Restaurant pasta nights: Fill up for little money
Quick Summary
These 10 restaurants in Nassau and Suffolk host weekly pasta nights.
Photo credit: Bruce Gilbert | Spaghetti and meatballs at Louie's Pizzeria in Carle Place, where Mondays through Wednesdays are pasta nights (Oct. 28, 2009)
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Do you pine for penne, long for lasagna or crave capellini? Chances are, you're ripe for pasta night, a phenomenon spreading across Long Island like marinara on macaroni. In fact, if it's Monday (or Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday), it's probably pasta night somewhere near you.
While Italian restaurants do most of the spaghetti slinging, they're not the only ones with bargain-priced, carb-centric deals.
Ready to start twirling a fork? Here are 10 places to start:
BIG DADDY'S: 1A Park Lane, Massapequa, 516-799-8877, bigdaddysny.com
WHEN Tuesday night
SETTING Freewheeling Cajun-Creole-Southern joint with a hopping bar scene.
DEAL $12.95 for all you can eat of three pastas (menu changes weekly), plus ice cream and coffee or tea.
EATS Bold seasoning, al dente pasta. "Dr. John's" penne has a dark brown jalapeño gravy, peas and andouille sausage; "Picasso moon" features curly macaroni, garlic cream sauce, roasted poblanos, Tasso ham and asparagus.
DALISA PIZZERIA & RESTAURANT, 1500 Deer Park Ave., Babylon, 631-586-9613, dalisapizza.com
WHEN Tuesday
SETTING A contemporary pizzeria with a full service dining space.
DEAL $8.95 plus tax for salad, pasta (some $1 extra), zeppole and coffee.
EATS You pay very little for such homestyle comforts as the well-turned-out spaghetti and meatballs and a meltingly good version of baked ziti. Finish with a warm zeppole.
GINO'S OF LINDENHURST: 740 Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, 631-225-1555, ginosoflindenhurst.com
WHEN Monday and Tuesday
SETTING A pizzeria with a bright, contemporary full-service restaurant in the rear.
DEAL $9.95 for pasta with salad, dessert and coffee or tea.
EATS There's no shortage of garlic or briny clams in the very good linguine with white clam sauce. Pasta "fantasia" is a somewhat ornate (but really successful) amalgam of spirals, grilled chicken strips, peppers and onions in a marinara sauce baked with mozzarella.
LOUIE'S PIZZERIA: 39 Old Country Rd. (Country Glen Shopping Center), Carle Place, 516-248-2676, louiespizzeriany.com
WHEN Monday to Wednesday
SETTING There are culinary surprises to be had at this casual pizzeria with table service.
DEAL $10.95 for salad, pasta, dessert and coffee
EATS Try the penne arrabiatta, which delivers a fiery wallop. Spaghetti and meatballs is old-fashioned comfort in a bowl. And take care not to miss the rainbow spumoni for dessert.
MARTINO'S: 52 Indian Head Rd., Kings Park, 631-269-2880
WHEN Monday and Tuesday
SETTING Half pizzeria, half full-service restaurant, this strip mall spot is characterized by friendly service and generous portions.
DEAL $10.95 for soup or salad, pasta, wine, coffee and dessert.
EATS It's hard to beat the spaghetti and meatballs or the hefty square of lasagna, both of which define red-sauce Italian comfort. Do save room for the cheesecake.
MILL CREEK TAVERN: 275 Bayville Ave., Bayville, 516-628-2000, millcreekny.com
WHEN Tuesday
SETTING Discover "lotsa pasta Tuesday" at this stylish New American dining spot with a fireplace.
DEAL $12.95 for salad and pasta
EATS Hard to say which is better, the sprightly al dente angel hair pasta with broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes or the rich, meaty lasagna.
PARADISO PIZZA RISTORANTE: 5507-17 Route 347, Mount Sinai, 631-928-5892
WHEN Monday and Tuesday, 4 to 9 p.m.
SETTING Nicely appointed, full-service restaurant alongside a pizzeria.
THE DEAL $11.95 for soup or salad, pasta, wine, dessert and coffee.
EATS The soulful pasta e fagioli with noodles and barley pairs well with glossy rolls from the pizza oven. Two surefire bets: garlicky linguine with white clam sauce or prosciutto-laced pasta filetto di pomodoro. Conclude with a warm house-baked chocolate chip cookie with ice cream and chocolate sauce; hold the aerosol whipped cream.
ROE'S CASA DOLCE: 486 Sunrise Hwy., Rockville Centre, 516-536-2253
WHEN Thursday, 5:30 to 8:15 p.m.
SETTING A cafe within a bakery with a devoted dinner following
DEAL $13.50 for a three-course meal that includes a Caesar salad and choice of one of three pastas, plus any dessert from the bakery case and coffee or tea.
EATS Crusty, house-baked bread, served with olive oil, is a treat. But an ersatz Caesar salad is doused with an acidic vinaigrette rather than creamy Caesar-style dressing. In contrast is the fine al dente linguine with clam sauce and clams in and out of the shell. Filetto di pomodoro with onion and prosciutto has nice flavor but not much meat. Finales from the bakery case - Key lime pie and chocolate mousse torte - are first-rate.
SPUNTINO: 687 Old Country Rd., Dix Hills, 631-547-9300, spuntinoonline.com
WHEN Monday and Tuesday
SETTING A colorful pizzeria scented by wood-burning oven; ristorante in the rear.
DEAL $10.95 for salad, pasta, mini cannoli and coffee or tea
EATS Hot rolls come straight from the pizza oven. Try the penne Caprese in a bright tomato basil sauce with fresh mozzarella; lasagna is a lush melt of pasta, meat and cheese.
WOODBURY PIZZA AND PASTA: 8025 Jericho Tpke. #B, Woodbury, 516-921-6910, woodburypizzeria.com
WHEN Monday, Wednesday and Sunday
SETTING Basic pizzeria with some tables; servers venture out from behind the counter to take orders.
DEAL $13.99 for pasta with soup or salad, a side of vegetables, cup of soda or glass of wine.
EATS You'll find a real winner in the rigatoni osole, al dente pasta with shrimp, zucchini and artichokes and tomatoes. Then, there's the highly satisfying pasta casareccia, house-made twists with eggplant, tomato, garlic and mozzarella.
SUNDAY BRUNCH: From pancakes to steak, these restaurants serve brunch right.
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