By Martin Couch
Joe Memecci is a member of a large Sicilian family that has bistros throughout Arkansas.
Memecci decided to open up an authentic Italian Bistro in Bryant at 5311 Highway 5 North. Tony Memecci is the store manager and the chef and makes everything fresh inhouse.[more]
Joe's Bistro offers pick-up orders, to-go orders and it does catering for those interested in specialized Italian cuisine. It is family-owned and operated.
Some of the reasonably-priced menu items are fried calamari, focaccia, lasagna, fettuccine alfredo, manicotti, cheese ravioli, cannelloni, baked ziti, eggplant parmigiana, tortellini alla rosa, penne arabiata garlic basil pasta; as well as, chicken or veal parmigiana, chicken or veal piccata, chicken cacciatore, veal marsalla, shrimp tortellini and linguini tuttomar with shrimp, scallops, salmon, mussells, clams and marinara sauce.
Joe's New York style pizzas are also a hit. A customer can make his or her own pizza in three different sizes, 14-inch, 16-inch, and 18-inch, but Joe's offer's a Special Pizza with all ingredients, a White Pizza with ricotta and mozzarella cheese and the Lasagna Pizza with ricotta and mozzarella cheese, ground beef and marinara sauce.
There are strombolis and calzones, as well as many choices of authentic hot sub sandwiches.
For an evening out the most expensive dish is $16.99. Daily lunch specials are offered Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $6.95, which includes a choice of pasta, lasagna, manicotti, cheese ravioli, cannelloni, baked ziti, spagehetti, Joe's chicken or chicken parmigiana.
For desert, Joe's offers cannolis, plain cheesecake, tiramisu, cappuccino pie and spumoni.
