TulsaNow Lunch April 30th at Mondo's

[RecycleMichael]

Mondo's has returned to Tulsa and reopened on Brookside.

Here is a TulsaWorld story...
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=53&articleid=20120404_53_E1_CUTLIN150164

Mondo's Ristorante Italiano owners Louis and Rob Aloisio took a 15-year break from the restaurant business. The father and son opened a series of U.S. Cellular stores and made a good living, they say, but were always reminded of the family business they built and then sold in 1997. "We were getting our Italian food fix at Dad's house on Sunday nights," Rob Aloisio said. "I guess we just couldn't stay away."

The savory smells, the constant bustle and the thrill of seeing customers enjoy their meal have brought them back.

Mondo's reopened at 3410 S. Peoria Ave. last month, bringing back its famous giant raviolis, red sauce and hand-cooked pizzas that made it a Tulsa mainstay for nearly three decades. "People kept telling us that we need to bring the restaurant back," Louis Aloisio said. "Really, the people are the reason we're here." The Aloisios' restaurant is in the space once occupied by Gemma's Woodfire Kitchen.

Mondo's originally opened in 1969 at 1114 E. 61st St., selling Italian sandwiches and authentic pasta sauces that were developed by Louis' parents, immigrants from central Italy who came to the United States through Ellis Island. Louis Aloisio, who worked for Citgo Petroleum, cooked at the restaurant in the evenings while his sons, including 12-year-old Rob, bused tables and washed dishes. "Eventually I just got tired and wanted to retire" from the day job, Louis said.

The restaurant moved to 5960 S. Lewis Ave. in 1990, but in 1997 Louis sold it and went into business with Rob selling mobile phones and service plans.

But the tastes and smells of Old World quality food were never far from Louis' mind. Two years ago, the father and son started talking about resurrecting the family restaurant and finally settled on the Center 1 retail building. With the new location, the Aloisios inherited a wood-fired grill to cook their signature pizzas. They have kept all the old recipes from the former restaurant and added a few new ones, such as shrimp limone and more appetizers.

Rob Aloisio has taken over full-time management of the restaurant, which employs 28 people, while Louis helps with day-to-day operations. "Some of our old employees even dropped what they were doing to come back and work for us," Louis said. "They love the family atmosphere we have here."

Rob Aloisio found dozens of old family photos and hung them on the walls.

Louis Aloisio said he takes the "family" part of the business seriously. Two of his grandchildren work in the restaurant, one as a host and the other a waiter.

"There will always be an Aloisio when you come in here," he said.

[RecycleMichael]

I will get there about 11:30 am and get us a big table. I really need to know an idea of how many people can make it to this Monday lunch.

Who is in?

[Teatownclown]

Gag me..... 

[sgrizzle]

Gag me..... 

Don't tempt people.

[godboko71]

Will not know until tomorrow if I can make it or if I will be at a car shop getting car fixed.

Gag me..... 

Don't tempt people.

+1000

Edited to add Inline edit on this version of SMF is Awkward if your post is short.

[Red Arrow]

Will not know until tomorrow if I can make it or if I will be at a car shop getting car fixed.

Is it making compact cars and you don't want any more?

[RecycleMichael]

Who can make his lunch on Monday?

[GG]

I can't make it.  Moved my office Friday and I still have a lot of loose ends to tie up. 

[Hoss]

Me either.  Got too much at work going on this week unfortunately.

[sgrizzle]

I'm planning on it

[RecycleMichael]

Well, that was kinda intense.

We show up and they won't let us in because they are having a private party. Grizzle tells the hostess lady that we just need a small table and I beg to be seated. They finally let us have the small booth at the back if we promise to not make a scene.

The Van Halen road crew and what I assume are groupies fills up the rest of the place. They are all cool but the kitchen clearly gives their meals priority over ours. We had to wait like an hour to get our dishes.

I loved the Linguini and clams, but with tip was $13. I usually don't spend that much for lunch. The poster who goes by Charlie Sheen spent more than that (I think he has an extra income being a male stripper).

It was a light turnout. Next time I will give more notice and pick a cheaper restaurant.

[Teatownclown]

Guess you shoulda taken TTC advice...lol. 

[custosnox]

Well, that was kinda intense.

We show up and they won't let us in because they are having a private party. Grizzle tells the hostess lady that we just need a small table and I beg to be seated. They finally let us have the small booth at the back if we promise to not make a scene.

The Van Halen road crew and what I assume are groupies fills up the rest of the place. They are all cool but the kitchen clearly gives their meals priority over ours. We had to wait like an hour to get our dishes.

I loved the Linguini and clams, but with tip was $13. I usually don't spend that much for lunch. The poster who goes by Charlie Sheen spent more than that (I think he has an extra income being a male stripper).

It was a light turnout. Next time I will give more notice and pick a cheaper restaurant.

Next time double check on your story to make sure that David Lee Roth and the group isn't hanging out with one of the TNFer's Future Mrs (actually, I'm serious about this, they were with her this afternoon, and David apparently has a really ugly dog.  I've got to deal with em tomorrow)

[RecycleMichael]

David Lee Roth wasn't there. I would've recognized him. These were roadies and girlfriends I believe.

[Conan71]

Sorry, I had to travel out of town yesterday.