Last Tuesday (you know, pre-snowpocalypse) I went into downtown Acworth looking for lunch. Being relatively new to the area, I was interested to see just what this 2010 All-American City has on the menu.

I enjoy many styles and genres of cuisine, but I'm a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy at heart. That, and what with the freezing temperatures outside, I just wanted something hearty to warm me up. So when my friend Barb and I sat down at our booth at Fusco's Via Roma Italian Trattoria, the first thing I did was ask about the specials, hoping for a heavy, robust (and meaty) pasta.

Not today, but I was satisfied; the first special our waitress mentioned was an Angus Beef 1/3 Pound Four Cheese Burger. Yum. I didn't need to hear anything else. I typically wouldn't go to a restaurant and order something that wasn't a specialty, but two things sold me: One, the waitress insisted that the burgers, while not traditionally Italian, were something upon which the head chef prided himself, and two, I can never say no to four or more cheeses on one plate.

The waitress jotted down our orders and bustled off to the kitchen. Then I took in the space. The atmosphere was very pleasant. There were a few other tables seated, but the eatery was nowhere near packed. There was a decent-size lunch crowd of about 20, and they all seemed to be enjoying their meals.

The decor was straight from Old Italia. There were hints of modernity throughout, but the vibe of this place definitely added to the mood and dining experience. 

Our waitress returned with our water and informed us that every Tuesday they run a special on wine called Tasting Tuesday, in which a glass from any bottle the bar has open is only $5. Lucky us. We ordered two glasses of the Matchbox Cabernet with smiles on our faces. Hey, it's 5 o'clock somewhere, right?

Our food was delivered promptly, maybe 10 or 15 minutes (and another half-glass of cab) later. Barb's turkey sandwich looked delicious, but I was focused on the beefy mountain on my plate. 

Perfectly cooked Angus on a crispy bread bun with leafy greens, juicy tomato and onions, and more cheese than I've ever had on a burger in my life. It tasted as good as it sounds. And the delicious fries that accompanied were just the icing on the cake.

The service was great. In fact, more than once the host touched our table to see how everything was going. His and our waitress's hospitality left us with a great sense of welcoming. I ate so much I thought I'd burst, but I couldn't resist. The food hit the spot. Especially after the Christmas week's snow-induced soup-a-thon just prior. 

As we paid and prepared to leave (mine, just under $13, hers around $10), I glanced around the room. The same people we began lunch with were still sitting, laughing, talking, enjoying their time, and the crowd had significantly grown. Now, this could have been because their jobs were still closed for the holidays, or because there was still ice on the ground and they would rather be someplace warm, but they all, just like me, chose Fusco's on this cold winter day for a reason: They wanted us there; they wanted our business and would do what it took to make us happy. 

That's exactly what I look for in restaurants. I can have a so-so meal and still come back if the service was above-par. So if you need something to shock you out of your own snowed-in soup coma, I suggest Fusco's Via Roma. You won't be disappointed, and with a lunch menu with plenty of options under $15, I expect you'll go back again and again. I know I will. Probably on a Tasting Tuesday.