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Mom and Pop Vs. Chain Restaurants
As most of you, I frequent several chain eateries like McDonald's, Burger King, KFC and others. I go there for the convenience and speed that it offers. I usually get my food quickly and most times it is at least warm if not hot. However, I do enjoy a sit down meal from time to time and since I have moved back to my childhood home in Chattanooga, TN I found a very small Italian restaurant a couple of miles down the road. The building is almost hidden by other signs for the fast food chains I mentioned earlier and if you don't look closely you will miss it as I apparently have for the past several months. Tony's Italian Restaurant.
While a very small building, the parking lot was full so I decided to give it a try. I figured it was just another American trying to fix "authentic" pizza and Italian food. I was completely wrong. The first thing i noticed when walking into the building was the smell. Garlic was potent and I love garlic! I took some time to read the newspaper clippings and other media related articles on the wall (There were a lot) and found that Anthony (Tony) immigrated to the USA in 1958 from Sicily. He didn't come here as a child, he was raised in Sicily and owned a restaurant there before coming to the States. He owned numerous eateries in New York before giving them all up and opening 1 here in a small town called Fort Oglethorpe, GA. three years ago.
After reading the articles I proceeded to the dining room where I was greeted by Tony himself. I informed tony how impressed I was with his story and that it was my first time in his establishment. He got a big grin on his face and in a thick Italian accent welcomed me, brought me to a table and gave me a glass of complimentary wine (I'm not a wine drinker but who am I to complain?). He then came back with a menu and told me to call him if I had any questions about the menu.
The menu was filled with classic Italian names like Lasagna, Fettuccine Alfredo and others, but also less familiar names like pasta alla carbonara, caprese, and cannelloni. I chose an order of Manacotti with a side order of pasta fagioli (a delicious white bean soup). It also came with fresh garlic rolls.
Probably one of the best meals I have had in a long time and I didn't want it to end. Throughout my meal Tony came by several times to see if everything was ok. Not just asking me but placing his hand on my shoulder and showing a genuine concern. I felt like a part of the family.
I will be visiting Tony on a regular basis in the future and bringing my family and perhaps a few dates there as well.
What are some "mom and pop" eateries in your neck of the woods? What makes them so special? Do you see a difference in the service?
While a very small building, the parking lot was full so I decided to give it a try. I figured it was just another American trying to fix "authentic" pizza and Italian food. I was completely wrong. The first thing i noticed when walking into the building was the smell. Garlic was potent and I love garlic! I took some time to read the newspaper clippings and other media related articles on the wall (There were a lot) and found that Anthony (Tony) immigrated to the USA in 1958 from Sicily. He didn't come here as a child, he was raised in Sicily and owned a restaurant there before coming to the States. He owned numerous eateries in New York before giving them all up and opening 1 here in a small town called Fort Oglethorpe, GA. three years ago.
After reading the articles I proceeded to the dining room where I was greeted by Tony himself. I informed tony how impressed I was with his story and that it was my first time in his establishment. He got a big grin on his face and in a thick Italian accent welcomed me, brought me to a table and gave me a glass of complimentary wine (I'm not a wine drinker but who am I to complain?). He then came back with a menu and told me to call him if I had any questions about the menu.
The menu was filled with classic Italian names like Lasagna, Fettuccine Alfredo and others, but also less familiar names like pasta alla carbonara, caprese, and cannelloni. I chose an order of Manacotti with a side order of pasta fagioli (a delicious white bean soup). It also came with fresh garlic rolls.
Probably one of the best meals I have had in a long time and I didn't want it to end. Throughout my meal Tony came by several times to see if everything was ok. Not just asking me but placing his hand on my shoulder and showing a genuine concern. I felt like a part of the family.
I will be visiting Tony on a regular basis in the future and bringing my family and perhaps a few dates there as well.
What are some "mom and pop" eateries in your neck of the woods? What makes them so special? Do you see a difference in the service?
Comment
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Comment by Tedd on August 2, 2009 at 5:48pm -
Tony goes to the local farmer's market every week to purchase his vegetables. I was told he is very very picky about them and will spend a long time inspecting each one before purchasing it. All of the vegetables in my meal were extremely fresh. It isn't a fancy place but it has a nice atmosphere, seats maybe no more than 20 people max so it has that family dinning feel to it. You feel as if you could strike up a conversation with the strangers at the next table as if you were at a family reunion. The fact that Tony spends a lot of time making sure his customers are taken care of personally is something you don't see many owners do anymore. Many of the customers he knew by name and was genuinely glad to see them. The price was right as well, I spent $10 and got a free glass of wine (which was surprisingly good).
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Comment by Starry on August 2, 2009 at 1:13pm -
well then sounds like a whole lot better than when I went to Venice in Italy some years ago, and whats not a better place to try out the spaghetti (big mistake!)
after waiting for half an hour a waiter came out and told be that they accidently burnt the spaghetti so I had to sit there and wait for another half our.. the spaghetti was not even that great, I mean I could have made it better than that! what a dissapointment. I guess this was just a commercial restaurant for tourist, but bloody damn dissapointing :P
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Comment by JS on August 2, 2009 at 11:10am -
I prefer these kinds of places. I don't like fancy restaurants, nor do I like fast food chains.
If I eat out, I definitely go to small places. They have food more suitable to my liking and better service than in any fancy restaurant or any fast food chain.
© 2012 Created by Chris Pirillo.
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