re: Favorite New Orleans style Italian restaurant

I love that little shithole.

well said

not sure if this counts, but rocky and carlo's in chalmette has some really good veal parm, especially if you get it with the baked macaroni with red sauce on it.

My favorite Italian place when I lived there was LaRiviera in Metairie. Great calamari and I loved their veal parm. Went there with my (now) wife when we were younger and it became sentimental to us.

I heard it closed down...maybe due to Katrina? Anyone know if that's true? I would love to go again next time I'm in town with my wife if it's still open.

I don't know if it fits the criteria or not, but I like Maximos.

I used to like 1179 before the old chef died. It hasn't really been the same since.

I really try to like the place, honestly, but Vincent's does absolutely nothing for me. Hell, I make it a point to hit it up every year or two, just to make sure, and I never walk out thinking differently. I walk in expecting something akin to Ginos (actually pretty similar menus), and I walk out just thinking ehhhh.

quote:

---

La Riviera

---

quote:

---

RIP. A really good place.

---

Crabmeat Ravioli

quote:

---

I don't know if it fits the criteria or not, but I like Maximos.

---

For some reason I don't think of this place as "New Orleans style Italian" whatever that means. But I really like it. Good Italian wine list as well.

I've never experienced that a single time. Maybe we get special service, but the fact that it was 90% full on a Wednesday night, while the entire street around it is under construction, makes me think I'm not the only one.

I dunno, brah. I can't say what kind of experiences others have had there, I can only speak for myself. And I'm not basing this opinion on one bad experience. I've been to TA's no fewer than a dozen times, and the service has been shaky at least 5 of those.

The last time I went took the cake though, and I swore I'd never go back. Some friends had invited me out for my b-day, so I kept my mouth shut as to not seem ingrateful, but the service was horrid. We waited almost two hours to be seated (with a reservation), our server was basically MIA through the entire meal, the food was room temperature, and they mixed up the check to boot.

The food isn't bad (when it's hot), but no food can overcome that kind of service. Again, just my experience...

quote:

---

Cafe Giovanni

---

I went there for the first time last weekend, and I was dissappointed. It was grossly overpriced, and the food was either over-reaching or not that great.

I did like the singing. That part was fun.

Nobody mentioned Domenica. Do you not consider it "Italian"?

Maybe my tatses are simpler, but I prefer the Baton Rouge Italian places, Gino's and Little Village over all New Orleans Italian restaurants.

Caveat: I've never been to Mosca's but I've been meaning to.

Caveat II: It's been a long time since Iive been to Impastatos, but it was really good.