Sandro\'s Trattoria Review

[Jerry]

SANDRO\'S TRATTORIA
6601 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 888-7784; www.sandrostrattoria.com

Last night, on several recommendations, we went for the first time.
This is in the mall at Vets/Downs (Siamese) across the parking lot from TJ Max.
A bit nicer than I imagined and good service staff.
We ordered calamari, mussels and a veal lasagna and a bottle of Italian PInot Grigio
All were excellant.
The blue mussels were done in a white garlic sauce and were some of the most tender mussels I can remember...not the typical totamo broth but still good - maybe a Tuscan style.
The calamari was a heaping pile, expertly fried with a dish of red sauce that was just right-not too sweet.
Lasagna was also a generous portion and velvetty good...came with a good Ceaser.
Wines and food were moderate in price...dinner for two with a bottle was $57 before tip.

The only things I found fault with was that they opened the blinds to get a full view of TJ Max\'s overly lit front.
Some of the chairs need recovering but these detractions were made up for in the food/service.
Just don\'t face the windows...There was a cozy little one table room in the back corner that looked good for a small party.

We\'ll be back.

[Flintstone]

The restaurant is small but comfortable - if you don\'t look out the window, you can dream you are eating in Tuscany. Lunch menu is not as extensive as their dinner menu. I\'m a sucker for their Melanzana Alla Griglia (grilled eggplant) as an appetizer. Their Osso Bucco di Maiale alla Cacciatora is a great dish. They make it with pork shanks rather than veal.

[Yvette]

I have only been twice, both for lunch and before the storm. I also keep hearing good things about it, just keep forgetting to put it in the radar.

[SuZQ]

We\'ve enjoyed the mussels and calamari as well. Even tried a few wines we hadn\'t yet had. Good place - we\'ll go back.

[Lobstros]

I like this place too and usually head there for lunch if I\'m in the area.

[EatinAintCheatin]

Based on the recommendations above and some previous recs from family members my wife and I tried Sandro\'s last night. I was very pleasantly surprised at the atmosphere. I thought it was going to be the same as a place located there a few years ago (at typical sandwich/hotplate place with antiseptic type decor). Sandro\'s is very cozy with white table clothes.

We sat in the corner by the wine rack. Nice table except for the piped in music. The speaker was right above our heads so it was a little loud at first. They must have noticed, or the wine dampened it because into the meal it was much better.

We ordered two apps, salad and one entry with a bottle of wine. Our waitress Mary was excellent. By far one of the best servers we\'ve had in years. She was very helpful and even offered/suggested we split the entree and salad.

Apps were calamari and mussels. Both were just as described in previous post. Very generous portions and very well presented. Served with hot bread the sauce for the mussels was delicious. It was a white wine/garlic/butter sauce with very thinly sliced onions (probably vidallia since they were so mild and sweet) and garlic. Calamari was perfectly fried and a HUGE portion.

Split a Ceasar salad. Nothing special, but served very chilled, on a chilled plate. That was nice for a change.

Entree was the veal lasagna (just as Jerry had in above post). I know this is an exact duplicate of Jerry\'s post, but it does show their consistency. I loved the fact that Mary brought the spit entree on two plates so we didn\'t have to do that at the table. I almost expected a \"plate charge\" and would have been happy to pay it but there was no such charge.

The wine list is pretty limited but priced very reasonable. The Sterling Cab Napa Valley was only $36/bottle.

Overall a very nice and comfortable experience. Recommended.

Edited to fix correct name reference (Jerry, not Jesse)

[troubled times]

I cannot recomend the fettucine alfredo enough, homemade pasta that melts in your mouth. I get any oyster dish they put on the menu because it is always delicous and hasn\'t disapointed me yet but the sausage is my second choice.

[Jerry]

I thought it was going to be the same as a place located there a few years ago (at typical sandwich/hotplate place with antiseptic type decor). Sandro\'s is very cozy with white table clothes.

Was a restaurant of a different name recently (4-5 yrs. ago) in that location.
something like Marie\'s?

[EatinAintCheatin]

Jerry wrote:

I thought it was going to be the same as a place located there a few years ago (at typical sandwich/hotplate place with antiseptic type decor). Sandro\'s is very cozy with white table clothes.

Was a restaurant of a different name recently (4-5 yrs. ago) in that location.
something like Marie\'s?

I don\'t remember. I will find out from some coworkers tomorrow and post.

BTW, we went again last night (Saturday) with the in-laws. They were in town and looking for a nice, mid level place. I tried to get reservations for 4 but was told that all the reservation tables were booked. The reserve half the restaurant. We arrived at 6:00 and had about a 10 minute wait. The place was full and the servers/staff were rocking. I was impressed at how much, consistent food the kitchen was putting out.

I had the braciolone (spelled a number of bastardized ways here) with angel hair pasta, tomato sauce and ceasar salad. We had the mussels for app again. It was all good, especially the mussels. A my wife and mom-in-law had the veal panne. Three nice pieces of breaded veal for $6.95. I comes a la carte so you can choose your pasta. It tasted very good and tender. Reminded me of Mandich\'s. A couple glasses of Merlot and a bottle of Banfi Rosso table wine at $22/ bottle.

Another good experience.

[globe9]

I\'m gonna have to try this place. I\'ve been considering it for a while(ever since an Italian friend of mine stated that the lasagna there was better than his grandmother\'s---coming from a 100% Italian man, that seemed to be praise of the highest regard), however a local radio critic(name not to be mentioned) had said on MANY occasions that he\'s been there 3 or 4 times and was never impressed with the food and that he could not understand why it was always so crowded. Whenever people call up to ask about the place he tells them the same thing and then suggests Vincent\'s, Impastato\'s, etc. I have since begun to NOT trust this man\'s judgement on restaurants, so will give Sandro\'s a try. Will let you all know what I thought.