2 Goodfellas comfortable campus fixture too good to be true

Even the most well-adjusted, independent and mature college student gets homesick from time to time -- it can't be helped.

Luckily, for those moments when only familial attention will suffice, there's 2 Goodfellas, accurately described by proprietor and chef John Marcelline on the menu as "one of University City's best-kept secrets for excellent food."

Located just off campus at 41st and Walnut streets, 2 Goodfellas is the sort of neighborhood haunt that usually only exists in myths -- a no-frills, relaxed atmosphere, great food, reasonable prices and extremely friendly service.

In other words, it's like the best possible meal at home -- great, home-cooked food and lots of attention, minus the nagging parents.

On a recent weeknight, I made my way up to 2 Goodfellas with two friends for a meal we'll all not forget for months to come. From the moment we stepped through the front door, warm greetings abounded. We were quickly presented with a tasty bottle of red wine as well as countless offers of soft drinks.

However, we only had mere minutes to settle in before the endless parade of courses began.

To start off our dining experience, Marcelline selected the golden batter-fried calamari rings, served with a tasty marinara sauce, as well as their Caesar salad, both of which came in tremendous portions and overflowed with taste and seasoning. The calamari was crisp and tender, and the salad's dressing, a special recipe specific to the restaurant, certainly lived up to its reputation.

However, the appetizers were merely a distraction from the overwhelming entrees that were soon to take up residence on our table, which had to be extended in order to fit all of the dishes. Again, we left it up to Marcelline to order for us, and once again, he did us proud, opting for two pasta dishes -- their "famous" fettuccine alfredo and the equally reputable penne ala vodka -- as well as two poultry-based dishes -- the chicken parmigiana, served on a sizable bed of spaghetti, and the chicken marsala.

And with that, my friends and I smiled, unbuckled our jeans for extra room and dug in, barely making a dent in the huge portions facing us at the end of an hour.

The parmigiana was crisp and flavorful and not the least bit soggy or limp, and the chicken marsala was refreshingly savory and shared a plate with fresh-roasted potatoes and Portobella mushrooms, all of which we eagerly gobbled up.

That's not to in any way imply that the pasta dishes were slouches.

The fettucine alfredo was served in a delightful sauce that, although heavy, was pleasantly creamy and nicely complemented the noodles. Also delicious was the penne alla vodka, in a fresh sauce that clearly illustrated the chef's skill and experience by soaring above any of the bottled competitors sold at supermarkets. To complement the dishes, every plate came piled with loaves of crisp, toasty garlic bread.

Despite our stomachs' angry protests, we continued to feast on the massive amounts of food before us before finally surrendering to the inevitability of failure. However, nothing could keep us from the mouth-watering desserts next wheeled out. One plate held three perfectly formed cannolis, a crisp, crunchy tube filled with a sweet filling; another held a rich, multilayered chocolate cake fit for any chocaholic. But the piece de resistance was certainly the vanilla lemon cake with its flavorful fleshy cake and perfectly tart icing. Coupled with the warm mugs of chocolate-flavored coffee, we were happily floating around the table in a dessert-fueled heaven.

With its more-than-reasonable prices -- sizable appetizers sit about $7, pasta entrees range from $9 through $13, and poultry and meat dishes are only a dollar or two more -- and grand appetizing portions, 2 Goodfellas is the rare college-oriented restaurant that doesn't compromise food quality, complexity of taste or freshness for reasonable, student-friendly prices.

And when coupled with the remarkably friendly and caring service -- we were treated to service from two charming waitresses and Marcelline himself -- there's simply no reason for this delightful Italian eatery to remain a secret any longer.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.