Pasta Fair Eggplant wedge replacement - New Haven CT area

[JoBear]

Hi All,
The eggplant wedge I used to get at Pasta Fair in West Haven CT was the best I have had anywhere! The eggplant was thinly sliced and cooked to perfection. It was piled up and served on a crispy-on-the-outside, soft-and-chewy-on-the-inside grinder roll, all coated with great sauce and cheese. It was sublime! Alas they are now closed - has anyone come across a great eggplant wedge in the same area?

Thanks!

[cheereeo]

JoBear, if you are willing to go on a little hunt, try Mattei's Deli & Catering in Derby CT on Roosevelt Drive (Route 34). It isn't a horrible drive. People at my work rave about their eggplant and all the I-talians order it for their family dinners--paper thin, but I always wonder about the bread--that is so key, isn't it? I don't like soggy eggplant grinders. www.matteideliandcatering.com

A little further, give Gaetano's in Stratford a try. I cannot personally vouch for his eggplant specifically, but his stuff (fresh mozz, rabe, meats) are truly authentic, and he uses genuine Arthur Ave crusty bread www.gaetanosdeli.com - The "John Wayne" sounds incredible but no red sauce but he does have traditional parmigiana too!

You be our taste-tester ;-) and report back of course!

[harrie]

I can vouch for Mattei's -- absolutely love their egg parm grinder, which they'll do on a hard or Portuguese roll, too. I don't know where they get the grinder rolls, but the hard rolls are always fresh. They do a robust catering business. Try the meatballs, too, they're awesome; the hubby and I have debated whose meatballs are better, Mattei's or Roseland's. And they do a very nice chicken cutlet or chicken parm sandwich, too. When you come down to it, Mattei's does everything really, really well; I don't think I've had anything bad from there and have been going for close to 20 years.

I don't see how Gaetano's could make a bad eggplant parm based on the couple of non-eggplant sandwiches I've had from there; they do a nice job.

[JoBear]

Cheereeo, thanks for the reccommendations. I still haven't had a chance to get down to Mattei's, but it is in the plan!!! And I will supply a full report....

[bagelman01]

JoBear,
If you feel like taking a drive, Pasta Fair's other location on RT 1 Norwalk at the Darien Line is still open.

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Pasta Fair
690 Connecticut Ave, Norwalk, CT 06854

[louuuuu]

Have passed Pasta Fair on the Post Rd. countless times but my hound bones always dismissed it as Olive Garden time. Right? Or worth a visit?

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Pasta Fair
690 Connecticut Ave, Norwalk, CT 06854

[bagelman01]

Definitely not Olive Garden chain garbage. Good quality Italian (Neopolitan), no haute cuisine, good size portion, over the top decorations, statues, railings, etc. Good value for the money, good for families, not a date location.

[JoBear]

Thanks bagelman for the suggestion of the Norwalk location - I am not down that way very often, but it is now on my radar screen!

[cheereeo]

JoBear, I had to tell you, yesterday, my work had a catered party from Mattei's with a tray of eggplant--so awesome--among other items. I am told that they slice on their meat slicer and it looks the long way as there were no seeds and paper thin, not a ton of sauce. It has to be one of the best egglplant parms I've ever had. Cooked the true way, with parmesan only, very little mozz, just on the top. Sure their sandwiches are just as great.

[triggs73]

Grand Apizza on Grand Ave makes great eggplant parm!

[hungrykids]

My SO used to swear by the eggplant grinder at Sorrento's in Hamden. We haven't been there in years (since we moved to Ffld Cty) so I don't know if it's still wonderful. And we never went to Pasta Fair, so I can't compare. But if you're in Hamden, it might be worth a try.

[JoBear]

Tried Sorrento's eggplant parm grinder - mediocre at best. The roll was a little thin and the sauce not too exciting...but thanks for the suggestion! I will continue the search!

[hungrykids]

so sorry to hear that....either they've really gone down in quality or my SO has lousy taste in eggplant grinders! (it's 50/50...i don't like eggplant grinders so i never tried one there)

good luck with your search and sorry to have sent you astray

[ratbuddy]

What is it, just a triangle cut grinder?

[cheereeo]

I think wedge is just another word for grinder, hoagie, sub, and so on. . . How many different ways can you call a sangweech a sandwich.

[cheereeo]

Never knew there was a Pasta Fair in West Haven.

[bagelman01]

You're right, only in Orange and Norwalk/New Canaan line on RT1

[triggs73]

Orange/West haven vicinity

[JoBear]

Sorry - it was in Orange - I can never remember where that town line is. And it was a mammoth grinder/hoagie/sub or "wedge" as they called it. Anyway - any suggestions???