Corsino's

Corsino’s is an old-school Italian place with parking problems and location problems. The food is definitely good, but just as definitely not great. The neighborhood is a little threatening. A few people have been shot near Corsino’s over the years – some made it and some didn’t. Yet Corsino’s is still there, and we hope, not going anywhere.

Many family-owned joints moved east, following the money, or so they thought. Most of these smarties got picked off by the franchises, the chains, the themed-out, high-concept “casual dining” establishments with absentee owners, absentee flavor, absentee service and absentee senses of community. Corsino’s? Hell, no. Corsino’s stayed put in a mostly run-down neighborhood, convenient to the diverse downtown crowd, serving Italian comfort food, and their signature dish for the past several decades is the “Dago Salad.” No PC bullshit at Corsino's, you can bet your ass on that.

Anyway, as a return visitor I knew better than to park in front of Corsino’s next-door neighbor, the Capital City Sharpening Shop. CCSS will have you towed or slit your throat. Or both, I guess. So I parked across Court Street next to some nutty-looking End-Time Prophecy Church with burglar bars on the windows. Crossing the street I was comforted by the two State Trooper cars parked in front of Corsino’s. Once inside, I let my eyes adjust to the dimly lit interior and then found the LITG group sitting at the table right next to the Troopers. I sat down with the fellas, confident that none of us would get whacked.

Our waiter, obviously a Bama fan, laid a decent Auburn joke on us. I don’t remember the whole joke but the punch line was “Officer, I’m just trying to help this goat get over this fence!” The waiter gambled and won! Lunch in the Gump is usually about a 50-50 Auburn/Alabama mix, but today it was 100% Bama! The usual 20% minimum LITG tip shot up to between 25% and 30%.

We knew most everybody in the restaurant -- lawyers, realtors, cops, bankers, professors, more lawyers, pharmaceutical reps (hubba hubba), lobbyists, broke asses, captains of industry and others. Yet nobody was schmoozing. I guess we will all schmooze next time we meet at the Capital City Club – today is just lunch without pomposity.

Our local District Attorney came in with a crew of investigators, deputies, flunkies, etc. Seems they were all packing heat (note to self… before returning to Corsino’s, renew the carry permit). Between this crowd and the Troopers we felt real safe. We chatted with them on the way out. The DA commented to one of the Gumpers, “Didn’t I just see your picture somewhere?”

“I hope to God not in your office,” he replied.*

Anyway, we paid the check, thanked everybody, spoke to a number of friends and acquaintances still there, then left.

Outside, we ran into a few more friends coming into Corsino’s. We chatted for a decent interval, and then dutifully gave up our parking spaces.

Oh, almost forgot. The lunch was real good.
* Editor’s note: the DA had seen our Gumper (a known socialite) in the “Whirl” section of the Montgomery Independent. He is not wanted.

Dreamland in the Alley - I love ya, but...

Hairnets. Get some hairnets. I'm just sayin'.

Gump on the Go: Scott Street Grocery & Deli

Despite the prevalent pall over the country due to the passing of the "Lyon of the Senate," those who still pay taxes must nevertheless take some time to find sustenance away from trying to make enough to provide health care to those who do not work. For the Gumper on parole (or the poor sap still chained to his desk) one of our best-kept downtown Gumper secrets is the little hole in the wall Scott Street Grocery & Deli. Although there are "NO PUBLIC RESTROOMS" and it appears to project the pretext of being a "grocery," if you avoid eye contact, move slowly toward the right as you come in and know the pass code ("The Italian Please") you will stumble upon a small deli counter from behind which two cute, smiling and fast sandwichista's will immediately begin peppering you with questions you won't hear at Subway like: "Homemade wheat or white?" "Vegetarian or Carnivore?" and "End or middle piece?" But there is one question you will never hear on Scott Street and that is: "For here or to go?" That is because--dear devoted LITG follower--everything at Scott Street is "TO-GO" as there is no place to sit except out in your vehicle while you listen to your favorite radio program profusely shower praise upon the man who gave us HMOs the last time we "fixed" the health care crisis and the Immigration Act of 1968 the last time we "fixed" that problem. But I digress, my right to vote has not yet been restored and my opinion does not count.
The bottom line was that my "Italian" sandwich weighed in at a whopping 24 ounces (I actually weighed it) chock full of meat, cheese and a lot of green stuff with oil on it. Very tasty and, at $6.49 (.27 per oz) quite a bargain. To top it off, they actually have Cokes in the old style little curvy bottles. This place is a real throwback to the days of the little country store. I could almost imagine a couple of old geezers sitting in the corner playing checkers over a cracker barrel farting and bitching about how the Kennedy-Kevorkian Health Care Plan was going to affect their Social Security checks.

If you are in a hurry call 264-9415 and order up one of their fine sandwiches to be picked-up by one of your flunkies. I'd tell you where to go but because I do not want to have to wait a long time for my next "Italian" I have intentionally avoided disclosing the exact street where this wonderful deli is located and would appreciate it if you would keep this info "down home cuz."

I ate the whole thing and went into Rigor Puppus...

LITG Bidness Cards

We leave this at the table when we leave....

Young Barn Oyster Bar

Our sights today were set on a new oyster bar at the Casa Napoli II location. We arrived at high noon and were quickly seated. Christina, our overworked but pleasant waitress, promptly took drink orders while we perused the bill of fare. After ordering the fried shrimp and oyster platter we began our wait. After salivating for 45 minutes our meal arrived hot and tasty. The two oysters were big, juicy and well prepared. The four shrimp were likewise. What I left wanting in quantity was made up for in quality. The 32 oz. drinks were included with the meal. For a total of $11.00 with tip I got back to lockup in an hour thirty-five minutes later a tad underfed but overall satisfied with the trip.
Rating: Four out of Five Pearls.