Rome is a cool place to see, but not known for cuisine...Plus, I can't get past how many stray cats wonder the streets, it's kind of creepy. My Mom's family is from Reggio, Calabria and there are so many ristorante's and trattoria's that are amazing. Most of the time, the locals could point you in the right direction as far as cuisine goes.

When I was in law school in Boston during the late 80's, JCB, there was a very popular pizza spot in the North End called Galleria Umberto. Since you are a Bay Stater, I'm wondering if you can tell me if it's still there and popular?

It is still there, located on Hanover St in the North End. However, I have never eaten there. My favorite is Regina's in the North End, also Ernesto's on Salem St is fantastic, Santarpio's in East Boston is very good (if you eat it at the restaurant) as well as Bianchi's Pizza at Revere Beach is great.

Thanks, JCB. I remember having pizza at Umberto's once, and Hanover Street really rang a bell for me. I can't exactly recall how good the pizza was, but I know that I wasn't disappointed. I lived in Newton for two years, and all of the neighborhood pizza places sold 12 inch pizzas that were pretty good, but at $3 a pizza in the 1980s it was a little beyond my budget to have as a regular treat. I would often make Appian Way pizza from a box mix.

I see you're from Pennsylvania? I grew up just outside Youngstown, OH (about 1 mile to the Pennsylvania border). Are you anywhere in the Pittsburgh area or more towards Philly?

I grew up in northeastern PA, but now live in the Harrisburg area, three hours east of Pittsburgh and two hours west of Phiolly.

Northeastern PA, huh? You probably remember the good old days of Russell Bufalino and company...love the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre area!

Yes. I grew up in the same small town as Louie DeNaples, who was a frequent character in the neighborhood. He's still getting into trouble.

I never saw a lot of Bufalino though as he lived in Luzerne County and was in jail for much of the 80s. My brother-in-law works for Medico Industries, which was tied with Russell in the 60s and 70s.

Sure, Medico Industries was mobbed up. Wasn't it founded by made man William Medico and didn't James Osticco work there or hold some kind of position as a traffic manager?

Never thought the way you buy your food makes you less than what you are!
I make my own dough from scratch, as well as my sauce, use the best italian sausage, freshest of mushrooms and the finest mozzarella I can find. Does this make me less Irish then I am?

NINOSCONZA is Dicknose Moltisanti...DO NOT RESPOND TO HIM. If I knew who you were you little fa***t, I'd split your fucking head wide open

Reading through the thread, I was working up an appetite. And then all of a sudden, this pops up:



Wtf, JCB! How am I supposed to eat now?