(No website found at time of publishing) – Eastlake
How I heard of this place: Through the Entertainment Book. But now that I have sampled an amazing, perfectly fluffy and cheesy calzone, I’m hooked.
Type of cuisine: Casual, home-cooked Italian with no accoutrements.
Ambiance: The space is open and lined with windows along the front. A large bar area is available and seems to be frequented by regulars, off-duty staff and friends. The restaurant is very spacious with chairs and tables available for diners throughout, as well as much open space. That space void of furniture seems is reminiscent of a dance floor, and with the loud music, circa 1980s, may just as well be! Just as the food is unpretentious, simple and tasty, the staff (at least on this visit) are accordingly devoid of flair. Very casual and simple, no fuss or unnecessary clutter.
What I ordered: Three of us chose to split two calzones ($10.95 each) on this visit, which made for the perfect amount of food to stuff our stomachs! One calzone (the names of each have eluded me) included spicy sausage, pepperoni, fresh basil, mozzarella cheese and ricotta. The second, including a few of my own substitutions, came with pepperoni, green bell peppers, onion, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and gorgonzola. Each calzone comes with a side salad of iceberg lettuce, tomato and croutons topped with a creamy garlic dressing. We ordered an additional salad for $2.
What I loved: The calzones really cannot be beat! The cheesy inside, the spicy pepperoni and the fluffy, soft but crisp dough. Melts in your mouth. The dressing on the salads, reminiscent of the creamy Italian dressing at the Spaghetti Factory, was delicious and not overpowering.
Why I loved it: The food is good, the space casual enough for a last-minute lunch and despite the long wait for food, well worth the cost in terms of gustatory satisfaction!
Cost: Average ($10 for lunch entree including a side salad)