Italian Super Markets (prices, car, subway)

[Tonyafd]

Originally Posted by gipsychick

I have recently been to Mercato on Hillview for a pizza and it was very good. I went yesterday again and confirm it's good! I am Italian, moved to the US less than a decade ago. I have high standards and expectations for anything Italian.
Another place for a good pizza is Mediterraneo on Main St. I have tried Valentino...it's ok, it would not be my first choice for a pizza craving.

When I used to live in Tampa I searched almost everywhere for a good mozzarella (not the Galbani brand). The only place I could find it was at Costco in Clearwater. They had it shipped from Italy, weekly, on Tuesday if I am not wrong. It's the bufala mozzarella from Campania (Naples and surrounding). D-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s.

Mazzarro is a tourist trap IMHO. Some expired products siti on the shelves while other fresh imported cheeses have no expiration date!! When I asked about it for a stracchino (italian fresh soft cheese) the clerk, vaguely told me that cheese was probably going to spoil in a week. At that point I preferred not to take the risk of being sick.
On teh other hand, their ciabatta bread is very crunchy and good. Charcuterie is ok and the guys really know how to slice a prosciutto! The good and teh bad of Mazzarro!

There is nothing like a native born Italian to give lovers of all things Italian a reality check.
Thank you for the good advice gipsychick.

[craigiri]

Originally Posted by Tonyafd

You had to look it up. I didn't.
My pizza is delicious. When I eat bagels it's usually with sausage and egg.

Enjoy your bagels. Are you happy on this side of Florida?

I like this side of Florida better than most of the rest of Florida, that's for certain!

Florida is Florida, tho - in the aggregate it's a place designed to make money for the monied and take the life savings from older folks.

But that won't happen to us!

Yep, as long as we have those good Lox and Eggs bagels, Trader Joes and Sweet Tomatoes.....we're happy. Yoder Farm market helps too!

[craigiri]

Originally Posted by gipsychick

I have recently been to Mercato on Hillview for a pizza and it was very good. I went yesterday again and confirm it's good! I am Italian, moved to the US less than a decade ago. I have high standards and expectations for anything Italian.
Another place for a good pizza is Mediterraneo on Main St. I have tried Valentino...it's ok, it would not be my first choice for a pizza craving.!

hmmm.....

I have been to Mercato twice for pizza.

It was acceptable. OK. Decent.

I've eaten twice at Mediterraneo also. I like the atmosphere at the little bar/pizza - but, again, at most I'd give it a 6.

Oh, we are the Ferragames and DiNardos.....

I understand that standards differ - frankly, I only learned about the top pizzas in the last 20 years or so. We were lucky enough to happen upon one of the best in Trenton, NJ (DiLorenzo's tomato pies)....and I was hooked after that. When we moved to New England we heard about "New Haven Pizza" - people come from all over the country to check out Pepe's and Sallies. Then we found another boutique place in Rhode Island which IMHO beats their - probably a 9 out of a 10.

So now that we've found the promised land it's hard to settle.

We will keep looking tho. Sadly, the best place (maybe a 7 out of 10) was Flatbreads on Main which closed.

[ready2move]

Someone say Pepe's and Sally's ? Yum

[gipsychick]

Originally Posted by craigiri

hmmm.....

I have been to Mercato twice for pizza.

It was acceptable. OK. Decent.

I've eaten twice at Mediterraneo also. I like the atmosphere at the little bar/pizza - but, again, at most I'd give it a 6.

Oh, we are the Ferragames and DiNardos.....

I understand that standards differ - frankly, I only learned about the top pizzas in the last 20 years or so. We were lucky enough to happen upon one of the best in Trenton, NJ (DiLorenzo's tomato pies)....and I was hooked after that. When we moved to New England we heard about "New Haven Pizza" - people come from all over the country to check out Pepe's and Sallies. Then we found another boutique place in Rhode Island which IMHO beats their - probably a 9 out of a 10.

So now that we've found the promised land it's hard to settle.

We will keep looking tho. Sadly, the best place (maybe a 7 out of 10) was Flatbreads on Main which closed.

Mmmhh, I have no clue about the pizza places you mentioned above, they are just not around the corner. If you ever go to Italy I have a few spots to recommend you for a good pizza, Briscola in Milan is by far my favorite.

Please let us know if you find a decent pizza in the SRQ area!

[Cuzzant]

Italian deli? My vote is Piccolo's on Gateway Ave in SRQ.

[Tonyafd]

Originally Posted by craigiri

hmmm.....

I have been to Mercato twice for pizza.

It was acceptable. OK. Decent.

I've eaten twice at Mediterraneo also. I like the atmosphere at the little bar/pizza - but, again, at most I'd give it a 6.

Oh, we are the Ferragames and DiNardos.....

I understand that standards differ - frankly, I only learned about the top pizzas in the last 20 years or so. We were lucky enough to happen upon one of the best in Trenton, NJ (DiLorenzo's tomato pies)....and I was hooked after that. When we moved to New England we heard about "New Haven Pizza" - people come from all over the country to check out Pepe's and Sallies. Then we found another boutique place in Rhode Island which IMHO beats their - probably a 9 out of a 10.

So now that we've found the promised land it's hard to settle.

We will keep looking tho. Sadly, the best place (maybe a 7 out of 10) was Flatbreads on Main which closed.

Instead of telling the rest of us that our standards are too low, why don't you admit that Italian food is not your cup of tea. So Flatbread which is your choice above most closed. That doesn't say much about your standards.

Next time you go out to eat, go out hungry. Food always tastes better that way.

[Luby162]

Originally Posted by Tonyafd

Instead of telling the rest of us that our standards are too low, why don't you admit that Italian food is not your cup of tea. So Flatbread which is your choice above most closed. That doesn't say much about your standards.

Next time you go out to eat, go out hungry. Food always tastes better that way.

Now that is funny...I have been to Meditteraneos on main and thought it was excellent.. risotto was awesome, my wife had veal, again, very good, bread is homemade and excellent.. Definitely worth a shot as everyone has a different opinion. we also like Venezias on St. Armands, never had the pizza there but the food was good, they have mussels in a white whine garlic sauce that is awesome too.. Good luck and keep the suggestions flowing...

[newtovenice]

We recently had a takeout pizza from Trattoria da Mino in Venice. And I think we're done trying new places, lol.

Best pizza so far, no question. Hubby thought the sauce was a touch salty, but I didn't mind. Thin crust, not overly sauced, right amount of cheese, tip of crust slightly browned. Again, I was looking for authentic LI/NYC pizza. This is pretty close.

Now if I could just find bagels!

[Old Gal]

Originally Posted by newtovenice

We recently had a takeout pizza from Trattoria da Mino in Venice. And I think we're done trying new places, lol.

Best pizza so far, no question. Hubby thought the sauce was a touch salty, but I didn't mind. Thin crust, not overly sauced, right amount of cheese, tip of crust slightly browned. Again, I was looking for authentic LI/NYC pizza. This is pretty close.

Now if I could just find bagels!

My husband and I love Mino's.