You can’t possible create passionate art without taking in the proper fuel. It might take visiting the museum to see the latest images created by other artists, it might take a taste of the grape provided by Wine Walk or it might take the right music to make your muse come out and play. Or maybe you need more tangible fuel.
It is a unique circumstance that in our community the three best restaurants are all Italian. There are those who swear by Benetti’s, there are others who will swear with equal fervor that it is Ciccarelli’s, but for me it was always Mama Mia’s.
Now sadly that fine restaurant is gone, but the man behind it has come to our rescue and opened Little Italy in the heart of old downtown Coos Bay.
Little Italy is located at 160 2nd Street just catty-corner from Checkerberry’s. The restaurant is in a beautiful vintage building and the dinning room is elevated so the view is unobstructed and the street noise is minimized.
But that would mean nothing if the food were not brilliant. Fortunately, it is every bit as good as the setting. The room is so cozy with the electric fireplace giving a hint of Norman Rockwell and the bar looking like at any moment Hemingway ought to saunter up and order a Campari and soda. Plan to linger, once you start t will take iron discipline to push away from the table.
Life is short, eat desert first and it should be the tiramisu. This treasure of tastes and textures will ruin your ambition for the rest of the afternoon. Take the time, it is well worth it. Have a coffee, have an espresso or a cappuccino if you are brave enough, but be prepared Italians like there coffee black and strong. This is stuff for the brave or the cold or maybe both.
Once you’ve ruined your girlish figure, order something to cleanse the palette, Mozzarella Carrozza a delightful fried patty of mozzarella cheese with Little Italy’s special red sauce, I won’t call it marinara, that’s what you get in a jar from Ragu, will make you wonder how you made it so far in life without tasting this.
But once that is done the huge problems looms large. What to have for an entrée?
Caesar salad, which was invented in Mexico, but by an Italian, always serves and the Little Italy version is particularly good. Try it nude or dress it up with chicken or jumbo shrimp.
Paninis are Italy’s own special type of grilled sandwich and the Little Italy Cuban sandwich is one of the best, light and very complex, so all of the flavors have a chance to shine.
If a light lunch isn’t what you had in mind try the Manicotti Venetian spinach heaven in cream sauce, the AMA be damned or Sea Bass Maximo if you must be heart healthy. Besides we’re a coastal town, sea food is sort of required.
I could go on, but this is not something you should read about. This is one of those things you need to experience for yourself.
So plan a long lunch or do it right, get the slinkiest girl you can find, put her in the flashiest dress she owns and try to stay out of the way when you take her to diner at Little Italy. The mood will be right, the food will be wonderful, the service attentive without being intrusive so you’ll have a chance to work out the rest of the plans for the evening, now if that doesn’t inspire you, you seriously need to have a word with your doctor!
Little Italy squisito, mille gratzie
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