Headed into Clinton? Alteri’s is a quaint, family-owned bar and restaurant located just twenty minutes down the Hill by foot and three minutes by car. It began sharing its homestyle Italian cooking with the Village on Valentine’s Day in 1953. The restaurant has been passed down through the Alteri family for three generations, and hopes to continue to thrive for many more.
The atmosphere at Alteri’s is not what you might expect at 10 PM on a Friday night. During late hours on weekends, bar and restaurant establishments tend to be loud and mildly unpleasant to dine at. Upon arrival at Alteri’s, however, guests are led to walk through the bar before being seated in the dining area in the back. The laughter of a 10-person family echoed throughout the fairly empty dining room. Despite the noise from the bar, the volume of the restaurant was at the perfect level to engage in good conversation with friends.
After taking our order for a deluxe hamburger and a plate of spaghetti the waitress brought warm bread and butter to the table. This, surprisingly, was my favorite part of the entire meal. The consistency and overall quality of the bread was comparable to the quality of bread at fine dining establishments with New York City-style pricing. During the 15-minute wait for the main course, I noticed some familiar décor. Hamilton College athletic team photos, apparel, and sports gear — including that of Guy Hebert ’89 — adorn two of the walls.
When the dishes were served, I was greeted by the tangy aroma of the Alteri’s original marinara sauce that accompanied my spaghetti. This truly did taste like a homestyle spaghetti dish, and it was done in no time. The burger, on the other hand, was not as satisfying to us as we had found the bread and spaghetti to be. The texture of the beef patty was similar to the texture of a beef patty cooked in a college dining hall, the buns were slightly squashed, and the chips resting next to the burger were mostly crumbled. After finishing the meal, we waited 10 minutes to receive the check.
Although the burger was a miss and the wait times could be shorter, the bread, spaghetti, cozy environment, and decor deserved praise. We also appreciated that, although it was nearing closing time, we were not rushed to finish our meal. I would certainly be open to returning and trying other items on the menu. If students are looking for a casual place to eat with friends or family, Alteri’s is worth a try.
