Sunday, August 30, 2009

VINGENZO'S ......of Woodstock Georgia...a Review.

We have been looking for the past 26 years for an authentic Italian restaurant down here in Georgia and by gosh we Finally Found One!! and who would have thunk....it's in the middle of Woodstock....
You know Woodstock....no not that Woodstock.....the Woodstock where someone left a live baby lamb inside the front seat of the Boss' pick up at One in the morning in the parking lot of the open all night Walmart....Yes, that Woodstock.
Back to the restaurant review.....
This is Vingenzo's for all you Georgia readers out there in the Blogisphere.... Worth the drive from anywhere in the Greater Atlanta Area it is one good Italian restaurant....
It advertises itself as being
Hand Crafted
Neopolitan Cuisine
and it does not disappoint.....
We stumbled upon it one weekday when daughter was visiting....we parked out in front while she ran into the yarn shop down a few steps....Wondering why it wasn't open the Boss got out to see it's hours....
Open only for lunch on Friday and Saturday from 11:00-2:00
and opened for dinner from Monday-Thursday 5:00 - 9:00
and Friday and Saturday from 5:00 until 10:00
It peaked our interest and we made a point of saying we would come back one Friday for lunch...

We started with the above Pizza Margharita which was fabulous......Then I got the sausage and pepper Panini....not expecting the sausage to be served this way it was delicious...the foccacia bread was fresh and I loved the one large piece of roasted red pepper on the sandwich....
It was served with these great little roasted potatoes with Parmesan...Cut to a fine dice they are the perfect size to get great cheesy taste with each little bite....They are like eating a well buttered piece of popcorn....You know, you only want to eat one piece at a time to get it's full flavor jolt....
A nice touch from the usual lunch menu of putting fries with a chicken parm sandwich.....Infact you won't find that type of Italian food here....I think the only meat listed on the menu was sausage and Proscuitto...
Simple interior but very comfortable.....
an enjoyable environment....

Jimmy our congenial waiter.....
I commented to the Boss how nice all the staff were that were working there...Just a nice bunch of "All American" looking young adults....
We discovered tonight when we went back for dinner that the Chef/Owner is an instructor at the local Culinary College and some of the employees attend the school...

The brick oven where all that magic happens....

The very freshest of ingredients.....They make their own pasta daily and available on the dinner menu.......and you know there is nothing better then fresh pasta....and you can even take home with you the fresh homemade Mozzarella cheese among other Italian treats....
This is all about simple fresh ingredients......

Being Italians and spending our entire day discussing our next meal I can say this place is the real thing....
It is not the typical Italian restaurant that you usually go to with frozen Veal Marsala and packaged pasta....generic salads and bad Cannoli's
This is as authentic as it gets...
I commented to husband that it's like sitting in any of the many little restaurants in Little Italy
New York City.

we finished up our meal this evening with some Pistachio Gelato.....and we went home very satisfied and very full...

Vingenzo's is located right across from the railroad tracks in Downtown Old Woodstock...
It's in a shopping center next to the park and gazebo.....
For you ladies if you go during the day the yarn shop
"The Whole Nine Yarns"
is a wonderful shop if you are a knitter.....
There is also an adorable little independent book shop called
"Foxtale Books"
And you know they are a dying breed.....
SO....

Enjoy your lunch or dinner and if Jimmy is there tell him you read about them on the blog.......
Mangia!!!

7 comments:

KBeau said...

Looks and sounds delicious.

Joyce said...

I can't wait to give this a try. Maybe we can get the husbands together on a Saturday night in the Fall.
Joyce

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Sue! This looks yummy! I went to Foxtale Books when Gollum was there, but wound up eating at a restaurant in the old depot there. Wish I had known about this one! Happy week!...Debbie

Daryl said...

Nice .. so was this on the diet?

Deb said...

Oh, yum! We will need to give it a try. We really like a restaurant near Buford highway and it's called...Anthony's or Antoine's....I never pay attention to directions...

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

Oh, YAY! I am so excited for you...I know you've been looking for a good Italian spot for a looooonnnggg time. That pizza sure looks like the real deal.

Anonymous said...

We are proud to have this great restaurant in Woodstock. Can't wait to eat there again, thanks for the review.