Acra and Cairo
Given my user name (I picked it off the top of my head when registering as a member on Chowhound, but Jack "Legs" Diamond was...I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit...a childhood "hero" to me then; now, as an adult, he's an interesting historical figure-- his old house is still standing, was recently for sale, and I was able to take a "tour" through it, which was fascinating...but I digress...), this is an area of upstate NY that I'm always pleased to visit, although I haven't had much experience with the restaurants of the area.
Anything worth eating in Acra? I noticed next to the house that once belonged to Diamond (across the street from the local Elks club) was a motel with what seemed to be a pizzeria attached. I'm suspecting it was (is) nothing special, but maybe I shouldn't comment, since I didn't actually try it. I did eat in a restaurant going in the other direction up the hill (towards Windham?) that had a magnificent view, but was only ok so far as food went (the name escapes me).
I also ate at an Italian place in Cairo approximately 10 years ago (I'm pretty sure it no longer exists) that was decidedly mediocre, with poor, unfriendly service.. I ate there because the structure of the building looked old, and I thought it might actually be the erstwhile Aratoga Inn (where Diamond was shot down once, non-fatally). In retrospect, I don't think it was the Aratoga Inn (I suspect the structure of the Aratoga is no longer standing, but if anybody knows where it once stood, I'd be interested in knowing). Also ate once at a fast food Chinese place, which...perhaps needless to say...was eminently forgettable. Anything there worth checking out currently? Any decent Italian in the area?
(For those interested in Diamond, there is of course William Kennedy's excellent historical novel "Legs" as well as a new biography entitled "Legs Diamond Gangster" by Pat Downey.)
