Restaurant Review-L.A. Ristorante-August 1, 2007

If there is any debate as to where to find the best deal for lunch in Brooklyn, L.A. Restorante and Pizzeria quells the argument. Whether you are looking for a quick couple slices and a drink, or you are interested in sitting down for a hot, homemade Italian meal with your coworkers at lunchtime, L.A. is the place to go.
Most people know L.A. as the neighborhood pizzeria and Italian restaurant, but for those who are unfamiliar, L.A. is a quaint, charming Italian eatery and pizzeria on Manhattan Avenue three storefronts away from the subway stop on the corner of Greenpoint and Manhattan Avenue. They are best known for their pizza, but their menu also includes a wide range of Italian meals. Helping to disparage the myth that all Italian food is served with red sauce, they serve veal and chicken milanese, marsala, francese, and sorrentini. They also have a wide range of seafood dishes including shrimp, filet of sole, calamari, clams and mussels.
What sets L.A. apart from the rest of the crowd, however, are their lunch specials. From 11A.M. to 3P.M. every weekday, they have a special lunch menu that simply cannot be beat. Meals like chicken parmesan, spaghetti and meatballs, veal parmesan, and spaghetti with sausage are all available for five-six dollars. Included in that price is a soda, fresh Italian bread hot from the oven, and a choice of salad or pasta side dish. For those desiring a hearty salad at lunch time, a cherry salad is also on the menu.
The service is great, the owners, husband and wife Emilio and Raffeala Gallo and their partner Cono Manzolillo, are all friendly and accommodating, and the food is not only delicious but authentically Italian as Mr. and Mrs. Gallo are both originally from Salerno Italy. As someone who grew up with an Italian grandmother who set the bar extremely high for my standards of Italian food, I give L.A. Restorante and Pizzeria a glowing recommendation for lunch, dinner, or simply a quick slice of pizza. If you happen to make it for dinner, ask to be seated in the back room. The food and the atmosphere will make you feel as if you have been transported to Southern Italy.