To prepare for Winter Formal’s Italian theme, here are a few restaurants located right in Temple City to check out if you’re looking to try something other than Olive Garden or Di Pilla’s.
Mama Petrillo’s
Walking in, I didn’t have any huge expectations. However I was surprised by the atmosphere. The restaurant, located on Las Tunas Drive, was on the smaller side but had a homey, safe feel to it.
The servers were helpful. Mama Petrillo’s offers a large variety of items on its menu that will satisfy the pickiest of eaters. Patrons can order everything from a basic pepperoni to the PMS, a specialty creation consisting of pasta with peppers, mushroom, and sausages in a signature sauce.
Mama Petrillo also offers other items aside from pizza such as sandwiches, specialty dishes and non-meat dishes.
Carmine’s Italian Restaurant
Carmine’s Italian Restaurant was not what I was expecting. I found the busy dining room to be quite cramped.
When I walked through the door, it was a bit strange to find alcoholic beverages lining the entrance. Being that the restaurant was extremely busy, I found myself waiting for a couple of minutes before finally being addressed by one of the servers and I could also sense that I was being rushed aside so that other customers could be addressed.
Carmine’s menu does show a more appealing side. The menu’s sections were written in Italian which made it difficult for me to locate what I wanted and although I do appreciate the restaurant’s attempt at being classy, it was not worth the frustration. Carmine’s offers a menu with dishes ranging from a light salad to house specials like the gumbi.
Alex Di Peppe’s Italian Restaurant
Alex Di Peppe’s Italian Restaurant, located on Live Oak Avenue, pleasantly surprised me. This restaurant was well lit and had a friendly atmosphere.
With a more modern feel than the others, this restaurant was one of my favorites. The servers were helpful and patient, which made the experience more enjoyable.
Alex Di Peppe’s Italian Restaurant’s menu was simple and straightforward. The menu offers many typical Italian food items such pastas and sandwiches, making it a perfect place to eat throughout the day.
The menu was sectioned off and patrons are able to order items ranging from a green salad to specialty veal dishes.