236353 Thu May 10 09:54:34 -0700 2001 13 19 Outer Boroughs 0 1253091 Drove to Ridgewood with a friend and sought out this mom-and-pop Italian based on a recommendation by another chowhound on this board. I hadn't realized there was an Italian enclave tucked into the center of Ridgewood. Incredible. Leafy, quiet streets, old bakeries and a cool-looking pork store, and then this small restaurant. It's a pizza place during the day, with an oven and flourescent lights apparently. The lights are turned off and replaced my more atmospheric incandescent ones in the evening, and waiter service begins. Nearly everything we had was top-quality without trying to impress. The large antipasto was the only item that was just standard. Definitely made when we ordered (everything took a little while), though, and perfectly fine: salami, provolone, peppers, onions, lettuce and tomato. Then we had "mannarino" bread (if I'm spelling it correctly), which was basically garlic bread with a little grated cheese on top and anchovies. Delicious, very salty, and a huge portion for $2.25. We also ordered a special app from the board on the wall: eggplant and mushrooms, which came refreshingly non-oily (I like oil, but this made it more special) with many chunks of crispy garlic on top, shaved parmesan, and a little oregano. Great ingredients and seriously good. I tried to get the bucatini con sarde e finnochi, but they were out, so I trepidatiously ordered linguini with white clam sauce. I was scared they might use canned clams. I was wrong. They were beautifully fresh, with huge chunks of garlic and just the right amount of olive oil. The linguini was perfect, reminding me just how hard it is to get pasta timed right for serving at the table. My friend had spaghetti with meat sauce with sides of meatballs ($2.00) and sausage ($2.00). The sausage was delicious: long and skinny, packed with minty fennel, with a dollop of sweet tomato sauce over them. Maybe from the pork store down the road? The meatballs were veal and light and airy. We drank two carafes of their house wine, served chilled, which complemented the food perfectly. None of our dishes was more than $10. The other customers were all local, with a couple straight of the Sopranos. Outside, old guys were sitting on steps (from before our meal to after it) talking. It's a fascinating neighborhood and I intend to return. Btw, it's at 66-63 Forest Ave. Driving from Manhattan, take the Williamsburg Bridge to Metropolitan Ave. into Queens, drive about 8 blocks to Forest, make a right, and drive another 10 blocks or so. Even easier: there's a station right next to the restaurant on the little-used M line. Patrick Thu May 10 09:54:34 -0700 2001 0 Patrick A. 1 1253093 Joe's is the site of the infamous Carmine Galante shooting. Remember the picture of him laying there dead with stogie still in his mouth. I'm almost positive that was in the rear garden of Joes. Its like Jimmy Breslin used to say: the best publicity for a restaurant is a mob killing. Everyone assumes if mobsters go there, it must be good. I don't necessarily agree with this logic but it seems to help business. Thu May 10 10:30:09 -0700 2001 1253091 0 Wannabe 2 1253095 Galante was shot elsewhere-the place is now a dry cleaners. And, everything at Joe's is riddled with instant garlic in oil-the type that takeout Chinese joints use. The place looks and feels like it should be terrific, but the food is very ordinary to bad. That instant garlic just kills any goodness. Thu May 10 10:53:26 -0700 2001 1253093 0 Chris Canizzaro 3 1253102 SO not instant garlic in oil. Everything was extremely fresh. Patrick Thu May 10 13:27:12 -0700 2001 1253095 0 Patrick A. 4 1253110 You must not be Italian. Sorry, I'm sure that comment will be met with torrents of "you don't have to be Italian to know fresh food" comments, but, if you still think they use fresh garlic, you're still wrong. Thu May 10 18:50:16 -0700 2001 1253102 0 Chris Cannizaro 5 1253112 umm... I was there with an Italian friend who's an excellent cook, and yes, we both are quite familiar with fresh garlic. You are quite an insulting guy! Patrick Thu May 10 18:56:28 -0700 2001 1253110 0 Patrick A. 6 1253113 Guys, can we move past this, please? You've both registered your opinions, that's enough. And as Patrick says, Chris, your tone is entirely innappropriate for a jolly discussion of food. Please take a deep breath, think of something really delicious, and post something friendly somewhere. ciao Thu May 10 19:02:23 -0700 2001 1253112 0 Jim Leff 7 1253240 the service was terrible. The food was decent if unspectacular. We were a party of 3 and we didn't have reservations, which to me me seemed to bother the staff. Well, they managed to "squeeze" us in, even though it was not crowded. Once we were seated, we got the big freeze. Imagine getting the freeze in a joint the size of a shoebox. Two waiters dashing here and there to service about 10 tables, but we waited about 15 minutes for water and then another 10 minutes for butter and then 3 minutes for a waiter and then another 2 minutes for bread. We would have left but we drove around for 20 minutes for parking and were just plain HUNGRY. Long story short, the food was at best mediocre---although baked clams were big and tasty and eggplant parm decent, the antipasto was ordinary and service just so awful---we skipped espresso and dessert because we figured it would take at least another 45 minutes. Guess you got to know someone there and even if I did, I don't see the attraction. The people waiting for a table there amaze me. I wished we went to Portofino in Forest Hills. Always a great meal, great service and always a whole lot better than Joe's. Sat May 19 01:40:00 -0700 2001 1253113 0 Mark 1 1253096 Oh boy. I just spent the last three years of my life living in Ridgewood (don't even ask--I moved here with only a vague concept of distances, neighborhoods etc.) and there's nothing on God's green earth that could get me back there. Not Joe's, not Niederstein's and not Fortunata's (I think those are the only three Ridgewood restaurants [Niederstein's is technically Middle Village] I've ever heard mentioned in the real world). Those years of being surrounded by Burger King, Duncan Donuts and bad pizza have scarred me for life, so excuse my bias. I just can't believe that there's anything worth eating in Ridgewood (except for the Italian goodies at Catania Bakery and meats at Karl Ehmer across the street). I'm not up on my mobster lore, but there does seem to be an inordinate number of Sopranos lookalikes hanging out in men-only cafes in the area. And if you've ever watched the cinema masterpiece, "Jerky Boys," (which combines stupid pranks with the mob) you'll have seen Ridgewood on film. It ain't pretty... The peculiar thing is that while I moved miles south into Brooklyn last week, I'm still suspiciously on the "little-used M line." It must be a curse. Thu May 10 11:17:49 -0700 2001 1253091 0 Krista G. 2 1253111 There is a terrific Sicilian butcher shop on Fresh Pond Road just north of Metroplitan, but you're right, Middle Village is not a pretty place. It was at one time an upscale place to move for folks from Williamsburg (including some of my relatives), but it retains very little in the way of old world anything. And Joe's is just awful. Thu May 10 18:54:30 -0700 2001 1253096 0 Chris Cannizaro 2 1253118 If you didn't like it here, I'm glad you left. But others shouldn't be misled: Ridgewood is one of NYC's most dynamic 'hoods (and no, I'm not a native of the area). Actually, it's very Old World, retaining a 1950s working-class charm in a fully integrated environment that most yups can't understand; that's why I like living here. Chow possibilities in the immediate vicinity are somewhat limited, but pizza is one of the exceptions--this is one of the last 'hoods left where most joints produce edible pie. And western Queens is the most central location in New York City; I can get anywhere in 15 to 20 minutes. Which means if you're willing to travel for your chow (Roosevelt Avenue is 10 minutes by car), places are more accessible from here than others. I could go on, but I just wanted to clear that up for any non-yuppie chowhounds with an open mind who might be interested in settling here some day. Take it or leave it. Fri May 11 11:47:29 -0700 2001 1253096 0 citykid 3 1253133 I didn't realize a low tolerance for old world charm made one a YUPPIE (do people even still use that word?) Anyway, Ridgewood is appealing in its own quiet way. But if you're not a senior citizen, raising a family, or own a car (60 min. to midtown by subway is not centrally located), it doesn't have much to offer. But the point here is supposed to be food, so let me get back to my quiche and chardonnay... Fri May 11 17:01:22 -0700 2001 1253118 0 Krista G. 1 1253242 all i can say is that if anyone thinks this restaurant has great italian food you are either not italian , a family member or just don't get out very much. as far as rating this place i would say on a scale of 1-10 i would give it a 1 , and that is only because they served you soda in a can. ciao Sat May 19 11:22:30 -0700 2001 1253091 0 scavooch 2 1253243 I love soda in a can. Sat May 19 15:37:55 -0700 2001 1253242 0 mark