Eating My Way Down 17-A #3

The Italian Bistro II on 17-A is my favorite Italian eatery close to home. Nestled in a strip mall near the intersection of I-26 and US 17-A is place for lovers of Italian food to dismount. It seems that two guys came over from that boot shaped country and settled in New Jersey and later opened two restaurants in South Carolina. Fortunately for me in my eating my way down 17-A I found them.

Their place isn't overwhelmed with ambiance; a few Italian looking prints framed on the walls with a number of hand written signs advertising specialities. I think some vintage La Dolce Vita prints would have looked good.

There is an extensive menu like some other Italian places.  And, there's plenty of light by which to read the menu which is encapsulated in plastic unlike some of those fancy places with candles on the tables.  Part of the kitchen is open so you see the cooks at work preparing the food.  The attractive waitresses are prompt, polite, and ready to offer suggestions or answer any questions about the food.  As a native Southerner I was not familiar with the difference between a stromboli and  a calzone.  For me Italian food demands to be accompanied by either beer or wine. Lists for both beverages are not long but adequate.  Two Italian beers are offered. I favor Peroni. The desert list contains only three items, but after eating both the cheesecake and canoli any addition would be superflous.  Some friends tell me that the cheesecake and pizza are New York style.  I guess that is a good thing. I like 'em.

Prices are reasonable and represent good value. When we've eaten there we carried enough food home for a meal the next day.  Italian Bistro II does quite a bit of carry-out (that's take-away for you folks who invented the English language) business.

The next time my taste buds are requesting a dish that ends in a vowel.  I'm heading down 17-A to Italian Bistro II.