Well, we just moved to Tulsa a few months ago. I've talked with several people here who've been to Italy and asked them "Where can I get authentic Italian food? Not necessarily upscale, but the real stuff?" Most say I'm SOL--go to Dallas or KC. I've tried the few mom and pop places in town that have been recommended and they've been nightmares. I haven't eaten at an Olive Garden in years (I am admittedly an Italian food snob), but it's sounding better and better after the awful stuff I've tasted here. I CAN make it at home, fortunately. I guess we'll just have to go to Italy more often. ;)

I am lol. I work with a few people that love the Olive Garden. Other than the salad and the chocolate covered cheesecake I can not stand the place. The last few times I was invited to join these co-workers I politely declined.

It just so happens that my daughter just got her first job at one of the Darden company restaurants, Red Lobster. She gets a 25% discount if she dines at any of the company owned restaurants and she and her little friends enjoy the place.

I grew up in NYC and learned the art of fine dining at a very early age. Makes me wish my daughter had the same opportunitiy. We have tried to expose her to the same culinary delights I was raised on but it is difficult when you live in an area that has a very small selection of good restaurants.

I will say that we have two halfway decent Italian chain restaurants, Carraba and Bucca di Peppo. The later is tons of fun. THey have a table called the "Pope's table." It is a large round table with the bust of the Pope in the center. A lazy susan is used to pass the food around. All the food comes in HUGE portions, served family style.

I took my father and mother there on a visit and my dad saw all the old pictures on the walls. Some of the shots had Frank Sinatra in them. This was the first time I heard the story of my meeting Frank when I was very little. It seems we were eating out in NY at a restaurant where he was also having dinner. It seems I caught his eye and conversed briefly with my dad about me. I don't remember any of it.

PLMN,

We have Carraba's here, too, but I've never eaten there. Are you saying no mushy pasta?

Not so far. A friend of mine introduced me to an entree that I adore. I think it is the Shrimp Damian or Past Damian? You can even have them make it spicy. It is orgasmic. I usually have the Italian Margarita or what ever they call it, it has Amaretto. Then I fill up on the bread you dip in the olive oil/spice combo. Then I gorge on the Damian.

Let me put it this way. On a special occasion my husband and I went. I had been on my Weight Watcher program for a long time. I was not used to over indulging (sp?) I got so sick I can't even go into it. Usually when something like that happens you don't want anything to do with the things you had that made you sick. Well....not me. I STILL love the stuff there.

I hope yours is as good as ours. If you go let me know how it turns out.

I agree that Carraba's is darn good for a chain. The cozze in white wine sauce appetizer is my personal favorite. I ate there many times while living in Texas, where good Italian mom and pop places are hard to find. Now I live in NJ and can have all the Italian I want; I am looking all over here for good Mexican mom and pop places!! It seems I can't have it all!

Yes, and the nice thing about NJ Italian restaurants -- most don't have licenses to sell alcohol, so they are BYOB. ((b))

Jocelyn, have you tried posting on chowhound? Here's a quick search I did for you on Tulsa restaurants:

http://www.chowhound.com/south/board...ges/13889.html

Good luck!

I must also admit I was taken with a group practically screaming to Carraba's, expecting it to be like Olive Garden and turned off by the lines nightly at our local one.
But the food was AMAZINGLY good. Some of the best veal I've had outside of Rome.

I had no idea there were "pasta snobs" around...wonders never ceaase.

If you consider anyone who prefers quality in anything a snob, then yes.
I suppose if someone only likes good movies, he's a movie snob.
If a guy only enjoys watching a close or exciting sports event, then he's a sports snob.
If a guy only likes reading decent books, he's a book snob.
If a person only likes to live in a clean house, then she's a cleanliness snob.
The list is endless.

mvor,

Thanks so much for the link. I took a quick look at those posts and it's mainly foodies bemoaning the fact that there is so little good food in Tulsa--lol.

I will definitely try Carrabba's this weekend. A Johny Carrino's just opened as well. Yay or nay?

Sort of related question: at some of the Italian restaurants we've been to here they have "Pasta Carbonara" on the menu (DH's favorite dish), but it's a soft eggy noodle with a heavy cream sauce, peas and proscuitto. Is this a regional variation I'm not familiar with, or do they just have it all wrong?

Jocelyn - what are you expecting it to be? Carbonara to me is cream sauce with peas and proscuitto. Usually, places specify the type of noodle, like fettucini or something...so, I'm not sure what's "wrong" with what you describe.

Karen

The spaghetti carbonara I've always had in Italy (and the recipe I downloaded from the foodnetwork's website) is with pancetta, egg, parmasean, and pepper. Hmmmmm.....

Carabbas is way better than OG (which is only palatable for soup & salad).

In my area of NJ we're spoiled with all the great Italian we want, and Mom & Pop are all over! Yay!!

crzyjodi where in NJ do you live? I live in Union and we've got a number of good options for authentic Mexican...will be glad to offer up some suggestions if you're nearby. Trish

trish how funny i just asked you about 2 buck chuck on another post. i live in New Brunswick, (Middlesex county). Please please point me to some Mexican!!!

No good Italian food in Tulsa? Hmm, surprising. It?s been many a year ago but there used to be a couple of pretty fine family owned places on Denver Avenue, downtown. Tulsa also had some hellaciously good Greek food simply because there was a small but determined Greek community there.

In fact many Midwestern cities often have surprisingly good ethnic food because so many immigrants moved to the Midwest after the War Between the States.

Kansas City is known for dynamic Italian cuisine, as well as some of the worlds best BBQ. There are still tons of great ethnic eats in Chicago.

Sorry to hear about Tulsa, though. Things change everywhere.

The last time we were in NYC a friend noted that if Little Italy gets any littler someday it simply won't be there at all. What a shame.

Didn't you know? Little Italy no longer exists in NYC. It is now called Tiny Italy.

Regarding carbonara. Authentic version is eggs, bacon (pancetta), cheese, and pepper. Nothing more. But everybody seems to be stretching it these days to almost anything with an egg and cream sauce.

>I had no idea there were "pasta snobs" around...wonders never ceaase.<

I'm with you topman. Lets GTG and open a warmed-up can of spaghettios.

Preferably standing at the kitchen sink.

crzyjodi, for Mexican, we like Beana's in Rahway, Salsa's in Cranford, Jose's Mexican Cantina in New Providence, East LA in Hoboken, Nova Terra in New Brunswick. I'll answer the three buck chuck question on the other post.
Trish

DiAblo,

Interesting...how long ago was this? We recently tried a family owned Italian place on Denver Ave. The caprese was actually very good, but our entrees were so bad quality-wise (my fish was bordering on rotten) we couldn't eat them. There are quite a few Middle Eastern immigrants who now own restaurants in Tulsa, so you'll find tabbouli in places you'd never expect (including the aforementioned Italian restaurant and lots of BBQ places!). I like some Middle Eastern food, but it's no substitute for real Italian. Someone told me there's a small Italian community about 100 miles away that has a popular restaurant. I'm not sure if I'm willing to drag the whole family out there...talk about setting yourself up for disappointment. :(

Ira, lol! Which wine do you drink with your Spag-o's?