Dining Guide:

By Andrew Hardenbrook

Tutuzzo's is a small restaurant and if you blink, you just may miss it. It is located on the Alameda, just a few doors down from Town 3 Cinema and across the street from Blockbuster Video. The unassuming green interior reminds one of a classic Italian restaurant, with Frank Sinatra playing in the background and red-and-white checkered tablecloths spread across the tables. The big appeal of Tutuzzo's is the friendly service. Our waitress made us feel right at home and treated us like family, even giving my sick friend hot tea to sooth his throat.

The restaurant has a lot of affordable lunch specials, but unfortunately my friends and I missed out on these deals. The dinner menu is somewhat more expensive and averages around $12 a plate, which includes salad or soup, breadsticks, and - if you get a meat dish - pasta and vegetables. I got the Chicken Tutuzzo ($14.95), which consisted of chicken with artichokes and mushrooms in a tangy white wine sauce. With such a great first impression from the service and atmosphere, I expected something exceptional from the food, but I found that my meal was about average. Both my friends, however, gave rave reviews for the baked Spaghetti ($10.95) and half Spaghetti/half Ravioli ($11.95) dishes that they received.

I recommend giving Tutuzzo's a try but try to go early and catch the lunch specials that run between $4 and $7 and stay away from the costly dinner menu. **$$

LOCATION

Tutuzzo's Italian Restaurant

1423 The Alameda

San Jose, CA

(408) 278-1646