re: Best Italian Resturants In NOLA And Baton Rouge For Dinner

Friend,

Excellent choice. While I am not an expert in everything, I do consider myself an expert on Italian food in New Orleans. Several previously mentioned restaurants like Gendusa’s Vincent’s, and Irene’s are all fine Italian restaurants that any city, even Brooklyn, would be blessed to have. Please note that I omitted Dominica’s, a sham of an Italian restaurant and home to perhaps the worst pizza in town.

Impastato’s stands head and shoulders above the greats of New Orleans. It is, simply put, the best Italian restaurant in America. Yes, not just the city, not just the state, not just the South, but the nation. Whether you enjoy Sicilian favorites like the best red gravy and lasagna in town, or Creole seafood favorites like the best soft shell crab or pan fried trout in town, Impastato’s fits every criteria I have for great Italian food. And that fettuccine Alfredo is perfect. When you eat it know that you are eating a century’s old New Orleans tradition first started by Diamond Jim Moran. It was the favorite dish of some of New Orleans biggest mobsters, and mine too, not that I commune with that crowd, quite the opposite.

Impastato’s, friends, it does not get better.

Yours,
TulaneLSU

Don't apologize for recommending Gendusa's. I am not saying it is the best Italian restaurant in NOLA but I will say it is the best restaurant in Kenner right now, and may be the second best restaurant ever in Kenner next to La Parvenu.

I love Impastato's, but I seem to get the same thing every time I go there - the two pastas, salad, crab claws, trout Payton and banana blueberry pie.

I am not saying this place is #1 either, but I like Andrea's more than 90% of the people on this board do.

Friend,

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second best restaurant ever in Kenner next to La Parvenu.

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TulaneLSU’s Top 10 restaurants of Kenner all-time:

10. Celina’s Supermarket
9. El Patio
8. Gendusa’s
7. The Catfish Shack
6. The Rib Shack
5. Harbor Seafood
4. Ristorante Da Piero
3. Pellicano Ristorante
2. Kenner Seafood
1. Le Parvenue

Honorable mention: Piccadilly Express, Two Amigos, Copeland’s, Stingray’s, Little Tokyo Buffet, Sbarro’s, Little Chinatown, Young’s Garden, Mr. Ed’s, Olive Garden

Yours,
TulaneLSU

Marcello's in New Orleans isn't too shabby

RIP Cafe Nino

Not carrabbas in Baton Rouge, it’s straight trash.

BR: Gino’s

NOLA: Vincent’s

Rocky & Carlos in Chalmette is a good, no frills, Sicilian restaurant

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Nino’s has zero atmosphere, and the food is just as bland.

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I've always liked the food at Nino's, but I agree the atmosphere is lacking. Last time we were in there, we were whispering to each other because it was so quiet that everyone could hear each other. Just dimming the lights and putting on some music would do wonders to the place. They used to do a lunch special that was killer, though.

Although I don't think the food is necessarily better than elsewhere, we are 100% DiGuilio's people. It was our first date 9+ years ago and remains a go-to. It isn't necessarily "decorated" or anything, but damn I love the atmosphere. I love a place where people walk in the door and greet every table in the place on their way to sit down because they all know each other.

The now have a maitre'd, Robert, which is the smartest decision ever. He used to be my Yellow Cab driver back before Uber existed. Legitimately one of the nicest people on the planet. I hope they never get rid of him.

Place is not the same since Clint left. JMO