe's, Al Capone's, or Mama > > > > > Mia's? > > > > He's absolutely right, Albert. There are no decent Italian restaurants > > > > in Austin. > > > > > Rather than quote all the proceeding.... > > dusty did a pretty good job of summing it up in his two replies to JC. > Italian food in this town does suck. Why do I have to get specific. It > sucks. Heavy nasty tomato sauces, Americanized BS all based in tomato <snip> > So, let's summarize, Italian restaurants in Austin suck, all of them. > No need to get specific. They suck. (tho some of the food may "taste > good" it DOES NOT REFLECT THE SPIRIT OF ITALIAN COOKING WHICH IS WHAT > DELINIATES ITALIAN FOOD. simply using gorganzola, or pasta, or rosemary > does not necessarily mean the resulting dish is Italian. > Italian-inspired maybe, BUT NO RESTAURANT HERE IS DOING ITALIAN FOOD > "CORRECTLY" END OF STATEMANT. I won't try to argue your points about authenticity, but there are a couple of Italian restaurants here in town that at least offer very good to excellent cooking in, as you say, a style that is "inspired" by Italian cooking. Basil's and Madam Nadalini's (Westlake) come to mind. I've had truly outstanding dinners at Basil's. I've had pretty good dinners at Madam Nadalini's. In neither restaurant have I ever gotten the overwrought tomato-rich dishes you describe. In fact, I'd say Basil's is right up there with many of the restaurants on "The Hill" in St. Louis, an area I am quite familiar with. It's perhaps a bit more nouveau and a bit less familial than most restaurants in that famous Italian community, but it's got comparable food. As they say, your mileage may vary . . . jim andrews
Austin, TX