From A Past Issue Of The New Orleans Menu Daily Originally published January 29, 2008 Ten Best Lasagnas What makes a great lasagna? Fresh pasta. The right amount of several kinds of cheese. A modicum of meat. A sauce with an herbal quality. And the combination of all all those things in the right quantities, baked the perfect length of time. 1. Gio's Villa Vancheri. Mandeville: 2890 E Causeway Approach.  985-624-2597. Perfect in every way. Just the right texture, right amount and variety of cheese, right amount of meat, great sauce, a little crusty on top. Ridiculously large portion. 2. Vincent’s. Metairie: 4411 Chastant St., 885-2984.  Riverbend: 7839 St. Charles Ave., 866-9313. It starts with good ground veal, lots of cheese, and agreat sauce, and goes from there. 3. Tony Angello’s. Lakeview: 6262 Fleur de Lis Dr., 488-0888. The lasagna here is very good, and they also make a great dish called eggplant Tina that's a lasagna made with eggplant in place of the pasta. 4. Anselmo's. Metairie: 3401 N. Hullen, 889-1212. Classic New Orleans-style red sauce over an immense block of meaty lasagna. 5. Impastato's. Metairie: 3400 16th Street, 455-1545. They make the pasta on the premises, and use the fresh sheets to make a very rich lasagna that doesn't get much attention because so many other specialties are better. 6. Venezia. Mid-City: 134 N. Carrollton Ave, 488-7991. Lasagna is the kind of dish these old-style Italian joints do best. It’s very good here, and way too large. 7. Andrea’s. Metairie: 3100 19th Street. 834-8583. The regular lasagna here is terrible and to be avoided at all costs. However, they make a seafood lasagna with a cream sauce that’s spectacular. 8. Two Tonys. Bucktown: 105 Metairie-Hammond Hwy. 831-0999. This old-style Italian joint serves more seafood than lasagna, but they make a very good version that reminds me of the one they used to make at Toney's Spaghetti House on Bourbon Street long ago. (And no relation.) 9. Lido. Marrero: 1019 Avenue C, 347-8203. This old, hidden neighborhood Italian cafe makes its lasagna in the very old style, sweet and firm. 10. Brick Oven Cafe. Kenner: 2805 Williams Blvd., 466-2097. This one is in the hip, herbal style, but well made and generously served. © 2007 Tom Fitzmorris. All rights reserved. news@nomenu.com