Bites Nearby: Bambinelli's Italian Restaurant

You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant sign draws you in. But we've got a better idea. Each week, Patch picks a great restaurant either in town or nearby that is worth checking out.

Here is this week's choice: Bambinell’s Italian Restaurant.

They say Bambinelli’s used secret recipes from the  mountains of Torino, Italy, to build its popular menu of authentic food from the old country.

But it’s no secret that the family owned eatery at 4153 Lawrenceville Highway — in the shopping center anchored by Kroger at the intersection with Beaver Ruin Road — has become a Lilburn institution. (Tucker-area folks might say the same of the Bambinelli’s location at 3202 Northlake Parkway).

It’s difficult to find a local athletic field in Lilburn without a Bambinell’s sponsorship banner hanging somewhere. Those attending this weekend’s state baseball championships at Parkview High School just need to look over the right-field wall to see one, by the way.

Bambinelli’s has been in business in Atlanta since 1980 serving freshly prepared Italian cuisine from alfredo, parmigiana, primavera and pesto dishes, and some of the best New York-style pizza you’ll find this side of I-85. (And don’t forget the garlic rolls).

You can't go wrong with any of the lunch or dinner selections, but here are a few suggestions:

The DaVinci Combo ($15.95) combines sausage, eggplant and chicken parmigiana with stuffed shells; the Shrimp Fra Diavolo ($14.95), served over linguini, has a tantalizing spicy marinara sauce; the Bambinelli’s Special pizza ($19.95 for an 18-inch extra-large pie) combines pepperoni, sausage, mozzarella, peppers and onions.

Italian standards, such as Eggplant Parmigiana ($9.95), are a good bet, too.

Bambinelli’s offers lunch and dinner menus, as well as a kid's menu.

Bambinelli’s is located at 4153 Lawrenceville Highway in Lilburn, and location at 3202 Northlake Parkway, Atlanta. Open Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for lunch; and Monday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Friday, 5 p.m.-11 p.m., Saturday, 4 p.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday, 4 p.m.-10 p.m. for dinner. Dinner pricing: Pizza (10-inch individual to 18-inch extra large), up to $21.95; Calzones/Stromboli, $5.90-$8.95; Pasta dishes, $8.95-$13.95; Meat entrees, $9.95-$17.95.