Pines of Naples

BEST italian food I’ve ever had!
Unfortunately, it is now closed :(

I came across Pines of Naples when i was looking for a place to eat after finding a 30 minute wait at Thai Square (not that TS isn’t worth the wait, but i was starving and there’s not really a place to wait at TS so it would have been outside in the cold!). The place honestly looked closed and abandoned from the look of the downstairs. However, once you get close you can see a glimmer of light at the top of the stairs and since we were so hungry it looked good to us.
The place is very obviously family owned and the people working there had thick Italian accents, making me feel even more encouraged by the place. It definitely had that home cooked feel upon entering.
The first thing i noted upon looking at the menu was the price… it was so reasonable! I was able to get an entrée and a nice salad for $ 16 w/​tip and tax! That’s not bad at all. The second thing that greatly excited me was the fact that we got a pitcher of water on our table. As someone who drinks a lot of water this is always a plus.
The meal i got (spaghetti Ala pine) was excellent. it had a really nice tang to the spaghetti sauce, which was great. the pasta seemed fresh as did the vegetables. The pasta was not overly sauced and i was very pleased that when i left i didn’t feel like i had really eaten that much! it was very light and filling. My dining companion was slightly less satisfied. While good, his rigatoni had a much smaller portion than mine. I’m not quite sure why.
The service was somewhat slow, even though the restaurant was not crowded. There was only really one waitress and she was very social so took a while with each customer. However, we were not in a hurry so it was not a big deal at all.
The place was far from upscale but was still warm and friendly on the inside. I can’t see myself seeking this place out again when there is Thai square right down the street, however if I’m ever stuck waiting again, i would definitely come back.

The restaurant is hidden on the second story of a small strip mall. It’s easy to miss so be on the lookout!
We dined here with a large group of neighbors. It was delicious and simple Italian food that everyone really enjoyed. Pines is family owned and they will go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and well-​fed.
I would recommend the rigatoni and the chicken parm. We also loved the cheese ravioli appetizer but it’s very rich after more than a few bites.
This place does good takeout too!

This Italian restaurant is a bit of a hole in the wall, but the food is more than decent fare. They are often in the «Entertainment» book, you may know it – you know, the white one with the two for one entrée coupons in it? Hubby and I get that book every year (typically from one of our friend’s kids selling it as a school fund raiser thingie).
Pines has a family feel, and is decidedly NOT upscale. but the service is great and this is a place where you can just kick back and have one of the yummy homemade dishes. I like the spaghetti carbonara (so fattening, but soooo good) and the veal marsala here.