DiCristina's
Anecdotes & Analysis
The opening of the new St. Tammany Parish Courthouse in Covington some years ago triggered the development of a new cluster of restaurants in the area. Most of the action has been in the sandwich-and-salad category at the lunch hour. But many restaurants around there have had good luck at dinner hours, too. And some have become major draws for diners. <br /> <br /> DiCristina's is among the most interesting of there. With a pleasant dining room and a large menu of some of the best Creole-Italian neighborhood cafe food anywhere in the area, only the vastly oversize portions keep one from going there often with a clear conscience. Unless you have the discipline to stop halfway through a dish.
Backstory
Frank and Maria Pyburn opened DiCristina's in the right place (across from the new St. Tammany Courthouse) at the right time (2004). The courthouse generates a lot of lunch business for that neighborhood. And after Katrina, the many people who relocated to St. Tammany Parish from the washed-away St. Bernard were happy to find a restaurant with the food of (and a family connection with) Rocky & Carlo's.
Dining Room
A big, utilitarian space with minimal decoration, DiCristina's fills with lunchers in a hurry and big family groups at night. It's perfect for the latter, especially when kids are involved. There will be many of those in all age groups. Nobody here will notice if someone of any age is laughing loudly or otherwise having too much enjoyment. The dining room staff could not be friendlier or more accommodating.
Why It's Essential
DiCristina's is as close as St. Tammany gets to the old-time, Italian-accented, New Orleans neighborhood restaurant. Its main influence comes from the archetypal Chalmette restaurant Rocky & Carlo's, including the massive portions, macaroni and cheese everywhere, heavy applications of New Orleans red gravy, poor boys and seafood platters. But this is a much nicer place with distinctly better food.
Why It's Good
Fried everything, poor boys and muffulettas, pasta mountains with slopes slippery with tomato and/or cream sauces, and the entire range of local seafood all compete for your appetite. This is a given: there will be too much food. Consider splitting appetizers. Three entrees will easily food four, with leftovers. The macaroni and cheese--with or without red or brown gravy--will grab you even if you don't want to be grabbed.
Most Interesting Dishes
<strong><em>Appetizers:</em></strong><br /> »Meat-stuffed fried ravioli, crawfish sauce <br /> Fried eggplant, crawfish sauce <br /> »Onion rings<br /> Fried artichoke hearts, marinara sauce <br /> »Fried eggplant, marinara sauce <br /> Spinach-artichoke dip <br /> Cheese fries, brown gravy <br /> »Italian salad<br /> Chef salad<br /> Caesar salad<br /> Muffaletta salad<br /> <em>Most salads can be had entree-size with chicken, shrimp, or oysters, grilled or fried</em><br /> <strong><em>Sandwiches:</em></strong><br /> »Muffaletta<br /> »Oyster, shrimp, or catfish poor boy<br /> Hot roast beef poor boy<br /> Meatball poor boy<br /> »Chicken or veal parmesan poor boy<br /> Hamburger poor boy<br /> Grilled chicken poor boy, grilled onions<br /> »Italian, hot, or smoked sausage poor boy<br /> Ham, turkey or roast beef poor boy<br /> French fry poor boy, brown gravy<br /> Grilled shrimp poor boy<br /> Club sandwich <br /> <strong><em>Entrees:</em></strong><br /> »Fried catfish, oyster, shrimp, or combo platter<br /> Crab cakes<br /> »Fried soft shell crab<br /> »Spaghetti or baked macaroni with meatballs, veal parmesan, chicken parmesan, or eggplant parmesan<br /> Cheese stuffed ravioli, red gravy <br /> Fettuccine Alfredo<br /> Spaghetti bordelaise<br /> »Fried chicken<br /> »Chicken bordelaise<br /> Grilled chicken<br /> Beef stuffed bell pepper<br /> Veal cutlet <br /> Hamburger steak<br /> Pork chop<br /> Ribeye bordelaise<br /> »Filet mignon bordelaise<br /> <strong><em>Desserts:</em></strong><br /> Banana cream cheese pudding<br /> »Bread pudding, rum sauce <br /> Chocolate peanut butter pie<br /> Spumoni ice cream pie<br />
Deficiencies
Really, the portions are too big by a factor of about 52 percent. Taking food home is a negative to me. However, this is St. Tammany, and the hard-working farmer and his appetite are still alive.
For Best Results
Daily specials are very good and should be considered first. (The braciolone, for example, in the last of the four photos) The thin fried onion rings and macaroni and cheese must be included in your order. It gets very busy here around noon; come later if you can.
Bonus Ratings
2
Attitude
1
Local Color
1
Service
2
Value