"We visited Carino's Italian restaurant recently, which is how we refer to it. After attending a symphony on Sunday afternoon, we decided to stop by for dinner. Although Carino's is a national chain, we had never eaten there before. We'd heard good things, so we thought we’d give it a try—and we're glad we did!
For appetizers, we ordered the Sicilian Fire Sticks, and they were fantastic! According to the menu, they are made with tomato basil tortillas filled with Italian sausage, chicken, bacon, Roma tomatoes, jalapeños, and Italian cheese, served with a spicy marinara and ranch dressing.
My partner opted for the Shredded Beef Pappardelle. The menu describes it as large Northern-style egg pasta topped with roast beef, marinated onions, carrots, and a burgundy tomato sauce. He said the burgundy cream sauce really set the roast beef apart from other dishes he'd had.
I chose the Spicy Romano Chicken, which features bowtie pasta, cayenne pepper, a Romano cream sauce, mushrooms, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, and green onions. It was a bit too spicy for my taste, but not overwhelmingly so. Reducing the cayenne pepper would make it perfect for me, as I really enjoyed the pasta.
We decided not to drink alcohol that night, so we picked some Italian sodas instead. The menu boasts an original alcohol-free recipe, available with or without cream, in flavors like raspberry, blackberry, lemon, orange, cherry, and vanilla (with unlimited refills!). My partner had the raspberry soda, while I chose the cherry. We might have looked a bit silly with our fruity drinks, but they were delicious!
Despite the restaurant being crowded, the service was good. Our waiter was attentive and did his best to keep us satisfied, although it was clear he had a lot of tables to manage. We made sure to tip him extra for his effort.
The atmosphere was quite nice, like most national chains. The decor was pleasant and contributed to a welcoming experience. The prices were reasonable—not cheap, but fair for the quality of food and overall experience. It’s a great option for anyone on a university budget who wants to impress a date.
Carino's has earned a spot on our list of favorite restaurants. We’re definitely glad we tried it!"
