Comment on 'Little Italy' restaurant
 

Too often, a bad experience gets recounted and good ones do not.

On a recent trip to NYC, we ventured into 'Little Italy' and at the recommendation of a family member, we sought out the restaurant 'Ameci II' at 165 Mulberry.

It is small, but quaint, with photos of previous customers adorning the walls. The five of us were seated and then we were asked, apologetically, if we would mind moving since a larger party had just arrived. We didn't mind as we did not even open our menus yet, but our host, Fabrizio told us that the wine and Peroni were 'on the house'. Not a bad deal.

We all ordered something different and tried to sample each other's meals. Each one was hot and delicious, with good sized portions. I had the chicken parmesian and my wife, Mary had the ravioli. We had fresh baked bread, cheese and olive oil and I thought that we were back in Italy. There were at least five different people waiting on us, so if we needed anything, we had it in minutes.

Go back? Absolutely. Recommend it? I am and no, I never met these folks before.

If you are the neighborhood, give it a try. Did I mention that everything came to $60.00?

Great story. I have also been very impressed with IL Cortile.

BTW, how did 5 of you eat for $60, or was it $60 for you and your wife? If it was $60 for all 5 of you, the waiter must have comped more than just the wine and Peroni.

While I have not eaten specifically at Ameci II, I have no doubt that 5 people could eat italian for less than $60.00 in NYC. It is really the price of beverages that drive up the cost of meals here (for the most part, I know you can spend $10 for one broccoli spear in NYC). Most good pasta places have pasta entrees about $8-$10.

Since we're telling good restaurant stories, I'll put my plug in for Luna's, also on Mulberry. It is not much to look at, but the food is excellent and the price is great. It also gives me great flashbacks to Dad and stories of late night meals at Lunas in the 50's and 60's with his friends and freaking Mom out with Scungilli at Umberto's.

Yep, it was $60.00 for all five (four adults, one 11-year-old). They didn't charge us for any drinks and that's why so cheap.

After spending $145.00 at Friday's in Times Square a few days before, it was a welcome respite to say the least.

Forgive me for asking, but what is 'scungilli' anyway?

whelk
[HWEHLK; WEHLK]
This member of the GASTROPOD branch of the MOLLUSK family is a large marine snail. It has a beautiful spiraled shell and a rather tough but flavorful footlike muscle. Although the waved whelk is found along America's northern Atlantic coast, it has never gained wide popularity in the United States. Knobbed whelks and channeled whelks are also marketed in the States. Fresh whelks are generally available in the spring and fall. They're also available cooked, preserved in vinegar and canned. Because of their lack of popularity, whelks may be difficult to find except in Chinese or Italian markets or specialty food stores. Whelk is naturally tough and must usually be tenderized by pounding. It benefits from brief, gentle cooking. The Italians refer to whelk as scungilli , and the famous scungilli marinara is a garlicky dish of whelk cooked in a tomato sauce flavored with basil, oregano and hot pepper seeds.
© Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc. 1995 based on THE FOOD LOVER'S COMPANION, 2nd edition, by Sharon Tyler Herbst.

From epicurious.com