Interior of Luigi's Restaurant

Luigi's is as much a tradition in Augusta, Georgia as the Masters. Originally opened in 1949 by Nicholas Ballas, it is presently owned and operated by his grandson, Chuck Ballas Jr. and his wife, Penny. It's the oldest continually operating restaurant in Augusta and there is a reason why. They are proud to honor the family tradition of great Greek and Italian dishes. Penny explained, "The recipes are my husband's grandfather's. They have been passed down and sometimes adjusted to meet current trends. My husband still makes the sausage himself." 

This attention to detail plus the old world decor and the friendly atmosphere make this a favorite eating spot for celebrities as well as just ordinary folks. Ben Crenshaw has standing reservation when he is in town.

Meatballs and spagetti and pizza at Luigi's

Jack Nicolas' family are regulars during Masters week.  Some of the  celebrities who have dined there over the years are  Jackie Gleason, Dan Marino and Randy Quaid. 

Golf Digest consistently votes Luigi's as one of their favorite restaurants of pro golfers when they are at the Masters.

I had the Meatballs and Spaghetti for lunch. My companion ordered pizza and I had to swipe a slice of that too. Finished it all off with baklava. It was flakey layers of filo dough oozing walnuts, cinnamon and honey. It gives the term "finger-licking-good" a higher meaning and is my all time favorite Greek dessert

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Memorial to founders at Castelli"s

Castelli's Restaurant at 255 in Alton, Illinois is another ethnic restaurant with a family tradition. Today, it's owned by Tracy Castelli and her brother, Matt. It's been in the family since their great grandparents, Alfonso and Teresa Castelli, and their son, Pete, opened in 1937.

Alfonse was a coal miner and Teresa learned cooking the hard way; feeding her husband, family and friends on his paycheck. When they first opened the restaurant in a simple house, people stood in line to get a taste of Teresa's cooking.   

There were some rough days in the restaurant's history but one thing is still the same. People still stand in line to get a taste of the great food.

Cannoli at Castelli"s

My choice was Chicken Parmigiana. It was plump, juicy and covered with a rich tomato based sauce and tons of melted cheese that had me almost drooling even before the first bite.  Salad was fresh and tossed with their special house dressing. Dessert was a real Italian Cannoli. Yummie!

The atmosphere is true Italian also. Tracy and Matt have not forgotten their roots. The restaurant is now housed in a modern brick building that seats 325 but inside there are pictures of the early locations and family on the walls and even a table set like a shrine to honor Alfonso and Teresa.  

Tracy, who usually greets guests, will be happy to tell you more about the restaurant and family's "good old days."

That fantastic fried ice cream

The atmosphere really makes Rosita's special. Out front you will love the huge metal sculptures.

Inside the decor is bright colors with many Mexican murals and paintings on the walls.

As might be expected, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in a big way here.

You might get lucky and enjoy a performance of the young Mexican Cultural Dancers. Three of the young girls performed the night we visited and we were all blown away by so much talent in such young girls. These kids are fabulous.

Grits bowl and tea pot at Lemongrass

You might even find things as varied as Creme Brulee French toast, fried chicken, Eggs Benedict or a Po'-Boy there. One reason for the unusually broad variety is Chef Tom. He was originally trained in French cooking and worked his way through the kitchens of New York learning every type of cuisine imaginable. He progressed from a lowly dishwasher to the executive chef at the 4-Star InterContinental Hotel.

These are just a few of the great ethnic restaurants around our great county. When you travel, always be willing to experiment and try new things especially food. It is a rewarding experience.

 

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