There are restaurants that seek to be cutting-edge, challenging the clientele to try bold, trendy experiments. And there are restaurants that take the opposite tack—providing consistency and comfort. Pomodoro Grill is firmly in the latter category, and that is its secret; it provides a sense of nostalgia and family, along with comforting Italian favorites.
“We haven’t changed much in the past 30 years,” says Amedeo Amelio. Pomodoro Grill was started by his father; Amedeo himself started making pizza there when he was 15 years old. Eventually, he spent about a decade as chef before moving to the front of the house. Now, Pomodoro’s chef is James Speth, who also comes from a restaurant family and appreciates the traditional nature of Pomodoro.
“We maintain that same comfortable atmosphere,” Speth says. “It’s like having dinner with your family.” Indeed, family recipes carry over. “If I make something for my kids and they like it, it transfers here.”…