Casa Rugantino
The signs, we admit, were promising. We had heard of others dining at Casa Rugantino. We had heard that it was ridiculously small, and had been in business for nearly three decades at the same spot in Belmont village. And we were determined to try it, and did so at the next luncheon opportunity.
Our party was three, and we hesitated at the doorway, with all the tables full except for the large table, set for six, in the middle of the tiny room; but this was littered with "Reserved" signs. We made our enquiries, and the hostess grunted in an encouraging, we supposed, way, whisked the multitude of Reserved signs and place settings from the table, and disappeared. We took this as an indication that we might be seated, and were rewarded for our initiative, eventually, with menus.
Now, we do wish to make it clear that we understand the difficulty of preparing a luncheon menu. The proprietor must find sufficient variation and interest, and yet limit the extent, preparation time, and price of the meals on the card. If the menu should fall down on any of these scores, it is a failure.
Let us say that Casa Rugantino was a success in one matter: the preparation time. Most of our party's meals were delivered hot, and with some speed, though one of the three meals was a good five minutes behind the others.
We personally sampled the lasagna. It was served in a round vessel similar to a French tart pan; it was covered in mozzarella cheese, and sauce was bubbling up the sides of the pasta with great energy. One companion ordered the grilled chicken on salad, and the other spaghetti and meat balls.
The lasagna was thin and rather loose, but was hot and reasonably tasty. We know not what possessed the chef to put slices of ham in the lasagna; while we admit that the effect was not unpleasant, we will not be soon emulating the practice in our own kitchen.
The spaghetti and meat balls were uninspiring. We wonder why an Italian eaterie would ever descend to using pre-made sauce, as Casa Rugantino almost certainly does (and if it doesn't, they would be well advised to use a lighter hand with the sugar).
While the food was passable, the service was not. We seemed to lose sight of the server whenever we lacked something; there was the staggered delivery of the three meals; the manner of service was brusque at best; and not only the server, but also the cook had prolonged and very loud conversations with other, more familiar diners, and in the tiny space, their voices were amplified to the point where we could not converse easily at our own table.
We realise that we had only a limited lunch menu before us, and visited on a busy Friday noonhour. But we cannot think of a single quality of the restaurant that would bring us back, and can think of several deficiencies that would forbid our return.
We are happy to report that the vaunted Vincenzo's across the street was not too busy when we went there to acquire some decent food. When Vincenzo's moves downtown, we wonder, what reason will remain to visit Belmont Village at all?
Our party was three, and we hesitated at the doorway, with all the tables full except for the large table, set for six, in the middle of the tiny room; but this was littered with "Reserved" signs. We made our enquiries, and the hostess grunted in an encouraging, we supposed, way, whisked the multitude of Reserved signs and place settings from the table, and disappeared. We took this as an indication that we might be seated, and were rewarded for our initiative, eventually, with menus.
Now, we do wish to make it clear that we understand the difficulty of preparing a luncheon menu. The proprietor must find sufficient variation and interest, and yet limit the extent, preparation time, and price of the meals on the card. If the menu should fall down on any of these scores, it is a failure.
Let us say that Casa Rugantino was a success in one matter: the preparation time. Most of our party's meals were delivered hot, and with some speed, though one of the three meals was a good five minutes behind the others.
We personally sampled the lasagna. It was served in a round vessel similar to a French tart pan; it was covered in mozzarella cheese, and sauce was bubbling up the sides of the pasta with great energy. One companion ordered the grilled chicken on salad, and the other spaghetti and meat balls.
The lasagna was thin and rather loose, but was hot and reasonably tasty. We know not what possessed the chef to put slices of ham in the lasagna; while we admit that the effect was not unpleasant, we will not be soon emulating the practice in our own kitchen.
The spaghetti and meat balls were uninspiring. We wonder why an Italian eaterie would ever descend to using pre-made sauce, as Casa Rugantino almost certainly does (and if it doesn't, they would be well advised to use a lighter hand with the sugar).
While the food was passable, the service was not. We seemed to lose sight of the server whenever we lacked something; there was the staggered delivery of the three meals; the manner of service was brusque at best; and not only the server, but also the cook had prolonged and very loud conversations with other, more familiar diners, and in the tiny space, their voices were amplified to the point where we could not converse easily at our own table.
We realise that we had only a limited lunch menu before us, and visited on a busy Friday noonhour. But we cannot think of a single quality of the restaurant that would bring us back, and can think of several deficiencies that would forbid our return.
We are happy to report that the vaunted Vincenzo's across the street was not too busy when we went there to acquire some decent food. When Vincenzo's moves downtown, we wonder, what reason will remain to visit Belmont Village at all?
posted by the Droll Bastard at 10:33 a.m.
2 Comments:
ah yes......have not been there for some years and don't plan on going back but for different reasons
some 4 or 5 years ago, the last time my wife and i ate there, it was a busy friday night and we did have reservations for 5:30 pm which of course we had a table, now understand not all the tables were taken with some 2 other tables for 2 empty for this early time (yeah i know it is a small place)
anyhow, while we are enjoying our salad, an elderly (late 70's perhaps, maybe even early 80's) man comes in, nicely dressed (dress pants, vest, tie, jacket the way my father used to dress when he was living and of the same age), perhaps feeling healthy that day(not what i would call a quick walker) and thinking he would like to eat out that day (not something i imagined he did often based on what i could tell of skin condition and gait), came in to the Casa Rugatino establishment. He waited patiently at the door for several minutes. He was ignored. Finally he ambled over to one of the empty tables and sat down. Imagine my surprise when about , yes count it, 15 seconds later , the owner , came rushing over asking if he had a reservation. I clearly heard the entire converation, as i was at the next table and the woman was loud! His answer was that "No" he did not but was hoping that he could order dinner. She said that he needed a reservation. He asked if Casa Rugationa was a place that always needed a reservation. Looking around, the owner proclaimed for all to hear that Casa Rugatino was so busy that you ALWAYS NEEDED a dinner reservation, then asked the elderly man to leave. He stood up quietly, thanked her and left. That table stayed empty for another 30 mintues or so.
My wife and i quietly ate dinner, and left. We have never gone back. I have never recommended that restaurant to anyone since, and have shared that story many times. I never wish to be treated like this when i hit my seventies in the next several decades and don't wish it on anyone else either.
on another note , with regards to the ham in the lasagna...very southern italians often put it in ( my wife parents and other family members came over from italy in the late 60's), and i have had ham in lasagna many times at many different homes. not neccessarily my favourite, but i will eat it as the lasagnas are well made especially when homemade tomato sauce is used (which is all of the time), and by the way my mother in law always make her own fresh lasagna noodles....absolutely kills the dry packaged stuff.
It was always reasonably tasty, but a bit expensive and portions aren't so big.
I always had take-out, so no opinions on service there.
Re: when Vincenzo's leaves for downtown, there is still the good 'Big John's Sub's'.
BTW: are they leaving for downtown, or opening up a second store? It seems downtown is bad because of parking.
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