Italy
in Alabaster
For
our review, we investigated Joe's Italian, a quaint but locally acclaimed mom
and pop restaurant known for its touted authentic cuisine. We visited several
times, trying a variety of dishes and recording our experiences, as well as the
opinions of others. We based our final opinion on several factors, including
atmosphere, service, price, and food quality.
As
for the restaurant itself, it can be found hidden away in a corner of Alabaster.
Its looks and location are a bit disappointing from the outside; it more
closely resembles a local dollar store than a restaurant. However, the interior
is lavishly decorated, showcasing photographs and paintings through the dim
lighting that was no doubt meant to inspire a formal experience. Towering
slices of cake can be observed in a display near the door as you are led to
your table by an extraordinarily friendly waiter. Upon being seated, you are
given a small basket of fresh bread to enjoy as you look over your menu. The
list contains several Italian dishes, boasting familiar classics among the
lesser-known, more difficult to pronounce names. Everything lends itself to an
increasingly believable atmosphere of authenticity. However, whether it lives
up to the image it builds for itself is another subject entirely; after all,
the food will be the most determining factor of quality.
This
video is the culmination of our observations. Through it, we hope to convey our
experiences, as well as our final opinions as to whether or not this
establishment is truly Italy in Alabaster.
