Gallaria Umberto: did they change the arancini?

[kimfair1]

The wife and I went to Umberto's Saturday to get our post July vacation fix, and we both noticed that the arancini we had had a much spicier sauce inside. This is not a dig, it was great, better than usual, but we were wondering if anyone else noticed, or if it was just a fluke. As for prices (someone had asked) they did NOT go up this year. I had thought the pizza went up (I thought it was $1.35 before July, $1.45 on reopening) but we always get the same order, and it came out to the same amount it always does, so the prices have not changed.

[Gordough]

"but we always get the same order"

Mind sharing your go to order?

[kimfair1]

First off let me start by saying I'm a large guy who loves to eat! My wife is petite, but can put it away as well, AND, we generally eat this one big meal on the days we go there (no breakfast either since it's a lot of food!). For dinner Sat night for example we had a bowl of gazpacho and split half of a Clear Flour baguette.

Our standard order:

2 arancini (one each)
1 ricotta/ham/salami calzone (to split)
1 Paninni (to split)
1 Panzarotti (to split)
1 slice (for me)
1 lemon iced tea
1 Italian mineral water

total cost $18.30 (which it has been for the past 2-3 years).

[laura jean]

Are there variations/flavor choices for the arancini, panini or panzarotti? I'll eat anything, but I'm just curious how it work at GU.

I've never been and am hoping to make a trip there this Friday. Thanks!

[Allstonian]

No, the only item that comes in several varieties is the calzone: spinach; spinach & cheese; spinach, sausage & cheese; and the above-mentioned ricotta, ham & salami. Everything else just is what it is.

[maillard]

So the spinach calzone doesn't have cheese? It's just spinach? How is it? I was wondering about this last time I was there...

[StriperGuy]

You can get the following calzone and all are great:

- Plain spinach
- Spinach and chees
- Spinach sausauge and cheese

There are even a few other options.

[Jenny Ondioline]

Also, the panini is salami, ham and cheese, with sesame seeds on the crust. It's like what a Hot Pocket aspires to be, and I mean that as a compliment. Be warned, however, that it's a total salt bomb.

All the years I've been going to Umberto, I've never had the pizzette. It looks like a bialy topped with sauce and a slice of cheese: is that more or less what it is?

[kimfair1]

Yeah, it's the one item on the menu I don't like. The bread is more roll than bialy, though. It has the same meat/peas/sauce combo that the arancini have, except that the cheese is laid over it all like a blanket. Over the 30 years I've been going to GU, I've honed my order to the one above. I've tried everything at least twice on the menu, but the pizzette only twice.

Laura Jean - the arancini are orange sized rice balls with meat/sauce/cheese/and peas inside. The panzarotti are herbed mashed potato with a log of mozzarella down the center, and the panini is rolled ham,salami, and cheese baked inside a sesame seeded roll. As Allstonian noted, only the calzone come in different varieties. Also the pizza is cheese and sauce only, no other toppings.

If anyone who has gotten the arancini before gets one now, please let me know if you think it's spicier (again, it was a good thing - the best one I've ever had there - except for the first one!).

[lc02139]

I had one last Friday and it seemed the same as before. It's my favorite thing on the menu.

[baconodka]

had one last monday and it was the same as always. 1 potato, 1 rice, 1 slice and no dinner is necessary.

[kimfair1]

This is so weird. Again, if I have one sniggling complaint about the arancini (the main reason we go to GU) is that it can be a bit bland at times (I usually add a little salt and pepper and it's fine), but both of ours seemed a bit spicier this time. Again, no complaints it was great, and if it was just a fluke it will be fine to go back to the old way, but it was slightly different.