I met a couple of friends for lunch at Scotti's recently. I have been to Scotti's once previously but it was so long ago that I don't remember anything. One of the friends had a good lunch there a couple of weeks prior to our meetup and suggested we all try it.
After being seated, we talked for a few minutes while our pupils adjusted to the dim light (hence no pics) and then we considered the menu over an order of their very garlicky garlic bread ($2.50). The garlic is raw and potent, not roasted. If that is your thing, you will like it (although the people with whom you spend your afternoon may not).
The two friends split the fettucine al guido (like alfredo but with butter & cream instead of butter & parmesan). I tried one forkfull and that is all I needed to know that this is not the dish for me. I do not know how they ate even half a portion (or how the one friend who recently ate there managed to eat an entire portion at his first lunch). To my palate, it was disgustingly buttery and heavy. I felt like I was eating a stick of butter. The two of them, however, enjoyed it and finished their plates.
My choice was the ravioli al caruso. The ravioli is meat-filled and caruso is a red sauce with small meatballs and chicken livers. At first I thought the sauce was a bit bland but I think that is because I have had too much sauce out of a jar. My instinct may have been to expect something salty and "zesty." This sauce was neither. But it was not bland; it would be more accurate to say the ingredients were well balanced so that none stood out.
The meatballs, on the other hand, could use a little help. I did find them gustatorily lackluster. And the chicken livers? Well, you either like them or you don't. I like their bitter savoriness and enjoyed them with this dish. I was surprised at how many meatballs and livers came with the dish; they were not stingy with the portions.
My pasta lunch special rang in at $9.85, including tax. It doesn't classify as cheap eats but it is good eats.
