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Cheap but good Italian food?

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Started 3 years ago by ejstcyr
Latest reply from hungrywoolf

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berdawn
near that stretch of N. High Street in the Short North
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Walker wrote >>

berdawn wrote >>
Trattoria Roma on Grandview Ave has a Monday special and GREAT deals on take out.

Anne & I just had this for dinner!
http://www.trattoria-roma.com/carryout.html
Lots of food (enough to stuff two people) for $22! Anne saved my salad for lunch tomorrow, so it was really like we got enough food for three people for that price. ;)
The pasta sauce is excellent. Slightly spicy with whole cloves of garlic. Meatballs were tasty. The tiramisu isn't the traditional variety. More of the cream served in a chocolate cup with a lady finger on the side with a sliced strawberry. VERY good.
All around it was a great meal and traveled well back home in the car. I was very happy with it. And after hitting up The Spaghetti Warehouse (my earlier recommendation for cheap Italian food) a few weeks ago and spending slightly more money there (but also getting drinks) I felt like the money spent at Trattoria Roma was very well worth it.
Side note: I spotted Ted Celeste dining on the patio when I ran in to pick up our order. Celebrity spotting at Trat-R! :D

We were there this past Monday and the dine-in "manga Monday" (2 pastas for $20) was no longer available but the carry out special is still on their website.

Posted 3 years ago #
ChesterRock

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Try the Tuscan Table in little Downtown Circleville, great home made Italian food and an incredible wine list.Nothing like it in Columbus!
the-tuscantable.com

Posted 3 years ago #
ChesterRock

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OMG... NO! Not Marcella's in the Short North, we went there the first month it was open. The pizza was LAME and everything was over priced. Probably one of the worst places I have ever eaten. Its just one of those "look at me type of places" It is a nice design and the service was good, but, the food is second rate!! Frozen pizza is better and cheaper!

Posted 3 years ago #
lifeliberty
Here
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I have to agree, Marcella's doesn't fit the 'cheap but good italian', it's more a see and be seen kinda place, that serves Italian style food. If you are going to pay a premium, go to Rigsby's.
the best Italian food in the area is Scali, but it isn't cheap. It definitely is affordable, but the food is so good there you will over order because you want to taste everything. So that brings the bill up, but you have left overs to take home. And alcohol always inflates a bill, but just pricing the food alone, most here would be able to afford it. and you won't get in(most days) without a reservation unless you get in line at 5pm when the doors open(yes, a line actually forms out the door right at 5)

Posted 3 years ago #
parker624

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We ate at Lola's a few weeks ago. It was a Saturday night, just the 2 of us, probably around 8:30 or 9 PM. We were frustrated by the atmosphere and the food; the place is very small, and there were two tables close to ours with VERY LOUD people, like piss drunk, screaming in my ear loud. This made our experience very annoying. Also, they were out of a lot of the menu items, particularly almost all their non-meat dishes! I suppose we were there too late, but I was very dissapointed. I ended up getting baked ziti and it was delicious, but as that is something I cook at home often, it was not special. Additionally, the owners were very friendly to everyone in the restaurant except they completely ignored us. And it took forever to get our food.

Overall, I think the food was really tasty, but I'd try going at a different time if I ever go back.

Posted 3 years ago #
joev
Merion Village
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ChesterRock wrote >>
OMG... NO! Not Marcella's in the Short North, we went there the first month it was open. The pizza was LAME and everything was over priced. Probably one of the worst places I have ever eaten. Its just one of those "look at me type of places" It is a nice design and the service was good, but, the food is second rate!! Frozen pizza is better and cheaper!

I went early after they opened, too. And I would have agreed with you had I not returned. The food is actually priced pretty reasonably now, I think. The drinks are outrageous expensive. But the food is very good - pretty authentic, even.

Posted 3 years ago #
columbusfoodie
West Side
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Walker wrote >>

berdawn wrote >>
Trattoria Roma on Grandview Ave has a Monday special and GREAT deals on take out.

Anne & I just had this for dinner!
http://www.trattoria-roma.com/carryout.html
Lots of food (enough to stuff two people) for $22! Anne saved my salad for lunch tomorrow, so it was really like we got enough food for three people for that price. ;)
The pasta sauce is excellent. Slightly spicy with whole cloves of garlic. Meatballs were tasty. The tiramisu isn't the traditional variety. More of the cream served in a chocolate cup with a lady finger on the side with a sliced strawberry. VERY good.
All around it was a great meal and traveled well back home in the car. I was very happy with it. And after hitting up The Spaghetti Warehouse (my earlier recommendation for cheap Italian food) a few weeks ago and spending slightly more money there (but also getting drinks) I felt like the money spent at Trattoria Roma was very well worth it.
Side note: I spotted Ted Celeste dining on the patio when I ran in to pick up our order. Celebrity spotting at Trat-R! :D

+1 on the Trattoria Roma carryout special. We just got it based on your rec, and I'm absolutely stuffed. Here's some pics:

2 of these

plus 2 of these

plus this

and this

for $22. Cheap and good.

Posted 3 years ago #
Beebe
Clintonville/Beechwold
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I'm surprised no one has mentioned it but, Villa Nova in southern Worthington on Hight St. is great. They have a great happy hour and good prices on food along with tasty free bread sticks and one of the largest brass teapot collections ever!!!

Posted 3 years ago #
Patch
Schumacher Place
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ChesterRock wrote >>
Try the Tuscan Table in little Downtown Circleville, great home made Italian food and an incredible wine list.Nothing like it in Columbus!
the-tuscantable.com

holy crap, huge thank you for this suggestion. my wife had to work in circleville today, and after reading your suggestion she was able to get take out on her way home.

she couldn't be happier with the service, and the food was fantastic! i cant overstate, the lasagna was FANTASTIC! and HUGE! to get two servings of home made lasagna, a ceasar salad and home made bread sticks included for 10.95 is ridiculous.

thanks again!

Posted 3 years ago #
KSquared
Literally Hell
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Patch wrote >>

ChesterRock wrote >>
Try the Tuscan Table in little Downtown Circleville, great home made Italian food and an incredible wine list.Nothing like it in Columbus!
the-tuscantable.com

holy crap, huge thank you for this suggestion. my wife had to work in circleville today, and after reading your suggestion she was able to get take out on her way home.
she couldn't be happier with the service, and the food was fantastic! i cant overstate, the lasagna was FANTASTIC! and HUGE! to get two servings of home made lasagna, a ceasar salad and home made bread sticks included for 10.95 is ridiculous.
thanks again!

I'm thinking road trip :)

Posted 3 years ago #
Mercurius
First Avenue
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von wrote >>

Mercurius wrote >>
Cafe del Mondo used to be doing Thursday night dinners!
Regardless, their lunch is usually superb!

ALWAYS delicious! try the peach tea too...

Went for lunch today and they are still doing Thursday dinners, but only once a month. The next one is on October 15.

Posted 3 years ago #
L.I. to Buckeye
West side/Galloway
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I can't speak from personal experience, but if you're in the northern 'burbs, my parents rave about this place:

http://www.cardonesrestaurant.com/index.htm

They said it's owner is about 30 years old and everything is made from scratch. As for price (not listed on the website) mom and dad said it's incredibly reasonably priced, especially considering the quality.

Posted 3 years ago #
CMH Gourmand
(King of) the (Clinton)ville
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Cardone's is good but not 30 years old.

This place has excellent lasagna, located in downtown Westerville.

Pasquales Pasta House

http://www.pasqualespastahouse.com

Posted 3 years ago #
L.I. to Buckeye
West side/Galloway
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CMH Gourmand wrote >>
Cardone's is good but not 30 years old.
This place has excellent lasagna, located in downtown Westerville.
Pasquales Pasta House
http://www.pasqualespastahouse.com

Sorry, I meant the owner is young (around 30 years old--similar to may CUers), not the restaurant. I think it's been open for a couple of years, though, so it's not brand new.

I've eaten at Pasquale's (the 'rents live in Westerville). Not bad.

Posted 3 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Went to Butch's last night. They have two 1/2 off specials. Monday night is anything on the regular menu, 1/2 off with purchase of drink. They also have a regular 1/2 off menu with around 6-8 entrees at $6 or so for lunch and about $8 for dinner with soup and salad.

Posted 3 years ago #
jmak
Gahanna
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Beebe wrote >>
I'm surprised no one has mentioned it but, Villa Nova in southern Worthington on Hight St. is great. They have a great happy hour and good prices on food along with tasty free bread sticks and one of the largest brass teapot collections ever!!!

I second that - the gnocci is delicious!

Posted 3 years ago #
avariell
Around Town
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Can anyone confirm if Basi is still doing Meatball Mondays? (specifically 12/14)
Thanks!

Posted 3 years ago #
melissagiggles
just under the arches....short north
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joev wrote >>

ChesterRock wrote >>
OMG... NO! Not Marcella's in the Short North, we went there the first month it was open. The pizza was LAME and everything was over priced. Probably one of the worst places I have ever eaten. Its just one of those "look at me type of places" It is a nice design and the service was good, but, the food is second rate!! Frozen pizza is better and cheaper!

I went early after they opened, too. And I would have agreed with you had I not returned. The food is actually priced pretty reasonably now, I think. The drinks are outrageous expensive. But the food is very good - pretty authentic, even.

I crave the white anchovies ALL the time...I did get an order of them takeout, at the polaris location for lunch (since it's very close to my job)one time, and was pissed when I opened the box and discovered there were literally like 3 fishies with a ton of diced celery....ugh!! Therefore...I will NEVER go to the polaris location ever again.!

Posted 3 years ago #
hungrywoolf
Victorian Village
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avariell wrote >>
Can anyone confirm if Basi is still doing Meatball Mondays? (specifically 12/14)
Thanks!

Last I heard but probably best to call and check. 614 294 7383 - its generally best to make a reservation there so its probably worth calling anyway.

Posted 3 years ago #
avariell
Around Town
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hungrywoolf wrote >>

avariell wrote >>
Can anyone confirm if Basi is still doing Meatball Mondays? (specifically 12/14)
Thanks!

Last I heard but probably best to call and check. 614 294 7383 - its generally best to make a reservation there so its probably worth calling anyway.

Thanks!

Posted 3 years ago #