402912 Fri May 18 13:28:57 -0700 2007 6 2 Los Angeles Area 0 2582264 I was driving by the Monterey Park Hong Kong Supermarket when I noticed the "Grand Opening" sign over the space occupied for many years by Luk Yue noodle house, and more recently A C C Noodle. Quickly turning from the left lane into the parking lot I saw the sign "Red Tomato Spaghetti House" also with Chinese characters. Walking into the restaurant I thought this might be the next step in the evolution of Hong Kong style cafes, a Chinese style spaghetti house akin to the Japanese spaghetti places in Gardena. However, while the restaurant is totally staffed by Chinese employees, the owner assured me that they were not serving bastardized Italian food, but the real thing, and based on my first meal there I tend to agree. Off the blackboard special I had the farfalle with crab meat and corn. (Not sure if I've heard of that combination before.) It was very good and compared favorably to my favorite farfalle at Farfalla. Also tried a couple of appetizers--chicken quesidillas and smoked salmon carpaccio. Both were quite good and there was nothing to indicate any Chinese influence. On top of everything, the prices at Red Tomato are extremely reasonable. Entrees are $6.95 and $7.95 at lunch, two dollars more at dinner, appetizers are $4.95 to $6.95, and the portions are quite generous. The owner indicates she is trying to create an authentic local Italian food alternative in Monterey Park so people don't have to travel to Pasadena or elsewhere. She also emphasized that they make their own sauces. I think the only concessions to the Asian populace are the ability to substitute Japanese tofu pasta for wheat pasta, a handful of non-Italian dishes (e.g., Hainan chicken), a large dispenser of home brewed chrysanthemum tea, and pricing competitive to the local Chinese restaurants. Fri May 18 13:28:57 -0700 2007 10131 Chandavkl 1 2584736 Forgot to mention the address--125 N. Garfield. Also due to the shortage of parking in the front part of the Hong Kong Supermarket parking lot, they'll bring your take out order to your car if you call them up when you arrive. Sat May 19 14:58:49 -0700 2007 2582264 10131 Chandavkl 2 2584857 What were some of the other items on the menu? Sat May 19 16:13:01 -0700 2007 2584736 10599 Neta 3 2586078 Fairly standard pasta selection--lingune with clams, fettucine alfredo, lasagna, ravioli, spaghetti bolognese, about 15 choices in all. I'm curious about their daily blackboard items since the farfalle dish was so good. Sun May 20 10:57:20 -0700 2007 2584857 10131 Chandavkl 1 2584919 Sounds interesting .. I will def try when I'm in the area.. but Im kinda sad about Luk Yue .. I grew up eating there! Sat May 19 16:50:44 -0700 2007 2582264 58442 karynx78 1 2585311 I walked by this place today and from the looks of the menu, it looks like it offers the same (or very similar) fare as Savoy Kitchen, no? Sat May 19 21:02:39 -0700 2007 2582264 11583 ipsedixit 2 2585424 There's some overlap in the menu (pasta, Hainan chicken). But Savoy has a Chinese influence on its Italian dishes that I don't think is present at Red Tomato. And Red Tomato doesn't have pizza. Sat May 19 22:43:32 -0700 2007 2585311 10131 Chandavkl