Laicos Restaurant

[MCA™]

Laico's makes the front page of The New York Times.

"My family’s favorite is Laico’s, hidden on a residential street in the Greenville neighborhood. No matter how many times I go, I always get lost among the rows of aluminum-sided houses.

“When my father first decided to buy the place, he told a friend where it was, and the guy said, “What, are you crazy?’ ” said the chef, Louis Laico. “But location isn’t everything.”

Mr. Laico has been cooking there since 1975, catering to neighbors, local politicians, hotel guests from the tonier downtown section and natives, like me, who have moved away and miss the sauce. Meals here start with a salad with Laico’s secret-recipe dressing, which must be sopped up with the dense Italian bread delivered by the famous Dom’s Bakery in Hoboken (which also supplies Piccolo’s).

The seafood salad is so tender it’s worth driving hours for, as my sister on the Jersey Shore will attest. The eggplant parm is my Italian mom’s favorite (“sliced nice and thin,” she says). There’s homemade poundcake, but I’ve never had enough room. It gives me a little extra something to look forward to when I’m lost in Greenville next time."

[Olewnick]

We finally went to Laico's last night and give it a thumbs up. It's not that the food is knock-your-socks-off fantastic, more that all the ingredients were clearly fresh and first-rate and very well prepared. The bread and table salad were both excellent. We had the eggplant rollatini and spicy fried shrimp as apps--"spicy" proved to be an understatement; it was at three star Thai level, but very tasty. The gratis serving of string beans was sweet and crisp. Linda had some salmon with veggies (really good broccoli that I helped myself to) while I chose the pork bracciole (sp?) over fettuccine. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the rolled pork was just OK. We shared a wonderful tiramisu that just melted in the mouth.

Friendly atmosphere, attentive service, pleasant valet parker. We'll be back; I want to sample more of the pastas....

[cyclotronic]

Probably more like great-grandma.  I know people who have been going there since it opened (early 1970s?), and apparently she was a white-haired little grandma back then as well.

The woman who served us was almost like grandma. 

[Woodsy]

Went there last night with the Mrs.  The food was excellent.  I had the veal saltimbocca and the Mrs. had the lobster ravioli.  Both were excellent.  No doggie bag CW but that's probably because we didn't order an appetizer.  Even the bread (fresh baked) and salad were tasty.  The woman who served us was almost like grandma. 

We'll be back!

[cyclotronic]

I'd say great.  Definitely the best of the old-school Italian restaurants in JC (Just Sonny's, Rita & Joe's, Lincoln Inn, etc, etc, etc.)  Although Case Dante is a strong contender for that title, but is way overpriced and I understand that quality has gone down under its newest ownership. 

It's in a residential area on Terhune Ave.  I haven't been there for several years but it's red sauce Italian and a good neighborhood joint.  Great?  I dunno about that.

[super_furry]

Been there several times and it is the real McCoy! It is a great restaurant to bring guests from out of town, with authentic JC ambiance - whatever that is.

I usually get the regular menu items and avoid the specials which are overpriced.

Someone I work with who used to live in Jersey City a long time ago told me that this place was great.  It is supposidly located on Danforth Avenue.  Does anyone know if it's still open?  Is worth checking out?  And where exactly it is?

Thanks.

[CeeDub]

yeah, like I said.  whuddya waitin' for Woodsy?

FUHGEDDABOWDIT!!

[jcindahouse]

Based on perusing this thread, we went exploring yesterday to find this place. I anticipated seeing it on a stretch of shops and restaurants and was totally surprised by what is basically a house converted to a restaurant on a residential street!

We had a very fine lunch indeed, enjoying the bread and salad starter. Hubby had the Pork Medallions with Bell Peppers which he called "intoxicatingly spicy" and I had a HUGE plate of Paglia e Fieno with Shrimp and Lobster in a Vodka Cream Sauce. The one year old enjoyed the bread basket and the attention of the two, nice older Italian gentlemen. We did indeed have a doggie bag to bring home and the doggie was as appreciative as we were.

It's off the beaten track and worth it! Anyone try their pizza? How is it?

[Woodsy]

Welcome to Jersey City - you must be new here.
Go there.  Now.   Tonight.   Be not afraid.

You'll be smiling like a mortgage payer and full as a city council member.  And you'll have a doggie bag I bet.

That's some high praise.  I can't guarantee tonight, unless they're open till 2:00am on a Thursday (work sucks) but soon and hopefully often.

[Mr_Grieves]

It's in a residential area on Terhune Ave.  I haven't been there for several years but it's red sauce Italian and a good neighborhood joint.  Great?  I dunno about that.

[CeeDub]

Welcome to Jersey City - you must be new here.

we don't tell people about the really good stuff, but since you're here and not there . . . this is as real as it get, unpretentious, solid, like mama's sunday gravy (and my name ain't Bastianich or whadevuh).

Yes.  Yes.  You had it the first time.  Not hard to find.  They're in the book - look it up.  They do some valet so it's not a crazy as Just Sonny's for parking.

Go there.  Now.   Tonight.   Be not afraid.

You'll be smiling like a mortgage payer and full as a city council member.  And you'll have a doggie bag I bet.

Olive Garden.  I can barely type that - people put that shit in their bodies?

[Woodsy]

Someone I work with who used to live in Jersey City a long time ago told me that this place was great.  It is supposidly located on Danforth Avenue.  Does anyone know if it's still open?  Is worth checking out?  And where exactly it is?

Thanks.

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