Fazzio's
Backstory
Fazzio's opened in 1987, which makes it one of the oldest restaurants in Mandeville. Lots of people were relocating to the North Shore, but not many restaurants were there to serve them, and Fazzio's lock on the homestyle Italian segment built a numerous clientele.
Dining Room
Rustic on the outside, the restaurant has a dimly-lit, borderline romantic environment which nevertheless usually has a few tables filled with families. The bar has always been busy, but in recent years--with the help of new laws--the cigarette smoke that used to drift from bar into the dining room is gone.
Why It's Essential
Fazzio's is a landmark at the busy intersection of Causeway Boulevard and LA 22. With Italian food of the kind your mother used to make (or like you wish she had made), the appeal of the place is easy to understand. Lots of thick, sweet, smooth red sauces on enormous piles of pasta, meatballs, and veal, often covered with thick strata of melted cheese. And almost as many dishes with rich cream sauces. With seafood and steaks filling out the selection. The prices are low, the wait staff is friendly, and there are many regular customers.
Why It's Good
The dominance of tomato sauces is something you know as soon as you step inside. The alluring aromas jump-start your appetite, een if this isn't your kind of Italian food. Despite all those the homestyle Italian dishes, the best food here involves seafood. A good meal can be made from the appetizer list alone, with
Most Interesting Dishes
<em><strong>Starters</strong></em><br /> »Da Fazz shrimp (like BBQ)<br /> Fried eggplant<br /> »Fried calamari<br /> Southwestern eggrolls<br /> Shrimp remoulade<br /> Crabmeat au gratin<br /> Onion rings<br /> Eggplant royale (cream sauce and shrimp)<br /> Shrimp cocktail<br /> Popcorn shrimp or crawfish<br /> Ahi tuna, ponzu glaze<br /> Crab cakes<br /> <em><strong>Soups And Salads</strong></em><br /> Seafood gumbo<br /> Soup du jour<br /> Shrimp salad<br /> Chef salad<br /> »Italian salad<br /> Black and blue salad (steak, greens, blue cheese)<br /> Caesar salad<br /> Garden salad<br /> Salad options:<br /> Popcorn shrimp or crawfish<br /> Grilled or blackened chicken<br /> Lump crab crabcake<br /> Grilled yellowfin tuna steak<br /> Skewered grilled shrimp<br /> <em><strong>Entrees</strong></em><br /> »Fried catfish, shrimp, oysters, or combination platters<br /> Jimbob shrimp (stuffed with crabmeat)<br /> Crab cakes<br /> Filet mignon<br /> »Ribeye <br /> »Skewered jumbo shrimp<br /> Boneless skinless chicken breast<br /> Angel hair pasta, red gravy, Italian sausage or meatballs <br /> Angel hair pasta, crabmeat cream sauce, stuffed shrimp or crab cake<br /> »Fettuccine Alfredo (with shrimp or crawfish)<br /> »Lasagna<br /> Fresh fish of the day<br /> Chicken or veal, marsala or parmigiana<br /> »Eggplant parmigiana<br /> Chicken Fazzio (grilled, crabmeat cream sauce)<br /> »Veal Fazzio (mushrooms, artichoke, capers, cream sauce)<br /> Filet mignon Fazzio (topped with sauteed shrimp, mushrooms, peppers, olives, cream sauce)<br /> Veal Ledet (crawfish, artichokes, brandy cream sauce, baked with mozzarella)<br /> »Veal Milanese (panneed, with fettuccine Alfredo)<br /> Daily specials (notably braciolone)<br /> <em><strong>Desserts</strong></em><br /> »Bread pudding<br /> Tiramisu<br />
Deficiencies
A section of dishes that would not have been seen in 1965 would be welcome. It wouldn't be a bad idea to serve the pasta that comes with many of the entrees with a different sauce than the one on the main item.
For Best Results
Order light, show up very hungry, or split entrees. Ask for more information than you usually would about the specials. If you're thinking about a steak, you might find it better with three or four ingredients removed from the platter.
Bonus Ratings
2
Attitude
2
Service
1
Value