#1 restaurant in Springfield?
August 18, 2009
Gabatoni’s | Sausage, green pepper, onion pizza; cheesy garlic bread
Springfield, IL
Here it is…my first post. And there was much rejoicing.
If you’ve managed to find our modest attempt at a food blog, chances are you are a frequent customer of other such blogs found amongst the various interconnected tubes that comprise the internet. Me too. So, when I was looking for a delightful place in nearby Springfield, IL to meet some family, I naturally turned to the fabulous web of world wide-iness as my guide.
Of the 225 restaurants rated my site of choice, #1 was a local pizza place, Gabatoni’s. Seriously…pizza? That’s all you can give me, Springfield? Turns out, this place has been around for about 50 years and is still doing great business. All of the staff we encountered were kind and courteous. And don’t be fooled by the modest, slightly run-down appearance of the building; there is some serious food in this place. The menu offerings include much more than the thin crust pies for which Gabatoni’s is known…sandwiches, salads, even fish and some alternate dinner options make an appearance. Looking around, though, it’s hard (if not impossible) to locate a diner who isn’t sitting in front of a pizza.
So, the food: great. I like pizza, and this was some great thin crust pizza, but I’m not sure it’s the best I’ve ever had. We ordered sausage, onion and green pepper. The crust was well cooked, crispy and deep brown around the edges, and the sausage was certainly the star, with a flavorful kick that was noticable but not overpowering. Frankly, the sauce almost seemed an afterthought. Don’t get me wrong, though…it was more than edible. Best Pizza in Central Illinois would seem to fit for my purposes. A little joint on the square in Carlinville, IL, probably beats this one out for thin crust, and really I’m more of a deep dish person, myself (Gino’s East is the best I’ve encountered so far).
Now, if you’re looking for the world’s best cheesy garlic bread, Gabatoni’s is a likely contender. The combination of large french loaf, slathered with garlic butter and topped with a white cheese blend is delightful. A side of their amazingly rich marinara to dip it in, and you could make this a complete meal. Highly recommended.
Gabatoni’s takes reservations (recommended), but we walked in on a Sunday evening during the dinner rush and were seated in about 15 minutes. If you’re ever in SPI, check out Gabatoni’s for a good meal. #1 in Springfield? We’ll get back to you on that.
DFS
Some simple, tasty Italian
June 4, 2009
Eddie Spaghetti [visit] | Fettucini alfredo w/ chicken
Clemson, SC
My mother once told me, “Never order Italian at a restaurant. You’ll just be disappointed.” My mother is wise. Prophetic even. Nostradamus looks like a less annoying version of Miss Cleo in comparison. Growing up in house of mixed European origins, we often ate Italian. And as I ventured into the big, scary world, I found myself craving dishes like my mom used to make. (Well, my mom wasn’t actually the best cook growing up. (Sorry, mom. (She’s certainly improved, though! (I’m so dead.))) More like grandma or my aunts used to make.) Lo and behold, Italian food at restaurants sucks–generally speaking. (Way to go, mom!)
Then I discovered Eddie Spaghetti. (C’mon, mom!)
The place looks like a poorly designed community theater set–checkered table cloths, cutsie salt & pepper shakers, and all. But the food is outstanding, especially considering that it’s in Clemson, South Carolina–a town known only for more for Dabo Swinney than good fettucini. (See what I did there?)
Nonetheless, I’ve ordered a variety of dishes in my two years in Clemson, and I have never been disappointed. I especially recommend the fettucini alfredo with chicken. Like most of their offerings, the fettucini is simple. Egg noodles, alfredo sauce, and lightly blackened chicken. You’re not overwhelmed by competing spices or underwhelmed by lack of taste. You’re simply whelmed by the simple, tasty combination of ingredients.
The sauce is pretty much the perfect mixture of creamy and sticky, neither running off your plate nor too thick to stop you from delightfully twirling your fork. The noodles, too, are cooked long enough to make them edible but with enough *umph* so they don’t fall apart with aforementioned fork-play. (That’s called “al dente” or something. Some foreign word.) I admit that the chicken is nothing to email your already-annoyed family about, and the dish would probably be just as good without it. Regardless, I know how some of you people are. You don’t eat a meal unless it has some sort of meat. (Don’t look around. You know who you are.)
If you’re not satisfied with the heaping mound of pasta, your lunch order comes with garlic knots–twisted bits of dough covered in olive oil, garlic, and parmesan (!)–and the dinner order adds soup or salad. Lunch is, by far, a much better deal at around $8. Paying $12+ at dinner is a little more expensive than I’m comfortable with, and I probably wouldn’t pay it if it wasn’t so damn good.
So, if you’re in the area, give it shot. You won’t be disappointed. And if you are, you’re probably a Yankee with damaged taste buds–at least, that’s what they’ll tell you.
DTR
