From pizzas to sandwiches to classic Italian dishes, along with great bread and olive oil and amazing salads and appetizers, if you leave Bertoloni’s hungry, it’s your own fault.
This traditional restaurant with deep Italian roots is a little deceptive, located in a strip shopping center next to Cracker Barrel on Highway 31 in Calera. But don’t let the basic outdoors fool you — when you step in, you enter a lovely, quaint restaurant where they are big on great service and great Italian food. That was exactly what we received when we visited.
Bertoloni’s Classic Italian Restaurant
According to their website, www.bertolones.com, Bertoloni’s started as Joe’s Italian. They opened in 1981 in West Gilroy, renowned as the “Garlic Capital of the World.” It proved to be an ideal setting for this Italian family, deeply rooted in the traditions and cuisine of our native land. A year later, a new chapter in the family’s story unfolded with the arrival of a little sister, according to Sonia Bertoloni via their website.
By 1981, the original Joe’s Italian opened its doors, marking the commencement of our culinary journey, according to Bertoloni. “We quickly gained a devoted local following and earned recognition in the Library of Congress’ prestigious traveling exhibit, ‘Italian-Americans in the West’.” Our culinary adventures expanded to include live cooking competitions hosted by the Food Network during the renowned Garlic Festival.
In 2007, the Bertolonis retired from the food industry, Bertoloni continues. “They bid farewell to their cherished restaurant and relocated to Alabama to be closer to my youngest sibling, Mary. However, retirement didn’t quite agree with my mother, who soon found herself cooking for the neighbors,” she says.
“Meanwhile, my father, missing the social interactions he had enjoyed at the restaurant, grew restless at home. After numerous intense discussions at the family dinner table, we collectively decided it was time to return to work,” Bertoloni adds. “This decision led to the opening of the Alabama rendition of our original Joe’s Italian, located in Weatherly.”
Unfortunately, Joe Bertoloni passed away in 1213. But with the amazing legacy of Italian food, Bertoloni says, the current Bertoloni’s Classic Italian Restaurant was born.
“Our primary mission is to honor and preserve our culinary heritage through an unyielding commitment to excellence. We welcome each guest as an extension of our family, inviting you to savor the delightful flavors of our cuisine and partake in the enduring love and dedication that have been the bedrock of our extraordinary journey. In every dish we lovingly prepare and serve, you will encounter the lasting echoes of my father’s culinary passion, ensuring his memory remains vibrant and alive,” explains Bertolone on their website.
Visiting Bertoloni’s
Today, you can get that great taste of yesterday at Bertolone’s. On the day we visited, they immediately brought fresh bread to our table, but my husband and I started with a Caprese salad: fresh tomatoes layered with thick slices of mozzarella, garnished with garlic, basil, olive oil, and a balsamic glaze. It was plentiful, but we could have eaten two and skipped the salad! (But what am I saying? The salad was fantastic!)
Other choices were bruschetta, toasted Italian bread with fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil, parmesan cheese, and that same delicious balsamic glaze. Twisted garlic knots on focaccia bread also looked like a fantastic choice, along with cheese twists, meatballs parmigiana, toasted ravioli, Papa’s sausage and peppers, and calamari fritti.
We had a basic side salad, but that was anything but basic with their homemade Italian dressing and bread. You could make salads a meal by adding protein to the Florentine salad and the large house salad.
Mushroom Ravioli
From the entree menu, we both chose mushroom ravioli in a red meat sauce (you could choose a red or white sauce, as well), but our other choices were lobster ravioli, eggplant parmigiana, cannelloni, Keto lasagna, Noona’s lasagna bianca, spaghetti, and meatballs. They even serve tomato basil soup and soup of the day.
For the “bambinos,” choose chicken fettuccine Alfredo, fettuccine Alfredo, spaghetti and meatballs, penne with butter or a small cheese or pepperoni pizza.
Hand-Made Pizzas
And I haven’t even mentioned their hand-made pizzas and calzones yet! You can create your own pizza and calzones or choose from some of the specialty pizzas like Papa Joe’s special, capriccioso, Caprese fresca, chicken bacon ranch, Florentine, buffalo chicken, spicy Hawaiian, Margheritaita, and the porky pig. They offer all sorts of toppings, from the traditional to Gorgonzola cheese, artichoke hearts, eggplant, and even pancetta.
But one cannot go to Bertoloni’s without indulging in a homemade dessert. If you simply cannot hold it, take a slice of one of their famous homemade cakes — or the whole cake — to go. A “slice” of Bertoloni’s 3+ layer cake can feed 2-4 people! Upon entering the restaurant, you’ll see two cases of desserts where you can think about the end of your meal and what you want before even being seated.
Lemon Cake
When we visited, we tried the new “lemon” cake, and it did not disappoint. It’s a bit deceptive because it is so yummy and tastes so light, that you sort of forget it is dessert. They are famous for their strawberry cake, chocolate torte, cannoli, chocolate-covered strawberry cake, coconut cake, Oreo cake, and red velvet cheesecake.
Bertoloni’s
Another great thing about Bertoloni’s is the amazing take-out meals for families, which come with homemade focaccia bread and a choice of soup or salad. These include spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, Noona’s lasagna bianca, Pasta chicken panna, eggplant parmigiana and Chicken parmigiana. A meal for four is only $30, and a meal for six is $40.
You should note that Bertolone’s is closed on Sundays and Mondays, but it is open for lunch and dinner, starting at 11 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday. On busy nights, a reservation is recommended. See more and read their full menu at www.bertolones.com.
