text: It is hard to review this restaurant without shedding a tear.   I first visited Battista's around 1978.  It was fantastic experience.  Deserved six stars.  That was \"before\" it became a tourist attraction.  In the early days only the \"locals\" knew and supported Bassista's.  Battista himself was there as well as some of his family.  An entertainer would come by and tell \"very naughty\" and also very funny jokes with an Italian flair.  Unlimited wine was also served for one price per person.  The last time I visited was back around 2003.  I was with a very savvy business woman and we ended up in one of the back unused rooms and spoke to several of the original (or close to original) employees.  While Battista's remains an over good place for many - unless you visited them before they expanded decades ago, you'll never know what you are missing.  It wasn't just a good meal, it was an experience.