Antipasto Salad
Going veg in SGF isn’t as impossible as one might think. Look for vegan tips, reviews and more every Tuesday from the Viral Vegan.
Alex Stocksdale: The Viral Vegan
By Alex Stocksdale for TAGsgf.com
The proximity of the Phelps Grove neighborhood to the Missouri State campus makes it a hotbed for raucous ragers on any given weekend. The pervasive Monday morning scene throughout the semester becomes ordinary; cheap beer cans strewn about the sidewalk, front porches thrashed in ardent booze-induced stoopers, and very, very concerned landlords. But this was no ordinary weekend, this was Halloween. Trudging through smashed pumpkins and obvious signs of evenings turning out a little less than swell, I finally made it to Bambino’s.
Located a block West of National on the corner of Delmar and Florence, the building that houses Bambino’s was built in the early 1930s as a neighborhood grocery store. Although considerably updated on both the outside and in, it still maintains the quaint aesthetic feel of days gone past. The (mostly) covered patio is, in my opinion, one of the most chill and low-key in the SGF—perfect for enjoying a pitcher on a balmy afternoon. Unfortunately the first day of November isn’t so conducive to outside seating so an indoor table was in order.
The Maria at Bambino's was a bit disappointing. Hopefully, it was all in the timing.
My dining companion, we’ll call her Barbara, and I took a seat just inside the door by the window and were promptly greeted with menus and had our drink orders taken. We chose their homemade hummus as an appetizer. I was a little disappointed to find that it was, although tasty, more of a soup than a dip that can be scooped up with pita. I’ve had it before with the correct consistency, and it is one of my favorites; I guess you can’t win them all. For the main course “Barbara” ordered the Antipasto salad- a very generous portion of green leaf lettuce, mixed greens, onion, red peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, black olives, mushrooms and banana peppers. Substitute the provel cheese for veganism, and this salad is absolutely worth $6.99. I chose “The Maria”- angel hair pasta in marinara sauce. I was again a bit disappointed, as the flavor of the sauce was good, but “al dente” had passed the pasta 2 hours ago. Maybe coming in the after dinner lull had a hand in this mishap, yet it was unpleasant none the less. (As a side note, although it doesn’t denote on the menu that “The Maria” comes with cheese, I recommend being very specific to your server that you don’t want it, because you know, things happen).
I can very safely say that the hour in which my visit to Bambino’s occurred directly affected the quality of the food—not that it’s any excuse. The service was attentive without being overbearing…. As good as you’d find in any locally owned establishment. When the check came it was $25 including two crisp and refreshing adult beverages, not including gratuity. If you’re in the Phelps Grove neighborhood (especially during the warm months!) and hungry and/or parched give Bambino’s a try; you may not love it, but you also may not have to scrape pumpkin pulp off your shoes when you get home.
Bambino’s: A Foodie Review (12/7/09)
Phone: 862-9999
Hours: Monday-Saturday 11a-10p Sunday 12p-9p
Delivery: M-F 11a-2p
1141 E. Delmar
