"I joined three friends for supper at Tony Mandina's, my first time. After a night-drive from Old Jefferson, I arrived very early. I was warmly greeted at the door first by an outside door attendant and then by an inside hostess. Because I had arrived very early, I asked to take a temporary seat at the bar. A good Matanzas sauvignon blanc relaxed me against the pounding of the piano. I think that the piano player was very good and he was not deliberately playing loud, but the bar area is small with hard walls. When my friends arrived we were shown to a table for four that was about four inches too small on all four sides, but the waitress was attentive to removing a candle and a small rose presentation. The removal made room for some very good, not great calamari. My eggplant parmigiana was good, with perhaps too much cheese and a good serving of Tony's Red Gravy, a New Orleans phrase for tomato paste sauce. I had often heard Tony's radio commercials about his red gravy and I was going to try it. It was good, maybe even very good, but with so many Creole and Italian mammas in New Orleans, I can say that the red gravy was not the best I have ever had. Service was very friendly and very attentive. Our serveuse Becca treated us very well; she was helpful, not controlling. Becca like all servers was dressed sharply: black pants, black shirt, and a striking red tie tucked in the shirt. Chaz at the bar was friendly and efficient. The sound of the piano was moderated in the dining area by distance so that the four of us could converse easily. The dining areas were well appointed with understated painted walls and a few soft paintings; this was not a strident, overly Italian motif. One dining companion who has dined often at Tony's said that it is possibly the only four or five start restaurant on his side of the river. Tony's is a tiny bit difficult to find, but a big bright tower sign helps. There was sufficient parking for a slow night in an area guarded by the outside attendant. Tony's is a very good restaurant and I would like to return."
