Posted on 12/22/2013 6:57:53 PM PST by kristinn
A Washington institution closed up shop Saturday night for good.
Famous Luigi's on 19th Street, Northwest served its last meal. The classic Italian restaurant was started by immigrant Luigi Calvi back in 1943.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcwashington.com ...
Bump. Hey K any news on that issue?
I remember that name. Sorry to hear that.
The D.C. Chapter also booked the second floor dining room for planning meetings for our pro-troops rallies.
I would suspect that it was doomed when the thought it necessary to add “Famous” to the name .... if it was not universally implied and understood that it was famous without being told, it was probably not all that famous. Similarly, the title of “Humble and Gracious” President Obama would probably doom him to failure .... never mind, he was a failure without the title.
Doesn’t sound like it was the food that drew the customers.
Great memories of that place. My father was regular there in the 1940s. Many years later so was I. Perfect place for that special date.
I worked around the block from that place. It was a great little joint.
Oh—I’m sorry to hear this—they must not have known of all the “famous” Freepers who frequented the place during the Klintoon’s reign.
Kristinn—I think you should head a committee to make sure there is a plaque about it some place near by..............I especially remember the time that we were at a long table and someone wanted to get Connie Hair’s attention, so they stood up and yelled: “Clinton’s a Liar!”
That got a bit of attention—LOL!
Reminds me of the passing of Arbaugh's.
Amazing ribs. Used to see congress critters there. I swear the waitresses must have been there since it opened.
Did you ever go to the Roma in Cleveland Park?
Broke my heart when that place closed. I would’ve given anything to get one of the animals. My favorite was the screaming monkey on the cigarette machine.
Luigi’s was our go to place in high school, college, and then every time a few of us were back home together. We would drive up in one evening then back to college in Harrisonburg, VA if we couldn’t stop craving a pizza from Luigi’s. We had our 40th high school reunion in 2011 and our group skipped that night’s festivities to go to Luigi’s 2nd floor long table. It had to be 90 degrees up there, the Chianti was awful and at least as old as the restaurant, the pizza ok, but the memories were off the chart! An end of an era. Bummer!
I was there for that. Sorry to hear it’s now closed! :(
My aunt and her boyfriend ate at Roma in Cleveland Park almost every night for more than twenty years. They were strict Catholics who didn’t believe in divorce, or fooling around for that matter, and they had to wait for his first wife to die before they could get married. It was sad and sweet, but where could you find that type of devotion these days.
The Abbo family who owned it were devout Catholics as well.
The outdoor dining in back with the fountain and trellis with all the grape vines was very romantic.
The Roma went downhill fast after Mrs Abbo died. Her son wasn’t interested in running it
Many White House AARs were outlined there. Had my first Peroni there. BufordP and I attempted to go there after the Vets opened up the monuments and stormed the White House. It was closed so had to sette for Pot Belly. Definately not the same.
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