Bryan
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| Something Out of Italy | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I've always wanted to go to Italy just so I can experience the fine dining of an exquisite Italian restaurant. To be able to embrace a beautiful Italian city and all its glory while I enjoy a mouth-watering Italian dish. As I listen to the sounds of Italian love music slowly making its way to my table. Unfortunately, I neither have the time nor the money to invest going on such a long trip. Luckily enough, there is a fine Italian Grill, known as Carrabba's, just off of Jefferson Avenue in Newport News, Virginia. It is the perfect step-in if you have always wanted to try real Italian grilled meals and can not afford to fly yourself to good old Italy. Their meals were worth their prices and their staff was very friendly. It was just the much-needed wait to get in that made it a bit unbearable when you can smell the various aromas, coming from within, surrounding you. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| The wait to get into Carrabba's on a regular Friday or Saturday night was approximately fifteen to twenty-five minute, but luckily for me and my friend we only had to wait ten minutes. Of course, if we went on a holiday, the wait time would double in accordance to the number of people there. Anyone who had a buzzer waited anxiously for it to go off and flash a vibrant red, making them aware that their host or hostess was calling them in to be seated. As we waited to be called in, there were several nice patio chairs and tables along the left side of the entrance where guests were welcome to sit and shade themselves from the sun's rays. "I can't wait to see how the food tastes. The smell in there is just awesome," my friend said, fidgeting in his chair as we waited anxiously for the buzzer in his hand to go off. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| A view of Rome, Italy. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| As soon as my party's buzzer flashed a bright red, we quickly rushed to the front door to find our hostess, decked in all black, patiently awaiting our arrival. She had the biggest smile I could imagine, exposing those beautiful pearly white teeth. "Follow me to your table please," she gestured so gently. As we all followed her to our table, I noticed how comfortable it felt to be in that restaurant. The soft, gentle smile of the waiters as they came by serving their guests' meals and the many chefs laughing while preparing the many lists of orders they needed to fill. After we were finally seated, our waiter, Andrew, came to our table in what seemed like mere seconds after our hostess had left. He was so fun, loving and just the most energetic gentleman that my friend and I had ever met. Unlike most other waiters, he checked up on us frequently and made more than just chit chat conversations with us. His glimmering smile and childlike, friendly attitude made our dining experience at Carrabbas most enjoyable. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Asides from the friendly service and great atmosphere, the food at Carrabbas was one of the best Italian meals that I had eaten in awhile. I ordered the Pasta Weesie, fairly priced at $13.99, which was fettuccini noodles smothered in Alfredo Sauce with steaming, pink shrimp and thinly sliced mushrooms. The fresh scent that radiated from the pasta dish just made my nose tingle followed by the rest of my body as I take that first bite into heaven. Even better was the Veal Marsala, priced at a good $15.99, which was covered in a mountain of mushroom sauce. My friend had no trouble at all cutting into the delicately cooked sliced veal. The chefs had done a marvelous job evenly coating the mushroom sauce around the veal and maintaining the meat's natural juices. As an added side was homemade mashed potatoes, the one that still had bits of potato skin still lingering adding a fresh, more potato-like taste to the meal. For drinks we had nice, cold, refreshing sweet iced tea, priced at $3.50 each. It wasn't as sweet as I expected it to be, but with the actual meal filling me up before I could lay a hand on dessert, it didn't really make a difference. Nick's comment after finishing our meal was, "That was excellent. The meat was cooked perfectly and the sauce wasn't too overbearing for my taste." | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Chicken Bryan |
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| Overall, the whole dining experience at Carrabbas is one I would most enjoy a second and third time around.� The meals left that kind of after-taste that made me want to come back for more, but at a later date because I was so filled up the first time. I would say this Italian grill is an excellent choice and I would be willing to share exquisite dining experience with my family and a few close friends. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Works Cited | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Kropp, Nicholas II. Personal Interview. 10 Jun. 2006. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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