Tasty Italian Cuisine — For A Price

Back in the 1990s, I can remember my family going to Giardino's - by Russo's On The Bay at least once a month to get our Italian food fix. The highlights of the visit were the complimentary pizza pieces they would serve you and the size of the platters you would get. My wife and her family used to come here from Flushing for the same reasons.

Fast forward to the present and you get an entirely different experience.

I have only been to  a few times in the 2000s, missing the old place each time. There are three dining areas, including the Tuscany Room, which is the first place you pass when you enter the restaurant. I have never been seated here, it looks to be a private party room with wedding-like décor. Next up is the patio room which is where we dined the last time we were here. And following that is the main dining room that was completely renovated since the last time I was here.

We were seated in the patio room. There was only one other couple in the room besides my wife, our son and myself. We gave our orders right away knowing what we like here. 

My wife ordered a pasta dish from their old menu, rigatoni all'ortolana, which is eggplant in a tomato sauce with basil and a side of ricotta. She has been getting this here as long as she can remember. In fact, my wife likes this dish so much that she has her own version she makes at home for us.

This evening I ordered veal parmigiana which I surprisingly found out was not on the menu anymore either. This came with a side of pasta.

Unfortunately, we had to order a pizza margarita for my son because they no longer have the complementary pies of old. Instead, they give you warm plain bread, cheese flavored flat bread and a kind of kidney bean slaw that was awesome.

It took all of 10 minutes before our waiter returned with our food. My son's pizza looked great and I couldn't wait to grab a slice. My wife's pasta looked nice to with a healthy heap of ricotta cheese saddling her plate.

Then I looked at my plate and my food bliss vanished. There were only two small medallions of veal next to a mound of angel hair pasta. Don't get me wrong —those two medallions were delicious, but this was like an appetizer serving. 

This was the second visit that I was unsatisfied with the portion size of my meal at Giardino's. On the prior occasion, I ordered a combo platter that had chicken parm, ravioli and manicotti. All of it tasted great — but I have to say, the portion size was less to be desired for the price you are paying.

Everything else about this place is great. The waiters are very friendly, the dining rooms are comfortable to eat in, the food is excellent and the valet parking is a key bonus.

However, with all the other Italian restaurants around, our next visit may not be anytime soon.

Giardino's is located at 44-37 Douglaston Pkwy. in Douglaston. Hours are Mon.-Thurs., noon to 10 p.m.; Fri., noon to 11 p.m.; Sat., noon to midnight and Sun., 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.