Scartozzi's Trattoria — Restaurant in Michigan City

During a holiday gathering, we opted for a family-style Italian feast from Scartozzi's Trattoria, a charming carry-out establishment in Michigan City. From the moment of ordering to the warm greetings upon pickup, the experience was personable and genuine. Here’s a breakdown of our culinary journey.

Staff Interaction: The staff's politeness and friendliness made a lasting impression, enhancing our first experience with their service. It’s always a pleasure to see kitchen staff engaging with customers, adding a personal touch to the carry-out process.

Packaging: The food was securely packaged in catering-style trays, which not only kept it warm and intact but also provided a presentable and convenient way to serve our Italian feast.

Value: The pricing was quite fair, especially given the generous portions that comfortably fed our group. The balance of cost and quantity was spot on.

Dishes: Garlic Cheese Bread - The bread arrived with a delightful garlic aroma and flavor. However, there seemed to be a slight hiccup with the cheese topping, as it was missing.

Caesar Salad - The salad was fresh, the croutons seemingly homemade, adding a rustic charm. A bit more dressing would have been appreciated for sharing purposes.

Caprese Salad - The ingredients tasted fresh, and the flavors were well-balanced, a testament to the quality of the produce used.

Baked Penne al Forno - The penne, while not a standout, was comforting. It could have benefited from more meat to fulfill the hearty expectations set by its description.

Baked Stuffed Jumbo Shells - The shells were generously filled and beautifully complemented by the sauce, making it a hit among the dishes we tried.

Tortellini Della Famiglia - A dish that took us by surprise with its delicate cheese filling and the delightful combination of shrimp and peas in vodka sauce. It was a crowd-pleaser.

Desserts: Though we passed on the cannoli due to a preference in our party, it’s worth noting they offer such traditional desserts to round off the meal. We did pick up a container of gelato which was quite wonderful.

Overall: Scartozzi's Trattoria delivered a dining experience that was almost as good as eating in the restaurant itself. The minor issues we encountered did little to overshadow the high quality of the food and the overall experience. This trattoria is a gem for anyone looking for authentic Italian takeout, and we are already looking forward to...

This spot is hard to rate because I'm not an oyster guy. However, being so highly rated on Yelp, figured if I were to try oysters it would be here.

Waited at the door until its 5pm opening time on Saturday to get that sweet happy hour deal everyone raves about. Got two each of the Fin de la Bai (Canada), Naked Cowboy (Canada), and St. Simon (Prince Edward Island) along with a beer to complete the $12 HH special. Oysters come out in small half shells on a tray of ice. Tried the first one with no sauces and was overwhelmed with sea flavor. Can't say I liked it. For the rest, enjoyed with a bit of lemon which brings a better balance to the dish. Knew this wouldn't be enough for me, so also ordered the crab cakes ($13). Two medium-sized patties served on a bed of greens. Well battered crisp and decent meat. Not the best I had, yet it got the oyster taste out of my system.

Service here is great and the food came out fairly quickly - making for a good turnaround time despite the crowds. If you like oysters then it's a hell of a deal; just not for me.

Was...

Great spot for an affordable family-style Italian dinner! Check their website if you aren't familiar with a trattoria... it's not super fancy Italian fare but it is family friendly, and delicious! If staying at 4411 hotel this is really close by. Everything we had was great and packaged neatly for our to-go orders. Really liked Jo's Special: angel hair with veggies (long fresh green beans, baby carrots, broccoli, corn) and chunks of seasoned chicken breast in a light cream sauce. Plenty of veg in this dish, which is refreshing because a lot of places advertise a vegetable pasta but you end up with a disappointing 3 stems of broccoli. No worries here! Would have taken pics but honestly I ordered it two nights in a row and scarfed it down both times it was so tasty. My toddler loved the rigatoni bolognese. Orders came with a soft and tasty buttery rosemary bread. Give them a try and I'll be sure to return next time I pass thru...