Reginella opening this weekend

6 Responses to Reginella opening this weekend

1. 

   laurie January 15, 2009 at 2:47 pm #

   We stopped in the night after they opened to check it out. I was expecting it to be more of a “formal” sit-down restaurant, but it’s really just a take out place with cafe tables. We ordered the green bean salad, baked rice and the ziti with eggplant.

   First of all, the server behind the counter spoke no english. Another guy had to keep translating for her and pointing to what we were asking for. So we get our tray of food, grab some sodas out of the deli-fridge, pay the cashier and sit down at a table to eat. The green bean salad was ok, but there was way too much oil on it. It was drowning in oil. The rice and the pasta were cold. Not luke warm, but ice cold. I brought both plates back up to the counter and asked them to please heat it up, which they were happy to do. Unfortunately, when they brought it back it was still only warm. The ziti with eggplant was fine, even if it wasn’t hot – it was pretty generic, not something I’d want again unless nothing else was open – but the baked rice was inedible and it had a crust on top of it (cheese i believe) that had hardened to the point of no return – no amount of reheating was going to revive that rice dish.

   Everyone was very friendly, and they seem to really WANT to please you, including the manager, who was very apologetic about the cold food, etc – but good service doesn’t excuse barely mediocre food. I don’t think they’ll solve the cold food problem unless they change the layout of the space since the hot food is placed closest to the front door and the steam trays the food is kept in need to be a whole lot hotter to compete with the winter cold just a few feet away. Then, of course, you run the risk of it being hot enough – but also dried out, which is what happens to pasta and rice that’s sitting out like thet for hours.

   We didn’t try the pizza and perhaps it’s better than the pasta dishes, but between My Little Pizzeria and MontyQ’s nearby for slices and La Pizzetta up the street for pies (and ambience), I don’t see Reginella becoming my go-to pizza joint.

   I’m willing to try them again in a few months, once they’ve ironed out all the kinks (if they last that long), but so far they aren’t off to a great start.
2. 

   Jeffrey January 16, 2009 at 5:35 pm #

   My experience at Reginella was QUITE different than Laurie’s.

   Upon entering this Italian Kitchen, my nose was greeted with mouth-watering fragrances. A very kind gentleman with an Italian accent welcomed me, invited me in and encouraged me to try some of his delicious food- the same way my Grandmother does when I arrive to her house.

   I only tried the pizza, but that was all I needed. From the first bite of the sausage and mushroom pizza, I knew that this was no ordinary “pizza joint.” The crust was flavorful and crisp- but not crunchy and chewy like at other nearby establishments. The ingredients were so fresh- the basil, the cheeses… Delicious! I couldn’t help going back for a second and then a third slice.

   I found the atmosphere and the waitsaff to be quite charming and enjoyable.

   If you want a gourmet experience, then maybe try Savoia or some place similar. But if you want gourmet flavor at Italian Kitchen prices, then look no further than Reginella. I will return again and again.
3. 

   laurie January 16, 2009 at 8:07 pm #

   I’m glad to hear that Jeffrey had a better experience than I did. I WANT them to succeed. I want every new place to succeed – even the ones I don’t like! The neighborhood deserves thriving businesses and even a failed business owner usually works his/her a** off. As I said, we didn’t try the pizza – and if it’s really good, we’d certainly return. I wasn’t looking for a gourmet experience. The ornate signage simply set a different expectation from what it actually is. I love a good slice and the ambience is not really important to me if the food is good. Unfortunately, the food that WE had wasn’t that good. Perhaps I’ll stop in there this weekend for a slice and see how it compares. At the very least, I assume it will be hotter than the food from the not-so-steamy trays. If things are drastically different in there when I go back, I’ll be happy to say so.

   Now… does anyone have an update on what’s happening with the old TV repair shop on Henry between Atlantic & Clinton?
4. 

   laurie January 19, 2009 at 10:49 am #

   As promised, here’s my “review” of the pizza, which I stopped in for on Saturday afternoon. It was good. Not great – but pizza is a personal thing. Everyone has there own thoughts on what makes a great slice. Reginella’s pizza was fresh and hot but a little too sweet for my liking. The crust was good – just the right amount of doughy and flaky. I had a plain slice. Looking at the pies in the case, it seems they don’t skimp on the toppings, which is laudable. I applaud their very even cheese distribution – it was not gloppy at all and not too greasy. Would I return for another slice? Yes, probably. Is it the best slice I’ve ever had in the neighborhood? No. And the real problem is that when I have a slice, I really want a fountain soda to go with it. Bottles and cans just don’t work for me with a slice. Their lack of a fountain means I’ll most likely stick with My Little Pizzeria for a quick slice, but I won’t forsake Reginella forever.
5. 

   david January 28, 2009 at 2:47 pm #

   I agree with laurie’s pizza review. It was good, passable even. However, I didn’t like the canned olives on the pizza but I can give them a pass on that. On the other hand, I prefer cans over fountain soda, so for that reason, I may order their pizza again over another place.
6. 

   Teddie Boy Eddie January 29, 2009 at 11:39 am #

   I stopped in last night. It was just OK. The people who work there are very friendly, which goes a long way.

   Does anyone else think Jeffrey above works there or is a part owner?