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Giorlando's
Metairie 2: Orleans Line To Houma Blvd: 741 Bonnabel. 504-835-8593. Map.
Casual.
AE DC DS MC V
Website
WHY IT'S NOTEWORTHY
After establishing itself as a maker of excellent poor boys for decades, Giorlando's has grown into a full-service neighborhood restaurant, comparable to the great neighborhood eateries like Mandina's. The menu focuses on seafood and Italian dishes, but it heads off in other directions, particularly in the daily specials. And the poor boys remain as good as ever.
WHAT'S GOOD
Despite the upscale move, Giorlando's makes no claim beyond that of cooking good, basic New Orleans style eats. It's prepared to order when frying is involved, and served more generously than you or I really need. The Italian cooking would suit the palate of a child--but most of us never got over our taste for smooth, slightly sweet red sauces.
BACKSTORY
Giorlando's opened in 1972 as a self-service poor boy shop called the Triple Crown. It kept busy at that endeavor until the hurricane. Then John Giorlando--who took over the restaurant from his father earlier that year--embarked upon a slow but steady program of expansion, both of the facility and the menu. The place has become a full-fledged neighborhood restaurant with table service, wine, and dinner every night.
DINING ROOM
It looks much nicer inside than the utilitarian exterior suggests. It's decidedly casual, but comfortable enough that it feels like you've gone out to eat, not just grabbed a bite. A surplus of windows adds to the spaciousness. Service may strike some as a little slow, but it's in line with the cook-to-order food.
ESSENTIAL DISHES
Starters
Onion rings
Cheese and gravy fries
»Fried calamari
»Eggplant sticks
Shrimp, artichoke and spinach bread
Spinach artichoke dip
Dinner salad
»Italian salad
Blackened chicken salad
Shrimp or fish salad
House salad
Caesar salad
Chicken club salad
»Shrimp, bacon and avocado salad
Entrees
»Meatballs and spaghetti
»Lasagna
Chicken, shrimp and sausage pasta, tomato basil sauce, penne
Shrimp or crawfish ravioli
»Mama G's eggplant, angel hair pasta shrimp au gratin sauce
Shrimp or crawfish fettucini
»Italian sausage and spaghetti
Beef round cutlet and spaghetti
»Chicken alfredo, fettuccine
Grilled chicken tomato basil pasta
Ribeye steak
Hamburger steak
»Eggplant, chicken, or beef round parmigiana
Cheese ravioli
Stuffed crab dinner
Shrimp or crawfish etouffe
»Fried shrimp or oyster dinner
Fried fish dinner
Seafood platter
Cutlet
»Grilled or blackened shrimp
Sandwiches
»Muffuletta
Poor boys:
»»Roast beef
»Meatball
Barbecue beef
Club
»Fried oyster, fish or shrimp
»Blackened or grilled chicken
Hamburger
Turkey
Ham
»Hot sausage
»Italian sausage
Stuffed crab
Beef round cutlet
Fried potato
Desserts
»Banana and white chocolate bread pudding
Chocolate mousse cake
»Cannoli
»Bananas Foster cheesecake
Plain cheesecake
Lemon drop cheesecake
Chocolate lava cake
Chocolate or vanilla ice cream
FOR BEST RESULTS
You will not be insulting the management by getting a roast beef poor boy. It's always been in the ninety-ninth percentile. Sometimes a crush of business at the peak of lunchtime slows things down. They automatically heat the well-stacked muffuletta, but it's better not heated.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
If they would toss the pasta with its sauce, the many dishes involving spaghetti would be twice as good.
FACTORS OTHER THAN FOOD
Up to three points, positive or negative, for these characteristics. Absence of points denotes average performance in the matter.
- Dining Environment
- Consistency +2
- Service+1
- Value +3
- Attitude +2
- Wine & Bar
- Hipness -1
- Local Color +2
SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES
- Good for business meetings
- Open Monday lunch and dinner
- Open all afternoon
- Unusually large servings
- Quick, good meal
- Good for children
- Easy, nearby parking
