Thank god for this week finally arriving because Shane had been talking up this pick since before we went on vacation back in April. It’s like WTGW Christmas for him. I think it was equal parts legit wanting to try the food here and also making sure he was there one to pick the place before anyone else discovered it.

I use the words “discovering it” fairly literally because I truly couldn’t find my way back here again without GPS. In true Shane-pick fashion, San Marino’s is nestled in an actual neighborhood, amidst a myriad of houses and warehouses and things that don’t exactly scream “dining options available nearby.”

But it’s not in a house. In fact I have to believe the building lived another life as a Dairy Mart just based on the outside. Because who doesn’t want to eat Italian food where they previously bought milk and bread?

Judging from the full parking lot and mostly occupied tables when we walked in the answer appears to be everyone.

I mean, there probably aren’t a lot of other options for food in (gestures wildly around) wherever this is, but we’ll just roll with it.

Shane was our resident expert this evening, continuously giving us tips on things he “heard” were good. Hw spends a lot of time watching reels in case that information is helpful at all.

But he did speak my love language when he stated that the cheesesteak was supposed to be the best in Ohio. We’ll circle back to that later. 

Let’s start with drinks. For beers Ted was almost out of luck on anything he would normally order as the menu was devoid of anything remotely dark. He initially asked about a Peroni but then immediately rescinded his order when he realized it’s basically Italy’s version of Bud light. But then he heard that the craft beer special was an IPA. Crisis averted.

I was intrigued by the margarita flight on the menu, mainly because you get to choose your own three flavors of margs and not just get whatever the pre-determined selection may be.

However when I asked about it our server – who was also the bartender – said to me very plainly “please don’t make me do that.” 

Noted.

And of course I will order something else, because we had already watched him run around like crazy waiting on tables, delivering food and making drinks, so taking him out of commission to mix up three separate semi-complicated drinks in small glasses while everyone in the surrounding area glares at us be ause they’re waiting on something from him was not exactly high on my list of priorities for the evening. I can pivot.

Let’s just go opposite end of the complication spectrum and make it a tequila soda then. Done.

On to food.

Ted decided that as much as the entrees looked good, he was also trying to avoid cheese at all costs and so the app menu seemed an easier route to that destination. So he ordered three apps and called that his meal: mussels, spicy garlic wings and meatballs.

Shane and I had also been eyeing up the meatballs so we ordered them as an app.

You’ll notice in the background of this picture that the cheese has mysteriously disappeared from Ted’s dish of meatballs. That may or may not have been donated to Shane.

Shane got wings too – I mean it is wing night after all, 79 cents per wing, and we all know this group likes wings. He got the creamy garlic parm.

But wait, we aren’t done. Shane also ordered the lasagna. And I’ll share a pro tip with y’all that he found online somewhere – order it with Alfredo sauce instead of red sauce.

I know, we were skeptical too. Who puts a cream sauce on a dish already laden with melted cheese? But trust us. As long as you aren’t Ted, it’s a must try.

I told the server that cheesesteak is my go to menu item, but even with their “best in Ohio” claim I was reluctant to order it because, well, Italian restaurants don’t exactly scream best cheesesteaks to me. His vote was a resounding yes in favor of my ordering it. Ok.

And the verdicts?

Ted said out of his three appetizer special he liked the wings the least. We were also slightly confused in that he got boneless wings while Shane received bone in – and neither had specified, but Ted did ask if they were on special. So maybe the boneless is on special and since Shane didn’t specify he got the “non special” version? Or maybe because Shane specifically ordered 10 wings while Ted looked at how it was written on the menu and ordered a half pound?

It shall remain a mystery.

In any case, Ted said he liked the sauce but would’ve preferred they were bone in wings. Meanwhile the irony is that Shane actually prefers boneless. They might’ve swapped had Shane not gotten a sauce that had parm in it.

Ted put the meatballs as his second favorite pat of the meal, and the mussels at the top of the list. The sauce was good and they were really tasty.

Despite being bone-in wings, Shane thought they were good and he’s glad he tried them. But the absolute highlight of his meal was the lasagne. The Alfredo gave it a really interesting and very delicious taste. If you happen to be the person he got that tip from online, he thanks you.

But beware: this meal is HEAVY. Shocking, I know. It only has about 65lbs of dairy baked into it plus carb loaded noodles. No biggie.

He could only eat part of it and ended up saving the rest for lunch tomorrow. He was also slightly upset he ordered the wings just because he wished he would’ve saved his full appetite for the main course.

I thought the cheesesteak was good, but I have issue with the whole “Best in Ohio” status. It’s a full pound of steak so it is filling and of course I could only eat half of it because it was, well, a lot. If I had one complaint it would be that it could’ve used more cheese. I mean I guess we had an abundance at our table and I could’ve take Ted’s from his meatballs or some of Shane’s from his lasagne – but hey if we’re giving it out so freely on these dishes I felt it was a little stingy on mine.

San Marino’s does have a patio but of course since it’s fall in May we didn’t sit out there. But will keep in mind for summer.

Another pro tip: we’re open until 9 but the place cleared out by 8. I was just us and one other person in the place for the last hour, and we kind of felt bad that we were keeping the staff from an early closure. Not sure if it’s busier on other nights or if this is par for the course, but just a warning that the later you come the more chance you might be met with a locked door or have the place to yourself while the staff idles around waiting for you to finish up.

Maybe I should’ve ordered that margarita flight then? Missed opportunity for sure.

Picked by: Shane