Rusty left town and went into hiding during his birthday. So I decided to throw a party for him while he was gone. We started off at Harefield Road for drinks. Then Todd at the grand idea to eat at Bamonte’s.
This place is awesome. Opened in 1900, according to their parking lot sign (a restaurant parking lot is super rare in these parts).  Bamonte’s is fancy American-Italian (fancy as in mid-20th Century fancy), with chandeliers on the ceiling, older waiters in tuxedos who made me wait for the ladies to order first –a place where Don Draper would take a date to (like when he had the Chicken Kiev). It looks like the decor hasn’t changed much probably since the 60’s.
It also feels like a total mobster restaurant …I’m not saying it is or isn’t. But I made the the mistake of sitting facing the wall. You’re supposed to sit with your back against the wall in case someone comes in to whack you. It’s a sign that you are the most important person at the table. Instead, no one sat against the wall. None of us felt they were assassinate-able.
I followed Todd into the restroom and was going to make a joke about whacking him. I didn’t because there were other people in there. That would have been awkward, since I was going to use the actual term “whacking” in the men’s room.
The food was good. Kind of reminds me of Carmine’s back room, with fancier decor. My Veal Scaloppine Marsala (mushrooms and white wine sauce) was tender. Todd’s Veal Cutlet Parmigiana was huge. The entrees came with potatoes and green beans on the side to share. The Blueberry Cream Pie is a must get. If you go, you can say I said that after someone looking up Yelp said that someone else said that.
I saw Spaghetti and Meatballs at the table next to me. Those balls were monstrous. I might get that next time, hopefully with a date. I want to feel like Don Draper. I’ll bring a proper camera next time.
Bamonte’s Restaurant – 32 Withers St (btwn the BQE & Lorimer St) Brooklyn, NY 11211
It was Rusty’s best birthday dinner. Todd did a magic trick.
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