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If you've been around Hamilton long enough, you'll remember that the best place for Italian food used to be Isgro's on East Avenue. While the restaurant closed over 20 years ago, the name Isgros still brings to mind food so delicious that it makes your mouth water.

"I 'm serving many of the recipes that my family has cooked for years," said Gina Isgro, owner of Gina's Italian Food and Spirits, which opened a month ago in the former Wolpert's Café.

The restaurant/bar features such Isgro family favorites as spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna and mostaccioli, as well as light meals that were the staples at Wolpert's. Billing her place as a second generation Isgro family restaurant, Isgro said that she still knows what will bring in customers.

"My food is unique and I know what people like, and I'll make sure they get it," she said.

In addition to the Italian entrees, the menu at Gina's includes steak hoagies, meatball and italian subs, and a chicken parmesan sandwich. Aunt Josephine's antipasto salad is still a customer favorite, and appetizers feature the Wolpert's cheese plate, jalapeno poppers and fried vegetables. Gina's menu also includes home made soups such as Italian wedding soup, and there will be homemade chili this fall. Gina's offers a kid's menu for those younger than 12 with many of the Italian favorites served in smaller portions. Isgro said that while she has created a menu that is family friendly, she wants to be clear that her place is also a bar.

"We offer a full bar service, with happy hour and various drink specials, and we still get many of the local softball teams who want to have a drink after the game," she said. The bar also features entertainment such as karaoke and live music on the weekends.

Gina's menu is available for carry-out, and customers can rent tables for private parties with advance notice. There are no desserts served at Gina's but she plans to add homemade pizzas to the menu later this summer.

CONTACT this writer at tlhrsly@cinci.rr.com

HOW TO GO

WHAT: Gina's Italian Food and Spirits

WHERE: 1005 Eaton Ave. (Behind Flubs)

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed Sunday but will open on Sunday for the Bengal's games this fall. Kitchen is open until 10 p.m.

COST: Appetizers $3 to $8.75, Aunt Josephine's Antipasto Salad is $5.95. Soup of the day is $2.50. Spaghetti and meatballs and mostaccioli are $4.80 for a small portion and $6.80 for a large, and lasagna (one size only) is $6.95. Hoagies range between $5.25 and $5.75 and the kid's menu is $3.95, which includes a drink.

MORE INFO: (513) 895-1377