Bites Nearby: Paese Mio

Usually when I order pasta, I prefer to add a little meat to my meal. My never-ending pasta bowl order at Olive Garden is always penne pasta with sausage.

Spaghetti isn’t the same unless it’s served with meatballs. I prefer meat sauce to marinara. Unfortunately, it’s that time of year again: Lent. This means that on Fridays, meat is off-limits for me, no matter how much it kills me to turn a blind eye to the sausage, veal, chicken, and pepperoni on the menu.

In an effort to try and prove to myself (and everyone else) that I could enjoy my meal sans meat, I visited in Allentown for this week’s Bites.

Paese Mio, located at 6561 Tilghman Street, is a family-owned Italian restaurant with a name that translates to ‘My Hometown’ in English. One thing is for sure: we should be thrilled to have this restaurant in our hometown. Their extensive pasta offerings and array of menu items including pizza, chicken dishes and salads will make anyone, carnivorous or not, happy.

The Dishes: Angel hair pasta tossed with garlic and oil and a plate of manicotti. Our side dishes, garlic bread and salads, were included in the meal.

 What’s on the Plate: My angel hair pasta was tossed with chopped garlic and seasoned with olive oil. Two helpings of manicotti were served in a dish of zesty marinara sauce.

How’s it Taste? In my opinion, one of the worst crimes an Italian restaurant can commit is a lack of authenticity. I want my pasta to transport me to Sicily for the duration of my meal. Fortunately, Paese Mio’s delicious pasta dishes allowed me and my dinner companion to do just that.

My angel hair pasta was tossed with olive oil and chopped garlic, which added a little kick to my meal. Her manicotti dish featured an ample amount of homemade marinara sauce. Both of our entrees were served with side house salads.

One thing you know I obviously can’t leave out is a mention of the bread offerings at Paese Mio. When our server greeted us, he did so with a dish of breadsticks and garlic dipping sauce. Ladies and gentlemen, that is how you make a good first impression.

Eat This Because: It’s off the beaten path. Plenty of locals have heard of and tasted Paese Mio, but dining in-house on a Friday night won’t have you sitting so close to your neighbors that you can hear their conversation. But if it is conversation that you’re looking for, the restaurant staff is happy to oblige. After paying my tab, our hostess asked us what we were doing with the rest of our night, gave us a brief overview of the history of the place and sent us off with a plea to come back soon. I can guarantee I will.

Tab: $20, including one soda and a free refill.

Etc: Paese Mio has an impressive menu, but younger diners aren’t always willing to sample Eggplant Rollatini or Chicken Piccata. Paese Mio menu keeps that in mind, and features a list of pastas and sauces that allow kids to pick and choose their own pasta/sauce combo. A crowd pleaser, for sure.