Legendary Kenosha Lasagne?

Did a search on this, but could not find anything...

To the point.....on several occasions (usually after imbibiing, so memory is sadly fuzzy) Kenosha locals have raved about a woman who serves a supposedly amazing lasagne (out of her house I believe) once or twice every week....and that it goes very very fast....a local legend...just cannot remember what/where it is...

Anyone know what this place is....and if so, have you tried it? Might have been Racine, not sure......

Here's a link to a post that briefly talks about Totero's, which sounds like the place you are asking about. viewtopic.php?p=194809#p194809

Totero's
2343 Mead Street
Racine, WI 53403
(262) 634-9488

Wednesday is lasagna day at Totero's. I've been meaning to post on this Racine treasure for a while; maybe now I'll finally get around to it.



Totero's
2343 Mead St
Racine WI
262-634-9488
Tue-Fri 1130am-130pm

No offense to anyone upthread (especially you, Peter), but to my eyes, that loose lasagne, drowning in a watery sauce, seems like an an abomination. Perhaps Racine, or anywhere in Wisconsin, is not the best place for lasagna?

aschie30 wrote:No offense to anyone upthread (especially you, Peter), but to my eyes, that loose lasagne, drowning in a watery sauce, seems like an an abomination. Perhaps Racine, or anywhere in Wisconsin, is not the best place for lasagna?

It's not all about the food at Totero's, one of the most enjoyable family-run neighborhood taverns I've been to.

Rene G wrote:

aschie30 wrote:No offense to anyone upthread (especially you, Peter), but to my eyes, that loose lasagne, drowning in a watery sauce, seems like an an abomination. Perhaps Racine, or anywhere in Wisconsin, is not the best place for lasagna?

It's not all about the food at Totero's, one of the most enjoyable family-run neighborhood taverns I've been to.

Fair enough, though I wasn't getting that from the picture.

Kenosha in its hey day had a huge Italian population. There are really good Italian bakeries (Piaelli's), an awesome shoe cobbler (Torcasso) and delis that are run by second-third generation Italians.

Yeah, if you don't love Prince-type pasta slathered with uber-sweet, low-grade tomato sauce, stay clear of Totero's. But if you’re able to get jazzed about a place that is 70+ years old, continuously owned by the same family, and where some of these family members do all the cooking from an open back kitchen for an enthusiastic crowd of local regulars, you just might possibly see the beauty of this historic relic. I know I do.

Over the last few years, I have highly enjoyed stops at Totero’s for a quick beer, a friendly chat with the bartender, and a casual perusal of some interesting historic paraphernalia mounted on their walls. The energy in this place is tough to beat...in spite of their marginal grub.

I like the lasagna from the deli case at Tenuta's and while I've never had lasagna while at the Kenosha Italian American Club, you know it comes with good convo from Ralphie and Frankie.


Better get a 'Legendary Lasagna's of Southeast WI' thread going soon...

Da Beef wrote:Better get a 'Legendary Lasagna's of Southeast WI' thread going soon...

Why not this thread cover that territory?

Regards,

I haven't eaten at Totero's since "Mama" passed away years ago. She made great lasagna. However, there is a family restaurant in West Allis offering outstanding lasagna, with even better garlic bread. Here's another Wisconsin hidden gem for Da Beef.

Mama Mia's
8533 W. Greenfeld Avenue
West Allis, WI 531214
414-475-0400

Honey Dip Donuts is next door and the Wisconsin State Fair Grounds is only two blocks away.

As a general rule, Lasagne is something that I rarely order at a restaurant. The exception is Mama Mia's. Their lasagne is great and as chicagostyledog mentioned, the garlic bread is outstanding. Its virtually dripping with garlic butter. I want some now.

Totero's in Racine is scheduled to close in June.

http://journaltimes.com/news/local/long-time-italian-eatery-totero-s-to-close/article_dfd7ee2a-d09c-11e3-8a27-001a4bcf887a.html

I've never been, but had only heard of this place. The idea of a family place where they serve you from the kitchen seems so old school, that I'll regret it if I fail to get there in the next two months.

Posts above say the food is OK, but that is not the primary reason you take a trip to a place like this. I'll try to get there on a Wed for lasagna.

This is a picture of Wednesday's lasagna at Totero's. It is really good.

I like how you order your drink, then walk to the back of the room to order food from the kitchen. You are talking directly to the ladies who made your food. The menu written on the chalkboard reflect's this days menu. Come late, you get whatever is left.

Rene G wrote:Wednesday is lasagna day at Totero's. I've been meaning to post on this Racine treasure for a while; maybe now I'll finally get around to it.



Totero's
2343 Mead St
Racine WI
262-634-9488
Tue-Fri 1130am-130pm

Not to distract from Totero's before it closes, sadly, but I want to remind folks that we have a number of ancient Italian taverns with food that deserve some love: in addition to the perhaps-obvious Tufano's, remember Club Lago, and the Heart of Italy. Also, when the hell did Bertucci's Corner close? With the Sox in full swing I was looking forward to 'scarola and beans at the circa 1933 relic. Now I'm depressed.

I noticed Bertucci's was gone a couple weeks ago. It took me by surprise, too.

I will admit the Lasagne at Totero's is quite good but it is not world class.
It's Italian homemade while you wait. That is the cachet.
Much of what is served in restaurant's today is from frozen microwavable portion controlled product that it is rare to have restaurant that actually makes their own product.
When Totero's was open for dinner on Friday/Sat evenings, the arcane process was sometimes worthwhile.
Arrive at least an hour before serving time, go to the bar, get drinks and tell the bartender you wanted to eat.
If he felt in good mood that evening, you might get some food, maybe. God knows when?
When Totero's stop serving dinner, not much was missed and I have never been to the lunch routine.
So, will I miss Totero's? Not much as we haven't eaten there in many many years.
Now Mangia in Kenosha is a different story and well worth the trip.
If we want excellent Italian fare in Kenosha/Racine, there is only one place we go.-Dick
BTW, in search of "Legendary Kenosha Lasagne" in the past may have been the Spaghetti Station? Long closed.
Gatto Pardo, The BEST Italian ever, family owned, widening of 22 nd Av forced them to sell and you now have to go to Arizona for their food!
Casa Capri, still open but haven't been for decades, inconsistent at best before we stopped going.
That's about it, so if Mangia's makes Lasagne, it will be good but Legendary?
Other wise there is none today.

HI,

I have only had Totero's lasagna once. I found the experience memorable for the atmosphere, the homestyle food service and its known to locals but hardly any stranger would stop by without a prior clue. It's a window into an earlier era of food service. Pa ran the bar and Ma made food for additional income, something you just don't see much at least in urban areas.

I seen suggestions where food served in small bars and restaurants in rural areas likely have their start from the talented home cook. The best meal there may occur if you can identify what is this cook's signature dish. Totero's limited menu has this feel to it.

Sure there is always something better to be had somewhere. The ambiance and people running it is something of a prior era and hard to replicate.

Regards,

Burtucci is no more? Oh man...we spent several evenings there when our number 3 was going to Vandercook College of Music nearby. Funky old-school and what-you-see-is-what-you-get classic. Sad way to close out my weekend.

HI,

I was at Totero's last Wednesday for the lasagna. I was there, though I never had any. When I arrived just after 11:30, there was a lengthy line of people with umbrellas. I did not have an umbrella, which dimmed my interest plus a solid chance of no lasagna despite the effort.

I opted to go to Wells Brothers, where I met other Totero line refugees. Lasagna was the special of the day. Unfortunately, it wasn't very good with a heavy noodle component over fillings. While it satisfied my curiosity, it certainly made me feel worse for skipping their much, much better pizza.

I learned I should have arrived by 10:45 for the first seating at Totero's.

Regards,

On Tuesday, Well's has a $20 Special, a one topping large pizza, garlic bread or fries appetizer and a tub of six 'shorty' beers or soda on ice.
Can't beat the thin crackling crust pizza.
We always have the basil pizza, simple, refined, classic pizza, it's all you need.
Call ahead for reservations, no line, no dealing with an archaic system.
I much prefer small ethnic restaurants but Toterro's just became too difficult to deal with when they stopped offering dinner and even when they offered dinner, it was very condescending in the manner in which you may or may not get a table.
When they announced the closing, I Knew it would be a feeding frenzy for the last few weeks so we didn't even attempt to go even though we live about 20 minutes away.
I haven't had the lasagne at Well's and I guess I won't based on your opinion!
I also have no idea of where to go in the area for lasagne.-Dick
BTW Mangia's has changed their format to a wine bar with appetizer's.
I have no idea if it's any good or not.

As mentioned above, Totero's will close on June 26, after 75 years. I'll miss it. Here are some old photos taken during a few visits a few years ago.

Although it's only two blocks south on Mead Street from Wells Bros, relatively few visited Totero's, partly because recently it's only been open two hours for lunch, four days a week.



Stepping in from the rather bleak surroundings, the contrast of the dim but cheerful interior is striking.



I never sat at a table, only at the bar, where chatting with Al was always a pleasure.



I loved the ordering procedure—simply walk into the kitchen and see what looks good.



I enjoyed everything I ate there but, honestly, food was secondary in the Totero's experience.





Best wishes to the Totero family.

‪Totero's
2343 Mead St
‪Mount Pleasant (Racine) WI
262-634-9488