I felt immediately at home walking into this place yesterday (Sunday afternoon) although I’d not been in many decades–since the days when Aqueduct was a regular feature of my weekends in the fall and spring. Nothing seemed to have changed much–the clientele, the waiters, the room, the walls plastered with racing memorabilia…nothing except the prices posted with the menu mounted on the back wall.
Friends had suggested having Sunday lunch here and I was hesitant after reading some reviews, but all that quickly fell to the wayside.
Yesterday was Mother’s Day and I expected a long wait. About 20 people were waiting in the glassed in foyer in front, but the guy at the front door told me that since we had a “very small” party of four, it should not be more than a half an hour. Five minutes later, he called my name and we were seated at a round table in the middle of the room. The crowd is mixed–families and friends of all ages and a few different colors.
Our waiter (from Kosovo) was just like the waiters I remembered from the past–friendly, casual, adept, and quick with suggestions. Food was very, very good Italian-American..nothing more, nothing less. The only dish did not love was the “salad” of cooked string beans with red onion, tomato, and little cubes of mozzarella..it was served too cold and was kind of boring. And we were charged $50 for this-not sure why none of us caught this and asked about the price..
Every other dish was good and the “fried peppers,” sliced red peppers mixed with onions–both beautifully browned and charred-- and the baked clams were terrific.
Prices were surprising but i guess I’m not totally used to today’s restaurant pricing. Those peppers, for example, cost $29 but the oval platter had enough to feed the four of us…(I was sad that there were no leftovers, though, but I took home some of the two veal dishes, and two of the eggplant rolls)
String bean salad; we were billed $50 for this and I’m kicking myself for not questioning this
Baked clams (no leftovers)–$35
Dining room:
Roast peppers and onions; these are called “fried peppers” on the blackboard menu; essential!
Mediocre “Italian bread”:
Eggplant rollatini (two of the four rolls came home with me)–$27.
Veal Don Peppe=breaded and fried cutlets topped with raw tomatoes and onions–$58
Very tender veal with lemon and butter–$41. Excellent, tender veal leg cutlets
Total for four diners, with half a carafe each of red and white house wine:
Waiting for a table, at 5pm on a Sunday:
at those prices. The string beans are particularly egregious. Went here after seeing several recommendations from folks on message boards. I liked it, but not enough to return, given how much of a hassle it is to get out there. Once was enough.
