Where to begin? They used the old Pasticcio menu and then had practically nothing on it. Foremost was the fact that the server spoke NO English. I mean NOTHING. Nada, zilch, bupkis. But what really frosted my nipples was that the manager refused to come out of the kitchen to talk to us. I literally went back into the kitchen where he was hiding and he ran away from me! I figured nothing was worth this big a brouhaha so all 10 of us walked out and haven't been back since. As far as it being dusty, no big deal to me. I don't care how fancy a place a restaurant is the kitchen is usually questionable.

Does anyone know the status of this Italian restaurant in Pikesviile? It changed hands and allegedly names some time ago but the signage remains. I had a horrible experience there was wondering if the management has changed since.

Pasticcio used to be one of my favorite local restaurants in Pikesville even back when it was Strapazza. This year however it has been taken over by a new owner and has an alleged name change, Paradiso.
Which sucks big time. (Read my review posted elsewhere on this site). Anyway, my question is; does anyone know anything about the owner/management, is it connected to the other Paradiso restaurants in the area & (please God) is the same Paradiso manager still there?

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Strapazza
12 Allegheny Ave, Towson, MD 21204

RUN, DO NOT WALK past this hideous excuse for a restaurant. (First of all, the old sign is still up which leads me to believe the new owner can't afford a new one) Just before the name change but after the new ownership, 6 of us made the horrible mistake of attempting to dine there on a very UNbusy Thursday night. The waitress didn't speak English AT ALL. The menu was still Pasticcio's but nothing was available any longer, (salads, soups..). Finally, we all cancelled the rest of our order and descended upon the kitchen looking for the manager. He refused to speak to us and ran back into what is probably the depths of hell to avoid us. There aren't enough negative superlatives in the English language to give an accurate rating of this craphole. (Can you say "craphole" on this web site?)

I have heard that Nyafat is no longer manufactured due to all the trans fats. I find it interesting however, that kosher chicken fat is readily available!

..and while we're on the subject what ever happened to corned beef with enough fat on it to give it some flavor? Lean corned beef is dry as a bone and if you ask for non-lean you get nothing but fat.

No, Hon. I'm referring to the Snyder's that used to be in Owings Mills.

Pariser's for challah, Goldman's for dessert.

Absolutely, SUBURBAN HOUSE, PEPPERMILL, WING-WAH for Chinese and just up the road is the fairly new, PASTICCIO for Italian. The prices at all these places are quite reasonable and the food is basic but good. I would suggest Snyder's but mercifully they they have closed. With the exception of The Peppermill, the others are located within a half-mile radius of each other.

If you don't feel like schlepping all the way to Germantown, head to Sushi King in Columbia. Absolutely the best sushi I've had between here and Los Angeles!

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Sushi King
6490 Dobbin Rd, G Columbia, MD

Further north on Reisterstown Rd in the old Mr. Chan location.

Cafe Hon in Hampden, Golden West in Hampden, First Watch in Pikesville for breakfast. I think it depends on where you'll be and how far you want to schlepp.

I'm meeting some Californians at Tony's on 43rd St in a few weeks. Anyone havve any feedback? I tend to shy away from theater-district restaurants, myself.

Max's Cafe in Wheaton, 2319 University Blvd.
Not fancy but shwarma (and more); you could plotz!

Gunning's is good and down the road lies Timbuktu both offering crab cakes, steaks, etc. Never been to Nick's but it's funny you should ask about Linthicum. I have reservations this weekend at Snyder's Willow Grove on Hammonds Ferry Rd. I haven't been there in literally decades so we'll see....

Help! I'm preparing to make chopped liver for Passover and I can't find Rokeach Nyafat anywhere in Baltimore! One of the employyes at 7-Mile market informed me that it isn't being made anymore! Has anyone else heard this? I guess I couold use chicken fat......

I never remember eating Philly cream cheese for Passover. Only the whipped Temptee..
Is Philly in fact, kosher for Passover????

I hope it's a damn sight better than the ones my mom used to make!! But seriously, what makes it so good? As a rule I don't eat things like this that are "adapted" for Passover.

Spoonula- In these here parts the term "Hon" is a colloquialism. Granted, in a fancy-schmancy restaurant I would never expect to be addressed this way by a server. However, in a diner or lunch counter the term "Hon" is to be expected, even appreciated. One thing that gets on my nerves even worse is the server who comes to the table and says, "Hi, I'm Theodore and I'll be your server". To which I always respond, "Hi, I'm Richard and this is Larry, Kenny and Marvin and we'll be your customers."

I agree with Michael. There is a new place in Pikesville called Pasticcio or something like that. It's where Strapazza used to be at the Alley Shops. It's fairly good and reasonably priced. However Sotto Sopra is the definite place for upscale Italian...even though it's in Mt. Vernon. Sadly, nothing strikes my fancy in the Northwest suburbs that could remotely pass for "awesome Italian".

Kirchmayr in Timonium on Deerco Rd if you want to schlepp out there.
It's worth the trip.

Michael.. I'm with you, Buddy! Most of the sub rolls are gooshy on the outside and chewy on the inside. The one place I remember that had authentic Italian rolls was Harley's. And they are defunct. There was a place in Carroll County, Finksburg, I think called "Stubby's". I haven't been there for a while but I remember the rolls were really good. If anyone has an answer let us know!!!

This is what I learned about the Cobb salad when I used to eat lunch at the old Brown Derby in Hollywood;

In 1937, Brown Derby owner Robert H. Cobb went into the restaurant's kitchen to fix a late night snack for Sid Grauman, operator of the Chinese Theater of the same name. He combed the refrigerator for what ingredients he could find and chopped them up finely because Grauman was suffering from a terrible toothache. Thus, the Cobb salad was born. From then on, Grauman would always request that a Cobb salad be prepared for him. The news about this wonderful creation spread quickly throughout Hollywood making it an instant hit, therefore it was added to the menu.

LOL.....hill food..
Isn't being politically correct a pain in the ass?

WHOA!!! mrsjen....Lobster mac and cheese? Can I find a recipe for that somewhere? I've never heard of it before but it sounds most intriguing.

How about Sonny Lee's in Reisterstown or Szechuan House in Lutherville? And while we're on the subject can somone enlighten me as to the actual differences between Cantonese, Mandarin & Szechuan without writing a thesis? I know they represent different parts of China and Szechuan is traditionally more spicy. Thanks!!!!

30 years ago the Bookbinder's in Philly was good. Now however monavano is absolutely correct. It's nothing more than a tourist trap which is kind of sad because at one time it was one of the best seafood reatuarants on the east coast. I'm assuming the one in Alexandria is not much different.

If memory serves (which it doesn't lately) the kosher market next to Max's in Wheaton carries this. I can't remember the exact name...sorry!!

Striver, Thank you doubly!!

thank you!!!