BERTOLONE,
GIUSEPPE The namesake of Joe's Italian Restaurant, who frequently
greeted visitors as they entered the Alabaster, AL establishment, passed
away on March 6, 2013. Giuseppe Bertolone, commonly known as "Papa Joe"
at the restaurant, died after he stopped breathing and was transported
from the restaurant to the emergency room, according to posts on the
Joe's Italian Facebook page. "With heavy hearts, we regret to inform you
that Papa Joe has passed," read a post on the Facebook page shortly
after 11 p.m. on March 6, 2013. Bertolone, born in Mussomeli, Italy,
moved to California with his wife, Elvira, in 1977 before opening the
original Joe's Italian restaurant in Gilroy, CA in 1981. The Bertolones
sold their California restaurant in 2007 and moved to Shelby County, AL
to be closer to their daughters, Mary Bertolone and Sonia Bertolone de
Carrillo. The Bertolones' son, Michael, moved to Shelby County shortly
thereafter, and de Carrillo and Michael Bertolone opened the Alabaster
Joe's Italian off Weatherly Club Drive in 2009. Giuseppe Bertolone was a
staple at the Alabaster restaurant, and frequently greeted and helped
seat Joe's Italian patrons. Giuseppe is survived by his wife of 44
years, Elvira Bertolone; daughters, Sonia Bertolone de Carrillo and
husband Bruno, and Mary Bertolone Perez and husband Ezequiel; son,
Michael Bertolone and wife Cynthia; and grandchildren, Brittany,
GianCarlo, Francesca, Lucia and Phoenix. The family will greet friends
6-8 p.m. Monday, March 11, 2013 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral
Home in Pelham, AL, with the Wake Service at 7 p.m. in Southern Heritage
Chapel, Pelham. The Funeral Mass will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, 2013
at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Highway 119 South in
Montevallo, AL. Father Ray Dunmyer will officiate. - See more at:
http://obits.al.com/obituaries/birmingham/obituary.aspx?pid=163538485#sthash.qYpmTx0p.dpuf
BERTOLONE, GIUSEPPE The namesake of Joe's Italian Restaurant, who frequently greeted visitors as they entered the Alabaster, AL establishment, passed away on March 6, 2013. Giuseppe Bertolone, commonly known as "Papa Joe" at the restaurant, died after he stopped breathing and was transported from the restaurant to the emergency room, according to posts on the Joe's Italian Facebook page. "With heavy hearts, we regret to inform you that Papa Joe has passed," read a post on the Facebook page shortly after 11 p.m. on March 6, 2013. Bertolone, born in Mussomeli, Italy, moved to California with his wife, Elvira, in 1977 before opening the original Joe's Italian restaurant in Gilroy, CA in 1981. The Bertolones sold their California restaurant in 2007 and moved to Shelby County, AL to be closer to their daughters, Mary Bertolone and Sonia Bertolone de Carrillo. The Bertolones' son, Michael, moved to Shelby County shortly thereafter, and de Carrillo and Michael Bertolone opened the Alabaster Joe's Italian off Weatherly Club Drive in 2009. Giuseppe Bertolone was a staple at the Alabaster restaurant, and frequently greeted and helped seat Joe's Italian patrons. Giuseppe is survived by his wife of 44 years, Elvira Bertolone; daughters, Sonia Bertolone de Carrillo and husband Bruno, and Mary Bertolone Perez and husband Ezequiel; son, Michael Bertolone and wife Cynthia; and grandchildren, Brittany, GianCarlo, Francesca, Lucia and Phoenix. The family will greet friends 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 11, 2013 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, AL, with the Wake Service at 7 p.m. in Southern Heritage Chapel, Pelham. The Funeral Mass will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Highway 119 South in Montevallo, AL. Father Ray Dunmyer will officiate. - See more at: http://obits.al.com/obituaries/birmingham/obituary.aspx?pid=163538485#sthash.qYpmTx0p.dpuf
BERTOLONE,
GIUSEPPE The namesake of Joe's Italian Restaurant, who frequently
greeted visitors as they entered the Alabaster, AL establishment, passed
away on March 6, 2013. Giuseppe Bertolone, commonly known as "Papa Joe"
at the restaurant, died after he stopped breathing and was transported
from the restaurant to the emergency room, according to posts on the
Joe's Italian Facebook page. "With heavy hearts, we regret to inform you
that Papa Joe has passed," read a post on the Facebook page shortly
after 11 p.m. on March 6, 2013. Bertolone, born in Mussomeli, Italy,
moved to California with his wife, Elvira, in 1977 before opening the
original Joe's Italian restaurant in Gilroy, CA in 1981. The Bertolones
sold their California restaurant in 2007 and moved to Shelby County, AL
to be closer to their daughters, Mary Bertolone and Sonia Bertolone de
Carrillo. The Bertolones' son, Michael, moved to Shelby County shortly
thereafter, and de Carrillo and Michael Bertolone opened the Alabaster
Joe's Italian off Weatherly Club Drive in 2009. Giuseppe Bertolone was a
staple at the Alabaster restaurant, and frequently greeted and helped
seat Joe's Italian patrons. Giuseppe is survived by his wife of 44
years, Elvira Bertolone; daughters, Sonia Bertolone de Carrillo and
husband Bruno, and Mary Bertolone Perez and husband Ezequiel; son,
Michael Bertolone and wife Cynthia; and grandchildren, Brittany,
GianCarlo, Francesca, Lucia and Phoenix. The family will greet friends
6-8 p.m. Monday, March 11, 2013 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral
Home in Pelham, AL, with the Wake Service at 7 p.m. in Southern Heritage
Chapel, Pelham. The Funeral Mass will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, 2013
at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Highway 119 South in
Montevallo, AL. Father Ray Dunmyer will officiate. - See more at:
http://obits.al.com/obituaries/birmingham/obituary.aspx?pid=163538485#sthash.qYpmTx0p.dpuf
BERTOLONE,
GIUSEPPE The namesake of Joe's Italian Restaurant, who frequently
greeted visitors as they entered the Alabaster, AL establishment, passed
away on March 6, 2013. Giuseppe Bertolone, commonly known as "Papa Joe"
at the restaurant, died after he stopped breathing and was transported
from the restaurant to the emergency room, according to posts on the
Joe's Italian Facebook page. "With heavy hearts, we regret to inform you
that Papa Joe has passed," read a post on the Facebook page shortly
after 11 p.m. on March 6, 2013. Bertolone, born in Mussomeli, Italy,
moved to California with his wife, Elvira, in 1977 before opening the
original Joe's Italian restaurant in Gilroy, CA in 1981. The Bertolones
sold their California restaurant in 2007 and moved to Shelby County, AL
to be closer to their daughters, Mary Bertolone and Sonia Bertolone de
Carrillo. The Bertolones' son, Michael, moved to Shelby County shortly
thereafter, and de Carrillo and Michael Bertolone opened the Alabaster
Joe's Italian off Weatherly Club Drive in 2009. Giuseppe Bertolone was a
staple at the Alabaster restaurant, and frequently greeted and helped
seat Joe's Italian patrons. Giuseppe is survived by his wife of 44
years, Elvira Bertolone; daughters, Sonia Bertolone de Carrillo and
husband Bruno, and Mary Bertolone Perez and husband Ezequiel; son,
Michael Bertolone and wife Cynthia; and grandchildren, Brittany,
GianCarlo, Francesca, Lucia and Phoenix. The family will greet friends
6-8 p.m. Monday, March 11, 2013 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral
Home in Pelham, AL, with the Wake Service at 7 p.m. in Southern Heritage
Chapel, Pelham. The Funeral Mass will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, 2013
at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Highway 119 South in
Montevallo, AL. Father Ray Dunmyer will officiate. - See more at:
http://obits.al.com/obituaries/birmingham/obituary.aspx?pid=163538485#sthash.qYpmTx0p.dpuf
The food and entertainment make table at Joe's Italian in Alabaster worth the wait
Published: Friday, July 17, 2009, 10:54 AM
Joe's Italian Restaurant is already a popular spot in Alabaster.
You just have to love a restaurant with a "Mamma." Joe's Italian Pizza, Pasta & Cafe has one. There's also a Joe. But when Mamma takes out her harmonica and starts to play it and dance with the nearest handsome, young server to a clapping crowd's delight, well, naturally she takes center stage even if her name isn't on the marquee.
Joe's Italian has developed a cult following of folks who don't mind waiting for a seat during the busy dinner service. This cozy bistro with family photos and maps of Italy on tomato-colored walls and 20 tables set close together beneath pretty chandeliers has been open for about eight months now.
There's even a cool story behind this wildly popular place that lately has drawn diners from as far away as Mobile.
Giuseppe and Elvira Bertolone, who emigrated from Italy in 1977 with their small children, Michael and Sonia, established the original Joe's Italian Restaurant in Gilroy, Calif., in the early¤'80s. After more than a quarter-century of success, Joe and Mamma decided to retire. They sold their restaurant in early 2007 and moved to Alabama to be nearer to their daughters, Sonia and Mary. Soon after, their son, Michael, decided to join the rest of the family here, and the siblings worked together to bring a version of Joe's to Alabaster.
My family visited for dinner one recent Saturday. We sat on an overstuffed settee, and Mamma brought the kids sodas while we waited for a table to open up. We decided that the 30-minute wait was worth it as soon as we dipped fresh focaccia into an herb-infused olive oil (something else Mamma does). My husband and I opted for pasta that night, while our children shared a pizza.
Pasta dishes come with a cup of the soup of the day or a tossed green salad. I started my meal with a cup of thick, rich homemade tomato-basil soup. Delicious! Then I enjoyed one of the evening's specials -- lasagna bianca ($13.99) with savory Italian sausage and turnips between tender layers of fresh pasta covered in a delicious, silky white sauce.
My husband began his meal with a salad of crisp greens and veggies with a zesty Italian dressing. He was delighted with the pappardelle ai Gamberi ($13.99) with its wide egg noodles (cooked perfectly al dente) tossed with nicely done, large, fresh shrimp and a fragrant pesto-cream sauce.
The children shared a small pizza with black olives and salami. The fresh ingredients and zesty marinara sat upon a crispy crust of medium thickness.
We ended our meal with a huge slice of strawberry cake and another of chocolate cake ($5.25 each). Both were good, but the chocolate cake was dryer than we like.
Our only real problem during this meal: The waiter brought the wrong Italian wine to us. (It was similar enough in name, though not in price, that we didn't notice until we got the bill.) We should have paid more attention, but he should have, too. Also, while friendly, this waiter was a bit pushy, and his attention was not consistent.
On our second visit about three weeks later, the comfy sofa was gone and a larger wooden bench was in place to accommodate those waiting. Also, Mamma had fortified her drink offerings. She pointed our son to the soda dispenser and told him to help himself. Turning to us (and the other nearby adults), she held out a pitcher and some glasses and said, "Drink." Since it seemed more command than question, I complied and was rewarded with a light wine spritzer, which Mamma cryptically called "Italian water." This certainly made our 45-minute wait more pleasant.
There is a short children's menu (spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna and penne with butter) for kids 12 and under. Our son, a creature of habit, ordered a small pizza again, and we went ahead with the order even when the server told us it would take about 45 minutes to get it. If Brother was game, so were we. (Turns out, the pizza didn't take that long after all, arriving even before our pastas.) To see if we'd have a better experience with the wine (and realizing that we'd be there for a while), we took our server's suggestion on a bottle of Scala Dei from the Spain's Priorat wine region; he said that after tasting it himself, he bought some to have at home. He was right: This medium-bodied, spicy blend of garnacha, syrah and cabernet was delicious and reasonably priced at $24.
Giuseppe and Elvira Bertolone, who emigrated from Italy in 1977 with their small children, Michael and Sonia, established the original Joe's Italian Restaurant in Gilroy, Calif., in the early¤'80s. After more than a quarter-century of success, Joe and Mamma decided to retire. They sold their restaurant in early 2007 and moved to Alabama to be nearer to their daughters, Sonia and Mary. Soon after, their son, Michael, decided to join the rest of the family here, and the siblings worked together to bring a version of Joe's to Alabaster.
My family visited for dinner one recent Saturday. We sat on an overstuffed settee, and Mamma brought the kids sodas while we waited for a table to open up. We decided that the 30-minute wait was worth it as soon as we dipped fresh focaccia into an herb-infused olive oil (something else Mamma does). My husband and I opted for pasta that night, while our children shared a pizza.
Pasta dishes come with a cup of the soup of the day or a tossed green salad. I started my meal with a cup of thick, rich homemade tomato-basil soup. Delicious! Then I enjoyed one of the evening's specials -- lasagna bianca ($13.99) with savory Italian sausage and turnips between tender layers of fresh pasta covered in a delicious, silky white sauce.
My husband began his meal with a salad of crisp greens and veggies with a zesty Italian dressing. He was delighted with the pappardelle ai Gamberi ($13.99) with its wide egg noodles (cooked perfectly al dente) tossed with nicely done, large, fresh shrimp and a fragrant pesto-cream sauce.
The children shared a small pizza with black olives and salami. The fresh ingredients and zesty marinara sat upon a crispy crust of medium thickness.
We ended our meal with a huge slice of strawberry cake and another of chocolate cake ($5.25 each). Both were good, but the chocolate cake was dryer than we like.
Our only real problem during this meal: The waiter brought the wrong Italian wine to us. (It was similar enough in name, though not in price, that we didn't notice until we got the bill.) We should have paid more attention, but he should have, too. Also, while friendly, this waiter was a bit pushy, and his attention was not consistent.
On our second visit about three weeks later, the comfy sofa was gone and a larger wooden bench was in place to accommodate those waiting. Also, Mamma had fortified her drink offerings. She pointed our son to the soda dispenser and told him to help himself. Turning to us (and the other nearby adults), she held out a pitcher and some glasses and said, "Drink." Since it seemed more command than question, I complied and was rewarded with a light wine spritzer, which Mamma cryptically called "Italian water." This certainly made our 45-minute wait more pleasant.
There is a short children's menu (spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna and penne with butter) for kids 12 and under. Our son, a creature of habit, ordered a small pizza again, and we went ahead with the order even when the server told us it would take about 45 minutes to get it. If Brother was game, so were we. (Turns out, the pizza didn't take that long after all, arriving even before our pastas.) To see if we'd have a better experience with the wine (and realizing that we'd be there for a while), we took our server's suggestion on a bottle of Scala Dei from the Spain's Priorat wine region; he said that after tasting it himself, he bought some to have at home. He was right: This medium-bodied, spicy blend of garnacha, syrah and cabernet was delicious and reasonably priced at $24.
 | |
| Mama, Joe and Mama's Famous Strawberry Cake |
My husband liked his chicken parmigiana ($10.99), which was nicely breaded and moist beneath melted mozzarella and fresh tomato sauce. This came with a side of pasta al pomodoro. I simply had to try the lobster ravioli ($16.95) since that's what most of my friends were raving about. With good reason: Large, fresh ravioli held a delicious mixture of luscious lobster and creamy ricotta cheese. A rich, white-wine cream sauce, sprinkled with slivers of sun-dried tomatoes and bits of fresh parsley, covered it all. I understand that this stunningly great dish was a special before popularity put it on the regular menu. A smart move. I'd definitely go back for it, especially since I had plenty for lunch the next day, too.
I'd even wait in line for a table again. Joe's Italian is a delicious find -- great food at a reasonable price in a sometimes boisterous, always kid-friendly, definitely fun atmosphere. We absolutely loved this place.
Susan Swagler is a freelance restaurant critic for The Birmingham News.
I'd even wait in line for a table again. Joe's Italian is a delicious find -- great food at a reasonable price in a sometimes boisterous, always kid-friendly, definitely fun atmosphere. We absolutely loved this place.
Susan Swagler is a freelance restaurant critic for The Birmingham News.
