Tutto Pasta Cucina Italiana. Epic name for an equally epic restaurant. I'm talking about the original, teeny-tiny corner eatery in downtown Madison, a few short blocks from the capitol. The very first time I ate here with my family, they let me make my very own dish. Ok, they let me add salmon to my four cheese pasta, BUT from that fateful day forward...salmon+cheesex4=happy erin.
I have admittedly built Tutto Pasta up in my mind a bit since I moved away. In my memory, the waiters were ALL ITALIAN-ALL WEARING SOCCER JERSEYS-AND ALL-BEEFCAKE. I went back with TBB this winter and I was seriously disappointed to see nary a soccer jersey. So much so, that I questioned my waiter and he confirmed that yes, the waiters did used to don soccer jerseys. He avoided the beefcake question, but as he left he winked, so I think that means he knew what I was referring to...
The bread is delicious and abundant, the drinks strong, the proportions daunting and the prices reasonable. I highly suggest this restaurant if you're in the Madison area and understandably conflicted with all the great food choices down there around 'them there college kids'. Inside, it's what I imagine a real semi-gritty Italian eatery would be like: narrow, dimly lit, loud and extremely packed with people.
I have great memories here as eating here usually preceded some kind of fun outing around State Street. Alas, at my last visit I tried my usual dish and was disappointed. But maybe that is life's way of letting me know that while I can cherish and appreciate some traditions, a little change now and then can't hurt. It might even taste better than four-cheese-salmon-pasta.
8. I HAVE MANY HAPPY MEMORIES AT THIS RESTAURANT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY ALIKE. I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING FUTURE FRIENDS AND FAMILY HERE TO (HOPEFULLY) ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS I DO.
No comments:
Post a Comment