I believe we need more eateries where the servers call you “honey.”
Maybe it’s just me, but I like it when I get treated like a regular, like somebody the staff is actually happy to see.
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On a recent trip to Anthony’s Italian Kitchen in Portland, I got such a treatment — not to mention a great sandwich.
Anthony’s is an Old Port staple, so it’s always pretty busy around lunch. But the line moves fast. I ordered at the counter and sat down in the dining room.
My sandwich, a chicken cutlet Parmesan ($7.50 for an 8-inch; $8.50 for a 10-inch), was brought to me in about three minutes.
I could see the red sauce and Parmesan cheese ready to ooze out at me as I ate. But before I could say anything, my server eyed the sandwich and told me she would bring me napkins and silverware.
And she called me “honey.”
The sandwich featured big hunks of chicken breast meat — not a pressed cutlet — that were breaded and fried. The chicken was very tender and covered with a zesty bright red sauce and cheese. The Italian roll it came on was wonderful — firm enough to hold the messy sandwich, but not too chewy.
I had the 10-inch, which was very filling. For most people at lunch, the 8-inch would probably be fine.
As I ate, I enjoyed listening to a seemingly endless selection of Frank Sinatra tunes on the satellite radio. The place has lots of musical theater memorabilia on the walls to look at while eating (Anthony’s also hosts dinner theater shows).
On another visit, I had an autumn gobbler wrap ($7.99): sliced turkey with warm stuffing, cranberry sauce, lettuce and mayo on a Syrian roll-up. The stuffing was exceptionally good, and warmed everything else up.
Anthony’s has an extensive menu that includes almost 20 kinds of roll-ups, most costing $6.99 or $7.99. There are also melts, regular sandwiches and specialty sandwiches, such as the Boston Italian (sausage with peppers and onions) and eggplant Parmesan. Most cost $6.99 to $8.50.
One specialty sandwich is called the Tony Soprano, with Genoa salami, prosciutto, capicola, imported provolone cheese, onion, tomato, roasted red peppers, olive oil and oregano.
The place also has salads, pizza and pasta dishes. You can get a choice of pasta (thin spaghetti, ziti or linguine) with a meat sauce, a meatless sauce or garlic butter for $7.50. Other sauces on pasta, such as Alfredo or Bolognese, are $8.50.
There are also dinners ranging from ravioli or pasta and meatballs for $8.99 to chicken or eggplant Parmesan with pasta for $12.99.
The Features staff of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram anonymously sampled meals for about $7.
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