Mom and Dad's Italian Restaurant

A visit to Mom and Dad's is well worth the trip. Located about 4 miles east of Tallahassee on the Apalachee Parkway, the restaurant serves authentic Italian food prepared each day by Mom (Diana Violante McLean). Dad (Gary McLean), son (Dean) are also active in the day to day operation of the restaurant. Daily specials are announced on the blackboard at the entrance, and usually include at least an eggplant and a fish dish. The regular menu includes the option to mix and match pasta and sauces. The pasta is made fresh each day, and the pastas every second day. Other choices include pizza, a variety of pasta dishes and several seafood and vegetarian options. Portions are generous, and the meal includes salad or soup and, in  most cases, a side of spaghetti. Hint: order the soup instead of the salad. The salad, while respectable enough, can't compete with the homemade minestrone.

The restaurant seats 88 people. The atmosphere is casual. There is an extensive wine list, as well as house wines available by the glass, carafe, and demi-carafe.

The first Mom and Dad's Italian Restaurant was opened in Defuniak Springs, Florida, in 1949 by the Violante family. The original restaurant had two tables and a counter. Nino Violante was convinced that Americans didn't like American food; he thought that they should learn to make hamburgers, since all Americans wanted to eat was hamburgers! Nino's parents, Giuseppe and Barbara Violante, were the original Mom and Dad. In the years since, members of the Violante and Pistelli families have opened Mom and Dad's Italian Restaurants in Pace, Gainesville, Lady Lake, Tallahassee, and Valdosta (Georgia). The restaurants in Pace and Gainesville have since closed. The Tallahassee location is likely the longest continually-operating restaurant in Leon County.