AMERICAN  l  BARBEQUE  l  FAST FOOD DRIVE-INS  l  GREEK
 MEXICAN  l  ORIENTAL  l  PIZZA  l  SEAFOOD  l  STEAKHOUSES

The first Italian immigrants, brought over in the late 1860's to work on the railroads, introduced their native food specialties to small towns and villages along the line.  Many Italians in the East, weary of heaving railroad ties, quit to open restaurants catering to their countrymen.  Artists who had live and studied in Italy soon began to patronize these "tratorie" for hearty and inexpensive meals.  However, it wasn't until the 1920's when Prohibition laws resulted in a booming business for restaurants serving wine that Italian restaurants really came into their own.  People enjoyed the food in these establishments and soon began to prepare it at home.  With the food shortages of WWII, economical Italian dishes won a permanent place on American menus.