KC Italian Restaurants Among Top 1000 in Country

[Beermo]

Has anyone been to La Sala's, by the way?  This place looked like it should be a kick-ass Italian deli, but as far as I could tell, they didn't even have an Italian sub on the menu.

Some other local Italian not mentioned yet...Mamma di Cucina in Brookside and Cafe al Dente in River Market.

I liked both fine on a single visit to each, but really haven't had enough food at either to form a real opinion.

la sala's ain't bad. they make these huge poor boy sandwiches. they're not bad. i usually get the italian steak and pasta. it's real good.

[DaveKCMO]

I'm mildly surprised Osteria Il Centro isn't on there. I've only eaten there once, but it was pretty damn good as I recall. Or maybe that was the bottle of Chianti...

for some reason, zagat didn't include il centro. i assume it's because they haven't received enough (or any) responses to give a rating. i'd say that it would earn a 22 or 23 at least, which is in brio/cupini's/garozzo's/lydia's territory. maybe you should become a member and submit a review?

http://www.zagat.com/

[FangKC]

Most of the old Italian community is concentrated in Columbus Park and Pendleton Heights, but I acknowledge that over time it's become scattered.  Columbus Park used to be referred to as Little Italy.

[IraGlacialis]

There isn't much 'communal' left to the KC Italian community it seems.  Probably got ripped apart from suburban sprawl and the 70's infighting.

That's the case with most new economy cities though where newer generations of American generica become independent with less of a townie demeanor and less self-identification to the Old World.   Same with Jewish, Irish and other Euro communities in KC that once existed.  They are now dispersed around suburbia and view themselves more as Americans than a descendant of the Old World.

Exactly.
When a cultural community gets dilluted or scattered, there is no apparent demand to have businesses that cater to culture.
Sure you will have some exception to that rule. But that's what they are: exceptions.

[mean]

There isn't much 'communal' left to the KC Italian community it seems.  Probably got ripped apart from suburban sprawl and the 70's infighting.

Yeah, blow up a couple night clubs and fuggetaboutit.

[Angel]

try something else.

the "frank sinatra" sandwich is frikkin' awesome. best fettucine alfredo i've ever had.

Their alfredo sauce is the best I've ever had besides a little hole-in-the wall place in Vegas.  Their stuffed artichoke is pretty awesome, too.  The only Garozzo's that I like to go to, though, is the one downtown. 

[GRID]

What the hell kind of list is the "top 1000"?

stupid.

[QueSi2Opie]

Cigar Box and Anthony's! 

[WSPanic]

Anyone been to La Sala's since the remodel?

I guess they have more room for seating, it's more efficient, etc. But, the old-school atmosphere is gone. Have to say I'm a bit disappointed. It's still a great downtown sandwich option, but not the same as it was.

[kboish]

It also changed hands. No longer with the original owners family. I haven't tried it yet.

[WSPanic]

Menu seemed about the same. And it also appears they have stopped microwaving a lot of things. Could be good overall.

Definitely a lot of the same employees from the past several years still work there. Honestly never knew anything about ownership. Interesting....

[taxi]

The new owner told me the first thing he did was throw away the microwave.
He cares a lot about the food and is slowly making changes and plans to eventually change the name.
Expect slow but major improvements.