A Fantastico Five Stars
There's nothing more fun in the food world than discovering a great, locally-owned restaurant that's just minutes from your home.
I finally paid a visit to Carini Italian Restaurant on Williamsburg Road in the East End of Richmond and discovered what locals have been raving about for 20 years.
Located within a mile of the new shopping complex at White Oak, Carini has been dishing up Italian classics since 1978.
Owner Joe Sanzone and his wife Rosalia have lived the quintessential American dream: they came to the U.S. in 1975, speaking very little English, and built their business from scratch. Twenty years later, their business is flourishing and their children Cecilia, Maria, and Vincenzo have become the family's second generation of restaurateurs.
Named after a town in Sicily, Carini's décor is somewhat faux Italian village with masses of artificial grapes on a long arbor, but there's nothing faux about the food. The extensive menu features Italian classics from pastas to pesci (seafood), ranging from hearty dinners to a lunch list loaded with subs, soups and salads.
My sister and I settled into a cozy booth to explore the lengthy menu and a long list of Carini specialties. Taking the advice of our friendly and knowledgeable server, we decided to share two of the house favorites: a small (10-inch) Carini deluxe pizza ($10.95) with a thin crust (you choose between thin or thick Sicilian) and the tortellini alla panna ($9.95), stuffed with veal in a thick heavy cream and parmigiana sauce.
The pasta was perfectly cooked and the rich cream sauce was so good that I mopped the plate with my fresh bread. The pizza was great too, with a nicely-balanced red sauce and tender crust, loaded with fresh veggies, sausage, and pepperoni. The small size was just right for sharing and I still had a couple of slices to take home. IF YOU GO:Carini Italian Restaurant 3718 W. Williamsburg Road Monday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Smoking section. Rating: A fantastico five stars. |
Other house specialties include every kind of pasta you can imagine from spinach manicotti and eggplant parmigiana to ziti, ravioli, spaghetti, and stuffed shells, and portions are generous. In addition to the specialties, there's another long pasta list that covers all the sauce bases from spicy puttanesca and cheesy alfredo to vodka and carbonara.
If you're a fan of veal saltimbocca, marsala or parmigiana, you'll find that along with chicken versions on the dinner menu, as well as a comprehensive selection of seafood including scampi, crabcakes, oysters, flounder, and scallops ($8.50 to $18.95).
Definitely save room for dessert as the tiramisu ($5.25) here is the best I've had in Richmond. Other dessert options worth exploring include tartufo, cannolis, chocolate mousse and toasted almond crème cake, as well as an intriguing new addition, fried cheesecake with vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce.
You've also got lots of choices for lunches or snacks. Appetizers run the gamut from kid-friendly pizza fries with marinara and mozzarella ($3.75) to clams posillipo in red or white wine sauce ($8.95). Subs come parmigiana with shrimp, chicken, or eggplant, along with American favorites including cheese steaks and turkey. Calzones, stromboli, soups and salads round out the choices.
The weekday lunch special of a sub, fries, and drink for $7.50 is good deal, and families with energetic kids will love the attached game room.
Even without the added perk of the new nearby shopping center, Carini is worth a trip across town. Ciao!
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