I was in the mood for Italian, so I decided to try a little place just around the corner from us. Balducci’s has been open in the Pelham Court Plaza for nearly a year, having replaced Moretti’s, another Italian sandwich shop.
Atmosphere:
The place is quite small. Basically, a several booths line one wall, with only a couple of tables up from. The decor makes it obvious that Italian cuisine is the focus.
Menu:
Pizza dominates the menu. There are the usual suspects of pepperoni, olives, etc, plus pineapple, garlic spinach, and gyro meat. You can build your own, or they have a nice selection of specialty pizzas. There are a few appetizers, buffalo wings, and a selection platters featuring Italian pasta.
The pizzas run from about $8 to about $14 for the most expensive large one. Platters hover in the $7 – $9 range. There are also some Greek sandwiches, sallades, and desserts to round out the menu.
Food:
I ordered the baked zita platter. This started with a simple side salad with my choice of creamy Italian dressing. The main course was huge – enough to feed at least two. It had ziti pasta covered with red marinara sauce, mixed with chunks of Italian sausage. There was enough zing to keep it interesting.
Service:
Quick, friendly and efficient – what more can be said?
Conclusion:
This was probably not the most memorable Italian cuisine I’ve ever had, but it was reasonably priced, quick, and tasty. If I order another platter, I think I’ll have to split it with someone. Since pizzas seem to be the preferred dish, I’ll have to give one of those a try the next time I’m here, and I will be back.