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| - Being an Italian from NY whose great-grandfather owned a pasta company in Italy, I take a lot of pride in my appreciation of good Italian food. I don't often go to Italian restaurants in my price range because I am often disappointed at the frozen, bulk ingredients and cheap sauces. Also, I eat out frequently so I rarely splurge and treat myself to "authentic" Italian cuisine. Now, I think I will need a 4th job to fund my more-frequent visits to Aiello's.
The atmosphere is classy, but cozy and warm. My favorite style of restaurant is one where you feel like it was a home at some point and it doesn't feel sterile or manufactured. This is exactly what you'll find. The Aiello's have done a great job making you feel like you're walking into a restaurant run out of the back of their house.
I was immediately greeted by the bartender/front of house manager and took a seat at the bar. Within a few minutes, I was given warm bread with spread & oil. I wasn't a big fan of the oil (there were red peppers soaking in it - not my thing) but the spread was tasty and the bread was fresh. I was tempted to order a glass of wine, but the selection for glasses was pretty limited (bottles were plentiful) so I decided I would wait and indulge in an after-dinner drink instead.
The menu is just about perfect. Aiello's knows what it is and doesn't try to veer outside it - a mistake made by so many places trying to please everyone. Many of the Italian standbys are here along with some nice sounding dishes that have probably been tried throughout the years and stuck. I was between the Veal Paillard & the Linguine Fradiavolo and the bartender gladly suggested the latter and seemed proud to recommend it.
While I was waiting for my food, Joe Aiello came from the back and said hello. He interacted with a few tables before stopping and chatting with me. We discussed New York and family among other things. This wouldn't be included in the review, except it was such a genuine, enjoyable conversation that it makes you want to go back sooner rather than later. Maybe it's a NY thing, but the owner who can work a room and leave his patrons hoping for a return visit is hard to find anymore.
The food came out in reasonable time, was presented wonderfully and would have been photographed if my phone had flash. The two shrimp were so big, they needed to be cut in half to eat - and possibly could have been quartered. The rest of the seafood was plentiful and fresh. The way the dish blended together was impressive. The pomodoro was indeed lite (as described in the menu) and really allowed for the pasta and fish to shine. The portion size was large enough that I was able to take lunch home for the next day but was not obnoxiously large.
After dinner, I asked for a coffee drink of Kahlua, amaretto & Bailey's. They were out of Bailey's so I asked the bartender to create something. I'm pretty picky so this was risky but I had faith. Sure enough, he came up with an ideal drink to end the night with - though I wish I remembered what it was so I can order it again.
If there's better Italian in Phoenix, I've yet to find it. The prices aren't cheap - nor should they be - you are getting your money's worth. Most dishes fall into the $15-25 range which is a good value for the quality and portion size. I cannot wait to go back - and you should not wait to go there.
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