Anonymous
Post 05/30/2025 19:48     Subject: Best Italian for Dinner Party

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Maggiano's is set up for this, and it's good.

I’d be willing to pay more but Maggiano’s does catering well. You don’t need to get spaghetti and meatballs. The chicken piccata and rigatoni D are both really good. Add a try of lasagne and or eggplant parm.


Oh no- be careful with Maggianos catering, diarrhea for our whole family last time!
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2025 19:43     Subject: Best Italian for Dinner Party

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We have to provide the main course for a neighborhood party with an Italian theme. Can anyone recommend an Italian restaurant or caterer for this kind of event? Probably about 40 people. I'm thinking things like chicken parm, lasagna, ziti, etc.


That’s Americanized Italian: too much carbs. Real Italian meals include salads (heirloom tomatoes, olives, garlic, anchovies, arugula, green beans, etc), fish, chicken piccata, funghi porcini, lentils, grissini, polenta, octopus…



Not PP but do I appreciate you! Having lived in northern Italy, I am not a huge fan of American Italian. It is simply too heavy.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2025 14:15     Subject: Best Italian for Dinner Party

Anonymous wrote:We have to provide the main course for a neighborhood party with an Italian theme. Can anyone recommend an Italian restaurant or caterer for this kind of event? Probably about 40 people. I'm thinking things like chicken parm, lasagna, ziti, etc.


That’s Americanized Italian: too much carbs. Real Italian meals include salads (heirloom tomatoes, olives, garlic, anchovies, arugula, green beans, etc), fish, chicken piccata, funghi porcini, lentils, grissini, polenta, octopus…

Anonymous
Post 05/30/2025 13:59     Subject: Best Italian for Dinner Party

Anonymous wrote:Maggiano's is set up for this, and it's good.

I’d be willing to pay more but Maggiano’s does catering well. You don’t need to get spaghetti and meatballs. The chicken piccata and rigatoni D are both really good. Add a try of lasagne and or eggplant parm.
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2025 16:27     Subject: Best Italian for Dinner Party

Anonymous wrote:The best Italian for a dinner party is Stanley Tucci. Second best is Martin Scorsese, but it's close.


I would love to have either of them at our party!
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2025 10:48     Subject: Best Italian for Dinner Party

I would buy frozen entrees (lasagna, etc) from Vace or Litteris. They may be able to get event-sized platters also.
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2025 09:34     Subject: Best Italian for Dinner Party

The best Italian for a dinner party is Stanley Tucci. Second best is Martin Scorsese, but it's close.
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2025 09:30     Subject: Best Italian for Dinner Party

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the suggestions so far! We are in McLean and are fine with paying for good quality Italian. We are closer to Falls Church and Arlington than Tyson’s.


Thompson Italian

Pines of Florence in Arlington is very good although the restaurant itself is dated.
Anonymous
Post 05/28/2025 18:42     Subject: Re:Best Italian for Dinner Party

We buy regularly from this place: https://www.vignolagourmet.com/" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> https://www.vignolagourmet.com/
Anonymous
Post 05/28/2025 18:22     Subject: Best Italian for Dinner Party

Thanks for the suggestions so far! We are in McLean and are fine with paying for good quality Italian. We are closer to Falls Church and Arlington than Tyson’s.
Anonymous
Post 05/28/2025 17:08     Subject: Best Italian for Dinner Party

Maggiano's is set up for this, and it's good.
Anonymous
Post 05/28/2025 16:23     Subject: Re:Best Italian for Dinner Party

Anonymous
Post 05/28/2025 16:21     Subject: Best Italian for Dinner Party

If in Arlington, PieTanza does great catering, as does Italian Store.
Anonymous
Post 05/28/2025 16:21     Subject: Best Italian for Dinner Party

Is Maggiano's about the quality and budget your're looking for? Less? More?

Where are you located? Most people know a good local Italian place that caters but doubt youd want to drive from MoCo to Arlington, etc.
Anonymous
Post 05/28/2025 16:17     Subject: Best Italian for Dinner Party

We have to provide the main course for a neighborhood party with an Italian theme. Can anyone recommend an Italian restaurant or caterer for this kind of event? Probably about 40 people. I'm thinking things like chicken parm, lasagna, ziti, etc.