The Spaghetti Factory

[Sharon]

I think there are a few towns that have their own spaghetti factory, like Winnipeg I think...For the first time I tried the one here in Montreal. A friend recommended it to me once and I must say that it's absolutely delicious.

I tried the "Quartier Latin", a dish that consisted of sauteed portobello mushrooms with garlic, on a bed of spaghetti with thier house tomato sauce. I thought the tomato sauce was a bit spicy, it tasted like it was a bit arrabiata (tomato sauce with red pepper), but I thought it was really good with the mushrooms. My friend told me that only a small bit of spaghetti was put in the plate, because it's home-made it's rich. I thought the sauce gave all the rich taste but with the pasta it was just right. My meal included the salad bar, with aside from chopped romaine there was red kidney bean-chick pea salad, two varieties of cabbage salad, potato salad, ziti with tomatoes and spices, chopped carrots and couscous salad. Pretty good assortment, but not too excissive either. I was also served bread with garlic butter, and their garlic butter was also homemade and I thought it was pretty yummy, it was whipped and looked so creamy. They put ordinary butter at the bottom of the bread basket, that would be for those who don't like garlic, but in terms of presentation the garlic butter was nestled in the middle of the bread. They value their recipes and present them well, making it tempting to try  .

The wine list had about 100 varieties, one bottle at 150 bucks but the price of wine always depends on region, the year it was made, and so forth, but there is a great variety to choose from.

And also I learned more history of my city...Writer Charles Dickens had visited Montreal in 1842, and while sitting at the back of the restaurant he wrote his notes for his novel "A Tale of Two Cities".

[Amethyst]

Yeah, there's one in Calgary but I haven't been there in a few years.  All I remember is the last time I went, I went with my cousin and his wife.  She ordered the spaghetti and said now she could because they were already married and he had to take her home.  (This following a discussion on how spaghetti is a bad "date food" because it's so easy to make a mess!)

~Michelle

[Sharon]

(This following a discussion on how spaghetti is a bad "date food" because it's so easy to make a mess!)
~Michelle

All too true, because if you're getting ready to go to The Spaghetti Factory with a white shirt you might as well get ready to go to the laundromat as well  .

[Lynn]

I remember my parents taking us to the Old Spaghetti Factory in Toronto when I was a kid. I even remember something about going there on a school trip, but my memory there is real faded, being that it was sooooooooo long ago.

I remember it being a really neat place to eat! Of course, I don't remember what we ate, bit I'm sure it was good.

[*Alicia*]

Is it The Spaghetti Factory or The Old Spaghetti Factory?

Anyways I have heard of the place but I have never been there.

[Amethyst]

Oh, yeah, the one I've been to is The Old Spaghetti Factory.  Are they different?

~Michelle

[Sharon]

Here it's called The Spaghetti Factory, and it's located in Old Montreal.

[Amethyst]

Here it's The Old Spaghetti Factory and located in new Calgary!

~Michelle

[*Alicia*]

You both just gave me a chuckle - thanks! 

[LISA]

Ironically I have never been to the Old Spaghetti Factory EVER-I should go there since I am all Italian and stuff and could totally rate it to see if it tastes any better than what my mamma makes at home. I guess cause it is located downtown I never quite get there...but I  may have to make a point to try it one day and see if they have any sort of rice pasta since I don't do regular pasta...I swear, I must be a disappointment to Italians!! lol

[*Alicia*]

Actually Lisa there is a brand of pasta you can buy at the grocery store you shop at-Healthy Harvest Pasta, it may not be a rice pasta but it's an alternative from the white version.

[LISA]

Yep I have tried that stuff and it isn't too bad except it tastes all grainy and gritty...rice pasta is better but the real stuff is EVEN better! lol I would assume that the restaurant even has lasagna and such? I have yet to find a non Italian restaurant that makes great lasagna!