Comments on: The Best Italian Food I Never Had http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/ A Rough Draft Blog Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:35:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: James L http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-34749 James L Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:11:38 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-34749 another one for Martorano! its amazing.. another one for Martorano! its amazing..

]]> By: eilis73 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-19860 eilis73 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:51:25 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-19860 Trendy Italians' restaurants <a href="http://memopal.clickmeter.com/147586.html" rel="nofollow">The best restaurants of Italy</a>! Trendy Italians’ restaurants The best restaurants of Italy!

]]> By: Thomas http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-16045 Thomas Tue, 20 May 2008 22:18:06 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-16045 Another vote for anywhere in the North End of Boston... that area has to have the highest concentration of restaurants to city blocks anywhere. But I'd recommend finding a hole-in-the-wall place on one of the side streets, not one of the always-packed places on Hanover St. Another vote for anywhere in the North End of Boston… that area has to have the highest concentration of restaurants to city blocks anywhere. But I’d recommend finding a hole-in-the-wall place on one of the side streets, not one of the always-packed places on Hanover St.

]]> By: G Young http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-16033 G Young Tue, 20 May 2008 20:47:05 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-16033 The Hill in St. Louis is touch and go, which makes the hate spewed down for the Italian in KC in these comments is laughable. It is for some reason considered passe' to compliment KC on its non-BBQ food choices. You are somehow worldly and "in the know" if you say things like "KC's Italian just doesn't measure up" and "nothing in KC measures up to anything on The Hill." It just isn't true. I can name five KC restaurants that measure (or measured, some are no longer with us) up with the best Italian I've ever had on the Hill. I've never eaten in North Boston, so I'm not going to comment on that. The Hill in St. Louis is touch and go, which makes the hate spewed down for the Italian in KC in these comments is laughable.

It is for some reason considered passe’ to compliment KC on its non-BBQ food choices. You are somehow worldly and “in the know” if you say things like “KC’s Italian just doesn’t measure up” and “nothing in KC measures up to anything on The Hill.”

It just isn’t true. I can name five KC restaurants that measure (or measured, some are no longer with us) up with the best Italian I’ve ever had on the Hill. I’ve never eaten in North Boston, so I’m not going to comment on that.

]]> By: Brian http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-16006 Brian Tue, 20 May 2008 17:53:57 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-16006 It is absolutely Martarano. Steve Martarano came down from Philly and started this tiny place about 16 years ago. I ate there several for several years after it opened. Then Steve let his ego take over. Sure, the food could absolutely be argued that it is the best italian ever. But you have to accept these facts about a dining experience there: *The prices are astronomical, $55.00 for chicken parm, *You WILL wait at least 2 hours, *Once seated the music will be so loud that on most nights the server will just bring you, "What Steve likes." And charge accordingly. *You will not be able to have a conversation at all. *You will leave full, broke, and with a terrible headache. It is absolutely Martarano. Steve Martarano came down from Philly and started this tiny place about 16 years ago. I ate there several for several years after it opened. Then Steve let his ego take over. Sure, the food could absolutely be argued that it is the best italian ever. But you have to accept these facts about a dining experience there:

*The prices are astronomical, $55.00 for chicken parm,
*You WILL wait at least 2 hours,
*Once seated the music will be so loud that on most nights the server will just bring you, “What Steve likes.” And charge accordingly.
*You will not be able to have a conversation at all.
*You will leave full, broke, and with a terrible headache.

]]> By: eric http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-15978 eric Tue, 20 May 2008 14:55:58 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-15978 Dan was right. Cafe Martorano has the best Italian food in the world. You should have waited. Dan was right. Cafe Martorano has the best Italian food in the world. You should have waited.

]]> By: Vienna, Austria « Meat and Cheese http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-15894 Vienna, Austria « Meat and Cheese Mon, 19 May 2008 23:41:36 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-15894 [...] Another fantastic Joe Posnanski blog entry. It immediately reminded me of my trip to Vienna, Austria. I was outside the entrance to a museum. [...] [...] Another fantastic Joe Posnanski blog entry. It immediately reminded me of my trip to Vienna, Austria. I was outside the entrance to a museum. [...]

]]> By: TB http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-15875 TB Mon, 19 May 2008 20:29:27 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-15875 Best Italian I've ever had hits two topics on this board. It's a place called Bautista in a strip mall behind the Barbary Coast in Vegas. It's old, got photos of Joe D. and the Pope and is incredible food. I ate a lot, and compared to the restaurants on the strip, the price is a bargain. Best Italian I’ve ever had hits two topics on this board. It’s a place called Bautista in a strip mall behind the Barbary Coast in Vegas. It’s old, got photos of Joe D. and the Pope and is incredible food. I ate a lot, and compared to the restaurants on the strip, the price is a bargain.

]]> By: Le Bon Vivant http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-15719 Le Bon Vivant Sun, 18 May 2008 05:05:34 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-15719 If you're talking haute cuisine Italian, the best I've ever had is Spiaggia on the millionaire mile in Chicago. It costs some serious coin, but it's flat amazing. I tend to eat at a couple top notch restaurants a year (never going to movies or having cable TV or going to bars much = enough money over the course of 12 months to have 2-3 legendary quality meals a year @ ~$200/person) when I travel, and Spiaggia is right at the top of my list with Veritas in NYC as some of the best food I've ever eaten. These are meals I remember years later in great detail, and as such end up being worth every penny. I love eating these meals in large part because the prix fixe meals are so well designed by master chefs... and because so many restaurants now offer a complimentary wine flight. This is great because the sommelier who is paid to know what wine is best paired with which course makes my decisions at a (relatively) affordable price and assures that the dish and wine match well. Outside of the fancy stuff, there's a brilliant pasta place in Northampton, MA which makes its own pasta on the premise named Fresh Pasta Co. Their ravioli are stunning, especially the sweet potato stuffed ones. Pretty much anywhere in Boston's North End good home style Italian can be found as well. If you’re talking haute cuisine Italian, the best I’ve ever had is Spiaggia on the millionaire mile in Chicago. It costs some serious coin, but it’s flat amazing. I tend to eat at a couple top notch restaurants a year (never going to movies or having cable TV or going to bars much = enough money over the course of 12 months to have 2-3 legendary quality meals a year @ ~$200/person) when I travel, and Spiaggia is right at the top of my list with Veritas in NYC as some of the best food I’ve ever eaten. These are meals I remember years later in great detail, and as such end up being worth every penny.

I love eating these meals in large part because the prix fixe meals are so well designed by master chefs… and because so many restaurants now offer a complimentary wine flight. This is great because the sommelier who is paid to know what wine is best paired with which course makes my decisions at a (relatively) affordable price and assures that the dish and wine match well.

Outside of the fancy stuff, there’s a brilliant pasta place in Northampton, MA which makes its own pasta on the premise named Fresh Pasta Co. Their ravioli are stunning, especially the sweet potato stuffed ones. Pretty much anywhere in Boston’s North End good home style Italian can be found as well.

]]> By: Bartleby http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-15679 Bartleby Sat, 17 May 2008 17:11:09 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/15/the-best-italian-food-i-never-had/#comment-15679 The fact that there are Red Sox fans here recommending The Chateau as the best Italian food they've ever had should tell you all you need to know about Red Sox fans. The fact that there are Red Sox fans here recommending The Chateau as the best Italian food they’ve ever had should tell you all you need to know about Red Sox fans.

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