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Life & Arts

Nundini easy on wallet, big on taste

by MICHELLE PENA
THE DAILY COUGAR

From the moment people hear about Nundini Food Store, their eyes will light up with newfound hope. Maybe Houston is not as gastronomically challenged as they had once assumed, and maybe, just maybe, they could find a decent meal and a place to satisfy their Texas-sized sweet tooth. 

It would be easy to accidentally pass Nundini, located in an unassuming warehouse complex on North Shepherd Drive. But inside, Nundini stands out with its unpretentious atmosphere, delicious Italian pastries, gelato and hot and cold Italian sandwiches.

The first thing that strikes a guest upon arrival at the restaurant, apart from the employees chattering in a mixture of English, Spanish and Italian, is the variety of pastries on its counters. A patron's eyes will quickly wander off to the fresh cannolis and Tiramisu, and then the little chocolate covered Italian version of eclairs.

Paul Kim/The Daily Cougar

One does not need to know the names of all the pastries -- in fact, one does not have to even know what they are to crave them after one glance.

However, after looking at all this carb-loaded heavenly goodness, it may be wise to stick to your diet and just have a sandwich. The sandwiches vary from turkey and chicken to Italian meats like sorpressatta and proscuitto. Though Nundini offers certain house sandwiches, don't be surprised if the friendly staff is willing to make changes to the original sandwiches to satisfy the costumers' cravings. 

The prices are reasonable -- a sandwich and chips is less than $7, about as much as some fast-food meals. Though the wait at Nundini is relatively longer than the wait at a fast-food chain, it is an understatement to say that the food is also much better. 

After eating a sandwich, guests will be in awe of the imaginative gelato flavors, including chianti and pear, Nutella, mango and peach. There are also more traditional flavors, like chocolate and vanilla. After a sandwich, allow yourself a scoop of gelato -- or four. The upside of gelato is that it's softer, creamier and slightly healthier than regular ice cream -- but not too much.

If you get a chance to go to Nundini, whether for a sandwich, or espresso and any of their pastries, you must make room for their gelato. You will probably never look at ice cream the same way again. 

Nundini Food Store

500 N. Shepherd Drive, Suite B

Verdict: Unique, homemade Italian dishes at fast-food prices. A definite must-try.