Monello Serving Counter Style Italian Lunch - Eater San Diego

"Beginning May 8, Little Italy Italian restaurant Monello will be introducing a compact menu and lunch service designed to showcase the restaurant’s Milanese roots. Guests will now order lunch from a new walk-up window, where they will take a number, select a seat and wait for their food to be delivered. While counter service is popular in the United States, it is less so for an Italian restaurant and rarer still in Italy itself. At 3 p.m., service will return to table waiting. On the menu are a variety of favorites that are particularly beloved in the owners’ home city of Milan. This includes crunchy street food items like panzerotti, fried seafood and arancini, as well as other items served in paper cones; stuffed roll bites like piadine; paninis; fried chicken or with french fries; hand-cut pizzas; fresh pastas; protein plates; salads and gelato. Also available will be a selection of cocktails, wine and beer." - Jackie Bryant