DiMartino’s Italian Eatery maintains tradition
Members of the DiMartino family have been feeding Southern Nevadans ever since the family opened its first restaurant here in 1973.
Now, David DiMartino is celebrating his family’s Italian-American culinary heritage with the opening of DiMartino’s Italian Eatery, 8810 S. Maryland Parkway.
The restaurant opened three weeks ago, and owner David DiMartino, son of Emiddio and Shirley DiMartino, said he uses both the traditional recipes and the authentic, no-shortcut ways of his parents.
"We make our own homemade bread and homemade pizza dough," he said. "I get up at 5 in the morning to make the bread. And the sauce, it takes six hours on the stove.
"This food, it just takes so much to do it, but I wouldn’t want to do it any other way. It’d be like cheating. It’s got to be done the way my parents did it back in the day, or I wouldn’t have opened."
With its open kitchen, autographed celebrity photos hanging on the wall and classic Italian restaurant ambience, DiMartino’s Italian Eatery — which seats about 83 — offers a "very warm" vibe, DiMartino said.
In the classic home-style tradition, portions are sizable. DiMartino said salads, for instance, are enough for three to share. But, for less hearty eaters, most pasta dishes are available in half-portions.
A roster of pizzas includes classic combos and specialty pies, and hot subs ($8.99), built upon a foundation of homemade Italian bread, include peppers and eggs and a "pick your Parmesan" option of meatball, eggplant or chicken.
Former longtime customers already are stopping by the new restaurant to reacquaint themselves with the family and its cuisine.
"My dad’s at the door every night. He’s 85 and he still tells his jokes. And my mom, she comes in to help me (bake) the desserts."
DiMartino’s Italian Eatery is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Dress is casual, and reservations aren’t required but will be taken. A liquor license is in the works.
Starters: Fried calamari, $9.59; baked mozzarella, $8.59; bruschetta, $8.59
Soups and salads: Pasta e fagioli, $3.59 a cup or $6.59 a bowl; house antipasto salad, $6.99 for a small and $12.99 for a large
Pasta: Lasagna, $13.59 for a full order; linguini with chopped baby clams, $14.99 for a full order or $8.99 for a half; fettuccine alfredo, $11.99 for a full order or $6.99 for a half (add chicken for $3)
Entrees: Chicken della casa (sauteed chicken breast piccata, marsala or Angelo), $14.99; emiddio pizza (white pizza with olive oil, mozzarella, fresh chicken and broccoli), $18.99; spinach calzone, $14.99
Desserts: Homemade cheesecake, cream puffs and cannoli, $7.29 each
Information: 260-8555
By john przybys
