Geraldi?s Serves up Fresh Italian Food in Fayetteville (Food Review)

Geraldi’s     
20 S. University Ave.
Fayetteville
479-575-0566
4 forks
Cuisine: Italian
Noise level : Medium
Overall Ambiance : Homey
Price Range: $6-$20
Time: 45 minutes
Open Since: Jan. 2009

A blast of fresh bread smell hits you as soon as you walk in the door at Geraldi’s, and the food lives up to that first welcoming whiff.

Just don’t plan on doing much after lunch, and we’d advise waiting at least 15 minutes before driving, too.

Home-cooked Italian dishes with plentiful portions rule the day at Geraldi’s, tucked inside one of Fayetteville’s oldest strip centers kitty-corner from the historic cemetery at the corner of University Avenue and Center Street.

Fayetteville fans of hole-in-the-wall joints already know the spot for Wes’s Barbeque/Burgers Plus, and Geraldi’s lives up to that standard by packing a nice punch while going easy on the overhead.

Not that Geraldi’s is some greasy spoon. The restaurant space has plenty of room with both booths and tables and it’s been fixed up simply but nicely.

Three of our reviewers set out on a beautiful April afternoon to give it a shot, finding a mix of business people and students of the high school and university variety who’d already discovered the eatery.

One reviewer, after much deliberation, went with the two-Italian sausage version of the sandwich ($6) and passed up on the three-banger for an extra dollar.

The stinginess — or wariness over stomach capacity — was well founded when the food arrived.

“The sandwich was huge,” he said. “It was rich Italian sausage on a bun, what more could you want? There was enough for two people.”

It must be a popular sandwich; we saw our server later return to another table with three of the monsters in hand.

Another went with the veggie pesto sandwich ($6), a must for any Fayetteville restaurant who wants to sell to the health-conscious crowd.

For a veggie sandwich, this one was hearty, she said. The flavor of the pesto, the feta cheese and the artichoke hearts more than made up for the lack of meat. The sandwich was toasted and topped with lettuce and Italian dressing.

“It was the perfect lunchtime meal,” she claimed. “And one of the tastiest veggie sandwiches I’ve had in some time.”

Our third reviewer went for the lasagna ($7), pronouncing it “just like Mom used to make.”

He was the one who was most glad to not be driving, after loading up on the tasty garlic bread on the side while masochistically regretting he didn’t get some meat in his lasagna (for an extra $1.50).

Geraldi’s offers a wide variety of Italian staples, with to-go service available, large pans of the lasagna that can serve dozens and pizza we’re dying to try.

If it’s anywhere close to as good as our lunch, we’re sure we won’t be disappointed.