After a
doctor’s appointment (see next post) I was hungry and ready to eat. It was way
too hot outside so I didn’t want to go far. I found The Old Time Vincent’s
nearby.
From the
outside it looks like a small shop that may or may not be open. I would have
been pleased with a regular slice of pizza I didn’t need a whole meal. But as
it turns out this is a restaurant specializing in seafood and classic style
Italian fare. Pizza would not be in my view until dinnertime.
The menu
has more than enough choices. There are chicken, fish, veal, and steak entrees.
You can have any pasta style you desire served with any sauce you can think of.
The prices are reasonable and on this quiet Friday afternoon there was only one
other table occupied.
Since I
wasn’t that hungry I was to share a dish with my mother. We agreed on spaghetti
with sweet marinara sauce (you could select sweet, mild, or spicy) topped with
fried shrimp. Easy right? Wrong. We were informed there is a five-dollar fee
for sharing a meal. I did not take this news kindly. Instead of wasting money
we went with a side Caesar salad for a similar price. Now I know how they make
their money when the restaurant is slow.
When our
food arrived I took one look at it and shot my mother a somewhat dirty look.
The spaghetti had red sauce popped right in the middle and the food that
appeared to be the fried shrimps seem small and like that hadn’t been cooked at
all. I inquired about this and our waitress said that the shrimp is only
breaded in flour before it is fried thus giving it this weird look.
I am a
VERY picky shrimp eater. If there is any sort of fishy flavor, the breading
comes off, or is too chewy I am all done with one bite that I will spit out.
However to
my total surprise this was actually good. Actually it was better than good.
After a few bites I actually kind of loved it. We had mixed it all together so
it looked better but the taste was WAY better than it even looked. I have never
been more pleasantly surprised with a meal in my life.
The
Caesar salad was all right but I’ve had better. It could have easily been made
from those bags of salad you get at the supermarket, open, and mix the
ingredients together.
The Old
Time Vincent’s – there is not a New Time Vincent’s in case you are wondering, I
asked- has a sign out front reads: “from Little Italy to Long Island”. I guess
that is supposed to be their credentials for quality assurance. Speaking of
Long Island if you are familiar with the Garden City area you might know of
Vincent’s Clam Bar. Previously I thought these two establishments were related
but they are not. The similar sounding names are there only connection.
If a
Little Italy experience is what you are after you should go to the San Gennaro
festival that opens this week. They are celebrating their ninetieth year. It is
certainly the best location for fun and food.
The only
other Vinny’s Restaurant I have been to the one in Carroll Gardens (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2015/12/for-vinny-that-is-not-my-cousin-vinnys.html)
and I have to say that The Old Time Vincent’s rains supreme out of the two.
I have visited
Vinnie’s Pizza (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2016/02/for-variety-that-is-vinnies-pizza.html)
once and if pizza is what you wish for this is definitely the most creative way
to eat it.
I can now
say that I recommend that you go to The Old Time Vincent’s and as they as say:
“get lost in the sauce”.
Be
prepared to expect the unexpected.
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