Photo by Kensie Wallner

Altony’s Italian

By Micheal Ramirez
Contributing Writer

On a recent night out for dinner, I took my son’s suggestion and visited Altony’s Italian Cafe in Dilworth and in doing so found one of Fargo-Moorhead’s hidden gems. Upon arrival I was struck by the small size of the place; it only seats 50 comfortably. Once inside you are greeted by the aroma of slow simmering marinara sauce, olive oil and garlic; smells to make the mouth water.

Our server, Barb, a longtime employee, had many suggestions, but the wife and I finally settled on Spaghetti and Meatballs and a Fettucini Alfredo. It was a pleasant surprise when a salad appeared at our table; one comes with every entree as does a dish of ice cream for dessert. My spaghetti dinner was HUGE. The marinara was flavorful. The noodles were perfectly done and the meatballs were juicy and loaded with taste. The Alfredo was creamy, tasty and very light—perfectly garlicky without being overly strong.

Chef/Owner/Chief Bottle Washer and General Handyman, Alan Gordon, started Altony’s more as a hobby to try and see if he could make a go of it in the food service industry. Now, five years later, he has developed a strong following in the F-M area. For a business that does no advertising it’s surprisingly busy. After asking fellow diners what had brought them to Altony’s, the answer was always the same: really good food, made from scratch sauces and family recipes.

Altony’s is definitely a place I will return to again and again. The menu has something for everyone and reasonable prices. As a matter of fact, my son called as I was leaving Altony’s to request one of their great burgers. Yeah! Who knew an Italian cafe did burgers?! But, if you order a burger at Altony’s, be prepared for a bit of a wait. It takes at least 15-20 minutes to prepare one of these monsters, but it is well worth the wait. The burger is gigantic, easily a ½ pound patty, and full of flavor. Aside from the fantastic meal, the friendly service and the great prices, it was a treat to see the chef prepare all the food in his semi-open kitchen.

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IF YOU GO:

What: Altony’s Italian Restaurant
Where: 4 Center Ave. West, Dilworth, MN
When: 11 -2 p.m. and 4-7:30 p.m.; M-F
Info: 218-287-5557