Archive for the ‘italian’ tag
Antonio's Restaurant / LB Dynasty / Studio 54 / Club Gemeni, 6212 Two Notch Road: 1970s, late 2000s 2 comments
I don’t actually remember this place as an Italian restaurant, but apparently in 1974 it was one. Pizza was still a pretty exotic food to me then, but was one I liked, and I would have expected to remember a pizza restaurant in the Dentsville area. I certainly knew about the Pizza Hut on Two Notch more or less where the O’Reily’s Auto Parts near Best Buy now is, and about Shakey’s on Parklane Road. A 32-inch pizza sounds rather overwhelming, but the sandwiches sound quite good.
After Antonio’s, it was a number of night-clubs and strip-clubs. By 1997, it was operating as L B Dynasty and got in trouble with the Department of Revenue leading to a 45 day suspension of the club mini-bottle license. Whether because of that, or for some other reason, it later became Studio 54, and was that until quite recently, I think (at any rate, the sign is still there). Despite that, it has been at least one other club, Club Gemeni before it’s current incarnation as Club Ego
Stellini's Pasta Gusto, 224 O'Neil Court: 2000s 1 comment
Stellini’s was on the corner nearest to Columbia Mall at The Shops at O’Neil Court. I believe it was perhaps the longest lasting restaurant in that little hard-luck plaza, though as I recall the sports bar run by the Very’s folks lasted a number of years as well.
This ad from the 1998 Bellsouth yellow pages claims the largest selection of pasta in Columbia. I actually can’t remember much about that. If I am remembering correctly, the times we went there, what most impressed me was the garlic bread, which was strong and gooey, not that “hint of garlic on overbaked toast” thing some places do. I do think they had a number of pesto dishes which weren’t too common at the time, but while I might try one now, at that point I was still fully in tomato-based mode.
I don’t think business was ever great in this location despite theoretical drive-by traffic between Columbia Mall and Two Notch, and I wasn’t too surprised when the place closed. I believe at least two other restaurants tried the spot (there was definitely one) but nothing ever lasted long-term, and currently the space is empty and available.