Local joint to be featured on Restaurant Impossible

[Blackbeauty212]

Originally Posted by UKyank

Watched it, always feel bad when an establishment owned by a family for a long time starts failing - but it was obvious that the food prep had gotten sloppy to say the least (I'm at least assuming this wasn't always the case as Del's did have a good rep at some point). I was only there once before & the food was nothing memorable & haven't been there since their makeover (there is a river/bridge separating me and them afterall), but a quick look on the Internet showed some less then promising things such as they reverted back to their old menu. I think most of the restuarants on these shows suffer from things much deeper and ingrained problems then 2 or 3 days can fix & soon revert back to their old destructive ways. Here's hoping that's not the case with Del's as it has been around for a long time. If anyone has been there after their "fix" let me know the food opinion.
Oh, and dear lord does Marianne the owner have the fattest arms in pgh

I watched it myself and I think a lot of the "Drama" was a put-on for the camera.

[groar]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

I watched it myself and I think a lot of the "Drama" was a put-on for the camera.

that's probably the case but i know a fair number of people who've worked there and she definitely screams at and is generally really mean to employees. do some googling and you can find her posting on sites like yelp and urbanspoon badmouthing her employees and blaming all her problems on them. it's pretty bad.

also, putting ice into sauce to cool it down = ewwwww on so many levels. and then claiming the health dept said that's what they should do?

[ML North]

Good Italian food is all about fresh ingredients. Doesn't have to be fancy or intricate, but it does have to be fresh. During my two visits to Del's, I found their lettuce and vegetables so repulsive, I couldn't enjoy anything afterward.

Legends does it right. If you're not getting at least fresh vegetables and herbs, it will never be good.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by groar

that's probably the case but i know a fair number of people who've worked there and she definitely screams at and is generally really mean to employees.

Meanness to employees can't be a very good idea for moderately priced bistros like Del's.

They won't want to come back as customers later on, and they do have a pretty high turnover.

Being diplomatic when you're firing people I think is a skill for successful restauranteers in places of this price range.

[hockyluvr]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Maybe Chef Gordon Ramsay of Kitchen Nightmare's will visit someday? Maybe he can spice up Primanti's?

Originally Posted by airwave09

Primanti's doesn't need "spiced up", they just need to use a better quality meat in their steak sandwich.

The fact that they are now a chain says a lot. (Not in a good way)

[PeterRabbit]

Del's used to have a waiting line around the block. I think it was Tuesday that was spaghetti night. Forty years ago she was attractive and he was skinny. Nice guy.

[jimmyev]

Italian comfort food like Del's - thick red sauces, cream and butter alfredos - are out and 'fresh' salsa-inspired marinaras are in. It slays me that those 'fresh,' authentic dishes started in chains from places like Kansas City and Omaha with no Italian immigrants.

[Impala26]

Originally Posted by jimmyev

Italian comfort food like Del's - thick red sauces, cream and butter alfredos - are out and 'fresh' salsa-inspired marinaras are in. It slays me that those 'fresh,' authentic dishes started in chains from places like Kansas City and Omaha with no Italian immigrants.

Honestly that's what amazes me about a lot of Pizza/Italian take-out and delivery joints in town. Working at the front desk of Washington Plaza I've seen so many delivery drivers from all the local pizza joints that I can figure out in general what sort of "families" comprise each. I've also visited these locations personally and they pretty much confirm my assumptions. Giovanni's downtown (Eastern European), Cafe Milano in Uptown and Larry & Carol's in Oakland (Middle Eastern and otherwise mixed), and Domino's in the South Side (Indian).

It's honestly funny to me how many non-Italians are running these pizza shops.