My partner and I have traveled extensively across the States--we love finding authentic ethnic restaurants. Being Italian myself, I am no stranger to fine Italian cuisine. After reading several good reviews about this establishment, my partner and I decided to drop in on a busy Saturday Night (July 19, 2008). Although the outside appearance of the building is somewhat drab--we decided to venture in. We were greeted by the owner's wife who was very pleasant and promptly seated at a cozy little wall table. The dining room was busy and the ambiance nice. The male server at our table had the personality of a wet sponge with absolutely no flair at all. With a robotic reading of specials from his notes, the waiter obviously had no formal training at a fine dining establishment. We ordered several items in order to test the waters. The house wine was delicious as was Mama Scali's Southern Italian wedding Zuppa ($3.25). From there it went down hill fast. The homemade bread brought to the table was obviously not baked the same day--and the house salads ordered with crumbled bleu cheese arrived with no bleu cheese and store bought Italian salad dressing. We ordered Ravioli Alla Florentine ($13.95); Breaded Veal Scallopine ($17.95); and Brascioli ($17.75). To begin, the tomatoe sauce was runny and flavorless--the ravioli served numbered only 6! with a crude goopy mozarella and spinach filling. The Veal was tender, but the breading absolutely bland--a far cry from the Southern Italian restaurants in Cleveland, Ohio. And the Brascioli...not bad, but not excellent either. So...there we were $75 later wondering why anyone would rave about this place? Although grandma Scali did make a brief appearance in the dining room, upon leaving, I noticed what appeared to be college students running the kitchen--I guess it's gotten to be too much for Mama Scali--and it shows.
more