No Lies Here – Pinocchio Italian Restaurant in Burbank

Pinocchio Restaurant and Monte Carlo Market

Family owned and operated, this is a gem of all gems in the area. A favorite among locals since opening in 1971, serving fresh, generous portions of family style Italian dishes. Since moving to Burbank in 2001, it is a casual walk down my alley (and it’s right up my alley too!)  to the heavenly aroma of the famous garlic bread. My favorite is the Vegetable Lasagna, with a side of Cesar Salad.  Pinocchio Restaurant, inside, does not belie it’s beloved fairy-tale boy. No lies here! All dishes are generous portions served with Garlic Bread. Available for purchase: ice cold fountain drinks or try a small bottle of Chianti, imported from Italy. You will love the selection of Sandwiches, ranging from Meat Balls & Meat Sauce, Sausage, Peppers 7 Meat Sauce as well as deli sandwiches.  Entrees include a variety of pastas and Salads. Pinocchio’s Pizza Special is: Sausage, pepperoni, bell peppers and mushrooms. I know what your thinking, but you don’t have to bring your own anti-acid as you can purchase Brioschi (Effervescent Antacid) right  in the market at Monte Carlo Deli.

But that’s not all. Breads, Italian Pastries, Cookies, Cannolis are baked fresh every day. I get really excited about dropping in and seeing what deals and finds I can find. There is always something I need or want and can cook or eat! Often you will find two-for-one imported pasta sales, or price reductions on other quality imported items. Grocery section offers a huge selection of imported pasta, olive oil, gourmet coffees and other hard to find specialties, including Imported Wines.

Friendly and knowledgeable staff, some who have worked there for decades.

Bring the whole family in and top it off with the homemade Gelato. My daughter like the 5-sampling, and I like that it’s $2.95!

3103 W Magnolia Blvd
Burbank, CA 91505
Neighborhood: Burbank

(818) 845-3516

http://www.montecarlodeli.com

More From Pinocchio’s: (link here to the How To Make Pizza Recipe)

How To Make A Margarita Pizza

You can buy most of these utensil and items right in there market.

Margarita Pizza                                                                                                                                      

Tools needed: Pizza Stone, Pizza Peel, rolling pin, 14” Pizza pan / Serves 3-4 
Ingredients

• 1 lb. fresh pizza dough
• 8-10 ozs San Marzano Tomatoes blended (reserve the juice in the can for another use)
• 3 balls of fresh mozzarella chopped into chunks
• 6-8 large fresh basil leaves torn into smaller pieces
• 1-2 ozs of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Reggiano Parmesan
• Pinch of sea salt
• Flour for dusting rolling pin and table top
• 1 teaspoon of corn meal

Method:

• Let pizza dough stand at room temperature for about 1 hour
• Place pizza stone in cold oven and set to  500 degrees F heat for 45 minutes
• Dust work top with flour and shape dough with rolling pin to a circle approx. 14” in diameter
• Sprinkle corn meal on pizza peel, place dough on top of peel (make sure there are no tears in the dough)
• Spread tomatoes on dough then mozzarella on top.
• Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle salt and parmesan on top
• Slide pizza off peel onto hot stone and bake approx. 6 minutes, turn pizza ½ turn and bake additional 3-4 minutes or until the crust is golden brown
• Take pizza out of oven place on pan and top with basil cut with knife or pizza cutter and serve

From Wikipedia:

Cannoli are Sicilian pastry desserts. The singular iscannolo (or in the Sicilian language cannolu), meaning “little tube”, with the etymology stemming from the Latin “canna”, or reed. Cannoli originated inSicily and are an essential part of Sicilian cuisine. They are also popular in Italian American cuisineand in the United States are known as a general Italian pastry, while they are specifically Sicilian in origin. In Italy they are commonly known as  “cannoli siciliani”, Sicilian cannoli.