[SuperJon]

you probably think the spaghetti I make in my kitchen is not tue Italian. What makes something Italian? Does it have to be made by somebody from Italy? If that's the case than Alfredo sauce is italian.

I consider things prepared in the way they are in Italy true Italian food. In that way, your spaghetti can be true Italian because every house in Italy is different. However, alfredo sauce is something you won't get in Italy.

Actually, it depends on how you cook your spaghetti. Do you do a meat sauce, a marinara sauce, a red sauce, or what?

[RagingTireFire]

I'm not nearly as picky about Italian as the resident Sicilian here but Olive Garden is as much Italian as pizza is. Which is to say, it's not. Olive Garden cooks everything in much the same way as your local roadhouse and then dumps a quart of olive oil on it to make it "Italian". It's Epcot Italian at best.

[jcmanson]

I’m Italian and therefore I know what true Italian is. You other idiots will never understand.

[SuperJon]

I’m Italian and therefore I know what true Italian is. You other idiots will never understand.

That's not what I'm saying at all. I'm saying that Olive Garden is not true Italian food. It is based on Italian food and then changed, a ton. Every restaurant on this list is Americanized in some way, shape, or form. However, your local Italian restaurant that is owned by an Italian family is going to be less Americanized and more authentic than a chain restaurant.

[jcmanson]

Every restaurant on this list is Americanized in some way, shape, or form. However, your local Italian restaurant that is owned by an Italian family is going to be less Americanized and more authentic than a chain restaurant.

Exactly. Why pick on Olive Garden?

[LUconn]

this is somewhat off topic, but did you know Chinese food is completely invented by the Chinese after they got to America in the Old West? The Chinese who weren't working on the railroads opened up Chinese restaurants and everybody hated their nasty food and they failed. So they invented new dishes and we have what we know as Chinese food today. I saw it on the History Channel.

[SuperJon]

Every restaurant on this list is Americanized in some way, shape, or form. However, your local Italian restaurant that is owned by an Italian family is going to be less Americanized and more authentic than a chain restaurant.

Exactly. Why pick on Olive Garden?

Because it's been taken so far away from the authentic Italian food that it's not even the same thing anymore. RTF made a great point earlier that no one seemed to read.

[RagingTireFire]

I read it and, indeed, it was a good point. That guy is awesome.

[Hold My Own]

If Gaetano's is indeed closed then I can scratch it from the options.

Not only is it closed but they tore that piece down...I actually think it's LU's property now and they are looking to connect that area to on campus by a road

[Chris Lang]

All I know is that Bea Arthur visited Monte Carlo at some point earlier in this decade. What that means is up to individual interpretation.

[Cider Jim]

Chris, probably 90% of college students have no idea who Bea Arthur is. Since you know, you are officially an .

[BJWilliams]

I know who Bea Arthur is...she was pretty funny on Golden Girls

[Cider Jim]

BJ, aren't you much older than the average college student? (I was younger than you when I began teaching at LU). Also, BJ, without Googling, can you name her 2 sitcoms BEFORE Golden Girls?

[BJWilliams]

1. Yes I am...and smarter than the average bear!
2. 1 was Maude...the other one escapes me

[Cider Jim]

She got her start on All in the Family...now back to your favorite Italian restaurants.

[BJWilliams]

Returning from this side trip...


I really enjoyed Vinny's...I think an FF get together this summer or fall is in order there again.

[Sly Fox]

Maude ... We are seriously taking this off topic, CJ.

I can't vouch for many of the options but Scar, Smoothie and GMTM introduced Mrs. Sly and yours truly to Vinny's and it was a hit with us.

[SuperJon]

I haven't been to Vinny's since the first time I ate at La Villa.

[bigsmooth]

has to be monte carlo with a close second to isabella's. the atmosphere at monte carlo is awesome.

[Sly Fox]

Voting is Closed