DaLonzo's On The Hill

DaLonzo's On the Hill is the kind of place that you really gotta see, to believe. A gem hidden away in rural Ohio like a diamond hidden in an old woman's jewelry box. The setting is so obscure, so hidden away, that if you weren't intentionally looking for it, you'd likely not find it. The sign down by the main highway is as battered and ruined looking as much of the surrounding town of Wellsville; however, we found our way, and after a trip up a long and winding road we came to..an abandoned elementary school?

The building the restaurant is housed in an old elementary school building, and the setting is more amusing then you might think. Walking down the deserted hallway at 7:30 PM, it was like an eighties horror movie, complete with co-ed leading us merrily to our doom (or, in this case, "the Italian Room", more on this later). She was surprised to see us when we walked in, and explained they got a lot of pick up business, but little eat-in. This suited me and the girlfriend just fine.

The room we were taken to (i would later learn off their website) is "The Italian Room". It's cheesier then it sounds; the walls are adorned with pictures of Al Pacino, the cast of the Sopranos, and assorted unusual images of Frank Sinatra and other lounge acts. Behind these images (and a spectacular looking wall display of wine bottles, peppers, and Italian memorabilia) you could still see the green industrial paint that had adorned the school in it's more academic days. One wall was a huge blackboard; the others were bare save for the posters, pictures, and plaques adorning them. We were alone in the large room, save for a TV against the far wall and the occasional appearance of our good-mannered waitress. The TV remained dark, which was perfectly acceptable to me - it allowed beloved and I to converse quietly.

I really cannot express the surreality of the place; the almost unreal nature of it. It was silent as a tomb, yet peaceful. Despite the odd decorations, there was a friendly, almost welcoming atmosphere, as though we were eating in a family room rather then in a restaurant.

When our food arrived, we were startled, by the size of it. It was a serving size that i can only describe as Epic. The Calzone i had ordered was the size of a medium pizza (at least!) folded over; in the middle, like a medallion, sat a mushroom, baked into the surface (a very nice touch, if i may say so). The salad beloved ordered was similarly huge; it was served to us in an actual serving bowl.

Now, my Calzone was good. I'll not lie: it was good enough that I'd have it again in a heart-beat. But, the salad was beyond good. The salad was into the realms of delicious. It used croûtons of fresh bread (a first, for me). The dressing (golden italian) was very good. The cheese in it was even good!

The whole experience would have sold me on DaLonzo's. I'd have happily gone back, just to experience the, well, ambiance of the place. But, the food is what sold me. It was food prepared with love, and care, and concern, by people who give a damn if it's good or not. I cannot stress this enough: I was impressed, very impressed, by the work they'd put into it and the pride they had displayed. Even the serving girl, not even out of high school, seemed to take some joy in her tasks and made us feel as if we were part of the family, stopped by for dinner, instead of just two weird people who showed up at 7:30 on a tuesday.

My only caveat is that some of the salad ingredients were substandard, but this is unavoidable in Ohio in march. And by substandard, I mean things like, the green peppers in the salad were a little wilted seeming, and seemed a bit marked up. It in no way detracted from the taste or the experience of the meal, and was a purely cosmetic experience.