Iannarelli's is a family owned Italian restaurant located in Howe, Indiana in LaGrange County. Terry and Joyce Iannarelli have owned the restaurant for 14 years. The restaurants home is a quaint historic home built in 1845 and decked out in red with white detail. It stands out in this little town clearly as something special. As their surname suggests the Iannarellis are in fact Italian with bloodline one generation to Italy. Always having an entrepreneurial spirit Terry and Joyce started out by owning an Ice Cream Parlor. As the economy changed, their business declined too, so they closed the Ice Cream Parlor and decided to go back to their roots of Italy.

When first opening the restaurant they knew they had to perfect the secret family red sauce recipe. A perfect red sauce is key to a successful Italian restaurant. Using the family's secret recipe passed down from generations to generations. Now when Terry's mother comes to visit she sneaks into the kitchen and performs her own little taste test. She has memorized the recipe and she can tell if a pinch of spice is needed here or there just by a small taste.

Iannarelli's uses the freshest vegetables and even have the locals bringing them produce from their own gardens. Daily they will find bags of produce hung on the knob of the restaurant door. We loved that story they shared with us. The locals share the garden wealth per say.

We had the opportunity to try several menu items while visiting Iannarelli's Italian Restaurant. First, we sampled Grandma's Pizza, named after, you guessed it, Grandma! It is the real Italian deal with olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese, tomato, and a four blend cheese. Voted Best Pizza in LaGrange County, it is rich in flavor and crunchy in all the right places. The pizza topping choices are endless. Choose from the traditional menu options or create your own.

The entire menu is an Italian lovers dream, not just offering pizza, it features flatbreads, soups, fish, chicken, pasta, and other traditional favorites. The Shrimp D' Angelo is a pasta dish made up of angel hair, olive oil, garlic, Italian spices and parmesan cheese. Chicken is an option too if seafood isn't a favorite. One of the most popular and a signature dish is the Lasagna. Layered with ricotta, four blend cheese, parmesan cheese and, of course, the secret family recipe meat sauce. We couldn't decide which item was our favorite, as each one appealed to our appetites and taste buds. We topped the day off with their tiramisu and a cannoli. In true Italian fashion, they both were homemade and simply divine!

The restaurant's tag line is The little red house with the Big Italian Taste. That statement is nothing short of an understatement. Good authentic, Italian food is hard to find in Indiana. Their authentic recipes passed down from generation to generation are noted in each entrée, pizza, and dessert.

Iannarelli's offers weekly specials that includes a buffet, so be sure to check out their website or Facebook page for specific specials. Iannarelli's is member of Indiana Foodways Alliance and featured on the Italian and Pizza Trails. 405 Third Street, Howe, IN 46746 260-562-2500 www.Iannarellisllc.com