'New York eatery' servesa family of Italian delights- al.com

 

'New York eatery' servesa family of Italian delights

Thursday, May 08, 2008

MIKE.KAYLOR@htimes.com

Tony's is for sandwiches. Tony's is for pizza. Tony's is for pasta.

Tony's Little Italy is many things for its customers. It bills itself as a "New York eatery," but the specialty breads and meats are only a beginning.

Calzones and stromboli add variety. Fancy salads give the restaurant another aspect. Lobster ravioli is a delicacy, and the desserts are delightful.

Tony's Little Italy recently opened on Whitesburg Drive just north of Airport Road in the old Qdoba Mexican Grill building. It joins a commercial strip that has been invaded by chain restaurants over the last several years - McAlister's Deli, Bonefish Grill, Nothing but Noodles, Jason's Deli and Panera Bread to name a few.

This is not a chain, although it has two sister restaurants around the area.

This Whitesburg eatery takes the best of those as an option for south Huntsville. The original location is Tony's Italian Deli west of Interstate 565 near the Huntsville International Airport. It's on the edge of a mobile home development and has become a favorite lunch spot for high-techies in those western research parks. A second Tony's opened in the upscale Providence community, and it has a more formal atmosphere.

Tony's on Whitesburg has an open dining room with wood-fired ovens covering the back wall. It has the feel of family, as it should. Tony Attanasio grew up in New York and moved to Alabama after his mother had settled here. His brother Tony Carney followed to join him at the restaurants.

'New York eatery' servesa family of Italian delights- al.com