Looking for a good Italian restaurant

My extended family is made up of picky eaters. About all we can agree on is Italian food. I'm trying to find an inexpensive, family style Italian restaurant somewhere in the city. The only one they will go to now is Olive Garden and I'd like to find an alternative. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Pesto's, downtown at 5th and Chestnut, if you're looking for lunch M-F or dinner F/S.

Tuscany, Outer Loop. http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/51/1347963/ ... Louisville

[Robin Garr]

Le Gallo Rosso on Bardstown Road just south of the Bristol, and DiFabio's Casapela on Frankfort Avenue just west of the Irish Rover, are both excellent family-style Italian restaurants run by local owners. I can't tell you that dinner there won't be as cheap as Olive Garden, but the food and the hospitality at both places is excellent, and it's not as pricey as the high-end Italian places.

Also, Tuscany Italian out on Outer Loop in the Walmart shopping center just west of New Cut Road has excellent family Italian, and it might be closer to Olive Garden prices.

I would throw Martini in there, too. It's at the Summit and now locally owned.

[Robin Garr]

these also should satisfy your needs:
carrabbas's
bucca di beppo
maccaroni grill
all within a 2 miles of hurstborne lane too and inexpensive....

Mild respiratory and digestive annoyances to chains.

Our fav is Come Back Inn on Swan Street.

I'll put another good word in for Martini's, we really like the place. We've also had a couple of good meals at Bravo Cucina.

We find ourselves going back to Anselmo's on Bardstown Road enough that it's becoming a regular hangout. They have the virtue of a number of non-Italian dishes as well for variety with a group of people and reasonable prices. And they have a full bar. What's more to need?

We also had a lovely lunch at Bravo Cucina. I'd forgotten about them.

I would also vote for Martini. We had excellent food there, but it was a little nicer than I expected it to be atmosphere wise. We took our young children for an early dinner after shopping and I was a little uncomfortable having them there even though Martini has a kid's menu. I kind of assume (wrongly at times) that most Italian places are pretty casual, so I just thought I'd point that out.

Our fav is Come Back Inn on Swan Street.

From the original post, Come Back Inn sounds like exactly what you're looking for.

Here's the menu:
http://www.comebackinn.biz/

Our fav is Come Back Inn on Swan Street.

From the original post, Come Back Inn sounds like exactly what you're looking for.

Here's the menu:
http://www.comebackinn.biz/

Ditto on ComeBack Inn being an excellent match. We love it there and have been taking our extended family there for years. Very family-friendly and casual with great food.

Deb

I love amici's on ormsby in old lou. hands down the best alfredo sauce i have had on this planet. I forget the name of the dish but the menu states that it was "uncle franks favorite", at least i think it was frank. penne pasta with sardines and get this, two fried green tomatoes on top. i must say, visually i was unimpressed, but this dish is amazing.

penne pasta with sardines and get this, two fried green tomatoes on top.

Good grief, that sounds horribly good.

Le Gallo Rossa on Bardstown road. She makes all the pasta from scratch. Hands down the best in the city.