GLORIA'S LITTLE ITALY--MY NEW FAVORITE RESTAURANT

This is my new favorite restaurant, Gloria's Little Italy. My other favorites are Brick Oven--I call it that in case there are newcomers in the Provo/Orem/Happy Valley area and don't know it is really called "Heaps." Ottavio's, Carrabbas--they have the best dish I have ever tasted, honest it is, J-Dawg--can't really call this a restaurant but the hot dogs, and the price, can't be beat. Chuck-A-Rama is on the list because you can eat whatever you want and the food is always good. I know there are folks who say, "What? Chuck-A-Rama?" But they go there themselves so I better not hear from them.

But today's new favorite is Gloria's Little Italy on 279 East 300 South in Provo, Utah. Phone number 801-805-4913. I will be calling to see what the daily special is . When we went it was eggplant Parmesan, my all time favorite choice at Italian restaurants.


Here are the owners, Mauro Bonfanti and Gloria. They met in Italy at the beach when Gloria was only 13 years old and Mauro was 21. She lived in Piza and he lived in Pistoia. He was finished with his military service and knew a good thing when he saw it. I think her friend was dating his cousin so he got to know her through them and after a while he asked if she would be his girl. "My mother wouldn't like it," she said. But he was patient and when she was old enough she did become his girl and when she was 18 they were married in the Mormon Temple. They are both converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

They had friends in Utah and came for a visit a few years ago. They loved it here and applied for green cards. After three years they were successful.

Mouro is a jeweler and works for a highly respected jewelry store in the area. Maybe his experience with jewels has helped make this restaurant the little jewel that it is.


This is Gloria with her daughter, Letizia who is 21 and available, in case any Mommas have a young man who needs a date for Friday night. Letizia was delightful, cheerful, her English was perfect and she is smart--she will graduate from BYU next April. She was our waitress. Gloria and Mauro have two other children, a boy, Samuele, 25 and a girl, Katy, 13. They all work at the restaurant when they are not in school. Now I ask you, does Gloria look old enough to have a 25 year old boy? No, she doesn't.

Here are the things you see as you walk in the door.

Then you walk down these steps to the first dining room.

Here is Phil, checking out the lunch menu. I know what I want--the daily special.

Phil ordered a panini. I didn't get a photo before her hungrily took some bites.

I chose wisely. Mmm. Eggplant Parmesan. I was not disappointed. It was delicious and affordable--$7.99.

This is the romantic room upstairs. There are skylights and at night you can see the moon.

I will leave you with this beautiful shot of the fruit tart. Just like a jewel, perhaps like some that Mauro sets into silver or gold.

If you live in the area you owe it to yourself to check out Gloria's Little Italy. The food was good and Letizia and her parents were simply delightful.