Dining out: 70 years at Velleggia’s
New owner, but same style
by Celeste H. Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com
Had to be there when my friend Eddie Applefeld invited us to celebrate the 70th birthday of Velleggia’s in Little Italy.
Although the venerable Italian restaurant at 829 E. Pratt St. has a new facade, it still offers the quality cuisine that Baltimore has been enjoying consistantly over the years.
Who of a certain age doesn’t remember prom nights or special dances and dates celebrated by going to Velleggia’s?
To mark its 70th year on the restaurant scene, new owner Terry Coffman Sr. put out an abundanza buffet for The Press to sample last week. We could choose from a large variety of shrimp, veal, chicken, fish, and meat dishes. If anyone wanted a taste other than Italian, there also was a backfin crab imperial that was among the best I’ve ever tasted.
If anyone left hungry, it surely was not the fault of our affable host.
Coffman, who bought out the business when the last of the Velleggia owners retired a few years ago, told us, “This is the real deal. I asked (long-time employee) Ms. Betty how did Miss Mary do it and that’s the way we’re doing it.”
“Miss” Mary and her husband Enrico Velleggia, natives of Porto San Elpidio, Italy, began the legendary eatery as a tavern. Over the years and mostly because of “Miss” Mary’s skilled hand in the kitchen, it grew into one of Baltimore’s best known and beloved restaurants. Today, it is also one of the oldest.
Justifiably quite proud of being named #1 Best Italian Food in Baltimore 2007 by City Search.com, which Newsweek ranked in the top 25 websites for finding anything in America, Coffman boasted of over 900,000 hits on their website last year.
Noted primarily as an Italian Seafood Restaurant, Velleggia’s also serves pasta, chicken and veal dishes, steaks, pizza, soups, salads and a variety of appetizers. Entrees range from $13 to $31.
New on the menu is a Taste of Velleggia’s with a rotating menu every Thursday night from 6-9 p.m. Taste up to four entrees with dessert, salad and wine, domestic beer or soft drink for $20.
Congenial host Coffman invites you to “Come join us where you will find yourself simply ‘Lost in the Sauce.’”
For more information or reservations, call 410-685-2620.