Picture it - a small mountain village outside of Rome, 1904, Luigi Tani was born. His upbringing included ancient ruins, a family restaurant, and delicious food. At 18, he left home to pursue other dreams, eventually having his own family, including a son named Duilio.
Duilio was a renowned clarinet player; through his music, he traveled the world, won awards, and even met stars such as Duke Ellington. In 2007, Duilio needed a place to play music, and that’s when it dawned on him. Opening an Italian restaurant, serving family recipes, and enjoying live music every evening.
To this day, they still do just that.
A few years ago, Duilio and his wife retired to Spain and sons teamed up to purchase Luigi’s Patio Ristorante from him.
I was able to sit down with Andres Tani and hear all about their family, growing up as the youngest of 7 siblings, the home-cooked meals, and how close they all still are - even if spread out across the globe. “I can travel all around the world and have a couch to crash on.”
Now, Andres has been running the day-to-day operations for 8 years. He’s seen the good with the bad, the seasons come and go, and he has a positive outlook for the future of Luigi’s - and that is a beautiful thing!
Andres sent out so many amazing dishes, starting with their Portabella and Polenta appetizer. The mushroom is marinated and charbroiled; a firm, “meaty” mushroom with wedges of Italian polenta on the side that were nestled on top of a bed of lightly dressed greens. If you’re looking for a vegetarian-friendly dish or just a great place to start, this is it!
Then, a second appetizer was brought out. The Suppli al Telefono is a plate of crunchy croquettes filled with delicate, fried porcini mushrooms, rice, and mozzarella cheese. Crunchy outside, soft, gooey insides - a beautiful thing. Served with a dish of Napoli sauce for dipping. The savory, earthy flavors of the porcini mushrooms were not subtle, but not overpowering. If you love mushrooms, you’re going to love this!
I haven’t had duck in nearly 20 years, and it wasn’t a great experience when I had it; so when duck was brought to the table, I have to admit I was a little hesitant.
This duck was elegantly prepared; seared to create a lovely crust on the outside, then tender and succulent on the inside. It was served with a couple of sauces, one sweet and one savory to expand the taste experience. The side of green beans were crisp and fresh. But I have to admit, the scalloped potatoes were the highlight of this plate for me. Because to be honest, I’m a hoe for potatoes, just call me a ho-tato. Saucy, cheesy, potato-y. I don’t know if these are available to purchase by the pan, but I probably shouldn’t ask either.
Little pockets of heaven, that’s what the Tortellini plate was full of. Tortellini stuffed with ricotta cheese, then tossed with a delicate rosemary cream sauce and tender beef morsels. There’s so much savory action going on here; the ricotta, rosemary, and beef all played a crucial well-balanced part in the overall flavor of this dish. Absolutely fantastic, that’s the only way I know to describe this one.
And then probably my all-time favorite Italian dish - cliche? Maybe. Don’t care.
There’s just so many layers; layers of flavors, layers of textures, layers of love!
The Lasagna came out steaming and fragrant. The pasta sheets, perfectly cooked with a nice bite to them. The beef, lean and flavorful. The bechamel sauce, mild and silky. Then the herbaceous tomato sauce, bursting with flavor to tie it all together. Perfection.
Andres decided that he wanted to make sure that I tasted his mom and dad’s favorite dessert before I left, the Cranberry Bread Pudding. While rich and decadent, the cranberry brightened up the overall flavor. It was plated with a buttery brandy sauce, which is just as it sounds. Running a bite of the bread pudding through the bold sauce made for such a beautiful combination.
If you’re out takin’ the backroads for an afternoon drive, or if you’re looking for a stunning atmosphere for a special occasion, make sure you swing by Luigi’s and tell ‘em I said hi! You’ll be glad you did!
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3975 Texas 6 Frontage Rd #100, College Station, TX 77845
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