Andaloro's And Tony's--Both Great Places To Take The Family.
By Rebecca Cook
STRANGE AS IT seems these days, I remember a time when
eating restaurant food seemed a rare and exotic thing. Aside from
the occasional bag of hamburgers purchased from the corner A &
W Drive-In (Remember burgers for the whole family--Papa Burger,
Mama Burger, Teen Burger and Baby Burger?) and an infrequent stop
for pancakes on Sunday mornings after church, we dined at home.
Well, times have changed. If the results were tallied, my children's
restaurant-food exposure might come dangerously close to the number
of home-cooked meals they've eaten in their short lives. In a
world where free time is at a minimum, the value of restaurants
and take-out food has skyrocketed.
What a joy, then, to discover places that serve relatively simple
and delicious fare, meet with the approval of everyone in the
family, and don't break the bank. Two establishments worthy of
consideration are Andaloro's and Tony's New York-Style Italian
Deli.
Andaloro's, located in the Campbell Fair Shopping Center at Campbell
Avenue and Fort Lowell Road, is the new kid on the block.
An Italian/Greek deli and café, Andaloro's impresses on
many levels, not the least of which is the charm of its spanking-clean
space complete with glass counters showcasing tempting foods,
shiny black-and-white checkerboard tile floors and a kitchen gallery
where you can observe your order being carefully prepared. But
what really thrills here is food as delicious as the surroundings.
I've found a home away from home at Andaloro's.
Sandwiches are first-rate here, with a fine selection of
deli favorites. A special combination of prosciutto, salami, capo,
ham and cheese ($6.50) is a meat-lover's delight, a sandwich loaded
to proportions that make your jaw unhinge as you open wide to
devour.
Hot Italian grinders range from the messy-but-worthwhile
meatballs with cheese to sausage and peppers or a parmigiana of
eggplant or chicken (all for $4.95). Because Andaloro's doubles
as a Greek deli, one can also partake of a gyro ($4.95), a delectable
combination of thinly sliced and tender lamb, fresh tomato, lettuce
and raw onion served atop a fluffy slice of pita bread and drizzled
with a yogurt-dill sauce.
All items are prepared fresh on the premises at Andaloro's,
and nowhere is this more evident than in their breads. Whether
it's your sandwich, gyro, pizza or calzone, the fresh, yeasty
quality of the breadstuff infuses everything with a satisfying,
homemade flavor.
The calzones are a small wonder. Far from being soggy pockets
of pastry stuffed with leaden cheese and pepperoni, Andaloro's
calzones exemplify a culinary art form, the preparation of which
takes a little extra time but is well worth the wait.
Nearly the size of a football, these calzones are light and flaky,
with a dizzying combination of cheeses, meats and vegetables pocketed
within. The spinach and cheese variation ($6.50) is a marvel of
fresh, chopped spinach, a generous blend of ricotta and mozzarella
and thin layer of tangy-sweet tomato sauce. Additional marinara
sauce, served on the side, completed a perfect blend of textures
and flavors.
Gourmet stone-oven pizzas ($10 to $13), as well as several hot
Italian entrees, such as spaghetti, ravioli and non-fat lasagna
(all priced at $5.95), can also be ordered at Andaloro's and make
perfect take-home meals for your family when you're on the run.
Tony's New York Style Deli, Butcher Shop & Restaurant is
not nearly as spiffy as the more upscale Andaloro's, but it has
the feel of the Big Apple's Little Italy and serves up good food
to match.
Proprietors Mark and Lori Paolini make you feel right at home
and encourage you to snuggle into one of the closely-packed tables
in front of the deli counter and refrigerator cases.
Tony's is the kind of place where the waitress calls you "hon"
and you feel thoroughly cared for, a feeling reinforced when the
homestyle food is served.
Sandwiches and heros are made with half a loaf of fresh Italian
bread and stuffed with a mountain of meat, cheese and vegetables.
I was somewhat incredulous that Tony's special ($4.95) came loaded
with nearly two inches of Genoa salami and another quarter-inch
of cheese, all of which I ate.
Tony's also features various hot Italian entrees, including not
only the expected pasta dishes but also a shrimp scampi or lobster
tail for $6.99. I didn't try either of these, but if the portions
here are as generous as everything else, this is a ganga deal.
One could opt for a pesto pizza
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