Discover Italian American Food in Utica, NY

Utica retains much of the culture from its heyday as a well known Italian American center in the mid 20th century. Although the political and manufacturing might has moved south, the city remains an inexpensive treasure trove of food and festivals, offering a pleasant contrast to popular Italian neighborhoods in NYC, Chicago, San Francisco or Boston.

For those seeking a fantastic dining experience off the beaten path, Utica holds the keys to paradise. A small city, conveniently located on I-90 (NYS Thruway) in upstate NY, Utica has remained an enclave of Italian American culture with a thriving community that supports numerous restaurants, pizzerias, bakeries and festivals. The streets are lined with charming town homes, majestic catholic churches, graceful trees, gardens brought from the old country, and even a grapevine here and there. The citizens harbor a subtle pride that is eager to demonstrate the excellence of the city's culinary tradition.

Not only does Utica boast uniquely excellent dining establishments, but also several dishes that are local to the area. Some even have their own festival. Area specialties to try include chicken riggies, Utica greens, pusties, half moons and tomato pie.

Starting in the early spring with Riggie Fest and St Patrick's Day, continuing with the Annual Italian Festival, the Boilermaker Road Race, festivals in honor of St Anthony of Padua, St Mary of Mount Carmel, St Rosalia, St's Cosmas and Damian, and some saint somewhere in the area every weekend of the summer, there is always something to eat and experience while the snow isn't flying.

For something to drink, Utica boasts a large Irish population and an active brewery with its own festivals, concerts and weekly events throughout the summer. Most self respecting bars offer Guinness and the local Saranac brews on tap or at least Utica Club, which is the best cheap brew to be had anywhere.

There are many choices for a nice evening out, so more than one evening is recommended. Ventura's on Lansing St is the prime dinner restaurant in the area. This place is nice so don't dress like a bum, but worth every penny as they have great attention to detail, beautiful presentation and unforgettable flavor. For a side, try the excellent manicotti. Their antipasto is to die for and any seafood pasta entree is sure to be great. Almost forgot the calamari! When in Utica for dinner, be sure to try it. For a less formal evening, Joey's on Mohawk St offers a great variety of Utica specialties and classic Italian American favorites. They are another great place to try something with seafood. They also serve a huge slab of the best eggplant parmesan I have had anywhere. Other dinner options to investigate include Bella Cucina in New Hartford, Grimaldi's on Bleecker St, Teddy's in nearby Rome, Dominique's Chesterfield on Bleecker St, and Ancora on Genesee St

For the traveler on a budget, lunch at Pellettieri Joe's on the corner of Jay St and Pellettieri Ave is not to be missed. This charming restaurant and bar is the premier place to try mushroom stew, braciole, covered sausage sandwiches, Italian long hots and of course, Utica Club pints on tap for $1.25. They are open Tuesday and Saturday afternoons for lunch and on Thursday evenings with a free buffet from 6 - 8pm. The buffet is a great way to try Utica greens or sausage and peppers, two area favorites that this place excels at. For lunch, expect it to take up to 2 hours, but the bar is cheap and this place is classic Utica. When pressed for time, try Tony Sparagna's on Lenox Ave. Their lunch menu is just as good, they have a bar, more space and a bit quieter atmosphere, but still lovely old Utica charm.

Utica is the city of 100 pizzerias and most of them would best the rest of the country. The best will open up a whole new world of pizza appreciation. For traditional pizza, try Parkway Pizza on Culver Ave. They also serve delicious and inexpensive dinner entrees like lasagna and eggplant parmesan. Proctor Park up the street makes a great place for a picnic. O'scugnizzo's Pizzeria on Bleecker St makes the best sauce and their specialty is a thin crust upside down pizza, with the sauce on top of the mozzarella and toppings and romano on top of the sauce. For wings, Franco's on Oriskany Blvd in Whitesboro can't be beat. They grill their wings before applying a choice of sauces so they come out crunchy and juicy.

There are some Utica foods that can't be truly experienced except at a festival, for example sausage and pepper sandwiches or pizza frita. Festivals can be found most weekends somewhere in the area, but the best are always put on by the Catholic parishes of East Utica. St Anthony's in June and September, St Mary of Mount Carmel in July, along with St Rosalia in August make sure there is at least one every month of the summer. These festivals boast great street food, extremely hot peppers, coffee with anisette, Italian pastries, wine, pasta fagioli, and live music by La Banda Rossa with any luck. This fantastic local band plays many of the parades and festivals, while also touring internationally. They play a collection of classics and traditional Italian tunes in a rousing interactive format. Don't miss the Tarantella under the stars!

Last but not least is breakfast, the most important meal of the day. For a meal that will stick to the ribs, look no further than the Marr-Logg on Culver Ave. Giambotte is their specialty of potatoes, greens, eggs, cheese, sausage, peppers and delicious. They also make great diner breakfasts and are one of the last bastions of simple excellent coffee. They open early but stop serving breakfast by 11 or so. Riverside Diner on River Rd also does excellent breakfasts and they will substitute crispy corned beef hash for meat. The coffee is standard diner fare here, however. For a morning sweet tooth, Café Caruso and the Florentine Pastry Shop offer a variety of specialty pastries not found many other places. Try a pusty, small custard pie with various fillings, or a cannoli, which these bakeries excel at. They all serve excellent espresso or cappuccino, but don't stop by on a Monday as that is the traditional day off for an Italian baker in this town.

Far from exhaustive, this is merely a summary of the delightful discoveries to be found in Utica. There are too many Italian delis, cafes, pizzerias and specialty import shops to mention. Beyond the food, which is the main event here, Utica also has a world class stage at the Stanley Theater, the Utica Symphony Orchestra, the Munson Williams Proctor Art Institute (upstate campus of the Pratt Institute in NYC), and lovely countryside. Utica is surrounded by green hills, has several nearby rivers and lakes, and is the gateway to the Adirondack State Park, which is larger than Yellowstone and has twice hosted the Winter Olympic Games. All within easy reach on I-90 between Syracuse and Albany, which are both served by international airports. I can't think of a better vacation value!