Nino's Italian Eatery - The best ziti this side of New York

I was recently talking with a New York native, and she was raving about the baked ziti at Nino's.  She claimed that Nino's baked ziti was better than any she had tasted back east.  I was intrigued, and it wasn't long before I found myself seated in the Nino's dining room.

I had heard about the Garlic Knots and how great they were.  I was a bit disappointed, as I was hoping for a bit more garlic flavor from the knots, however the marinara dipping sauce was outstanding!  The sauce was bright and flavorful.  All in all good.

I also tried the sautéed spinach with garlic and oil.  The balance of garlic and spinach flavors was spot on.  I enjoyed the fresh flavor of the spinach cutting through the appetizer.  It would be easy for the garlic to overwhelm the delicate flavor of the spinach.

I love eggplant, so I went with the Baked Ziti with eggplant.  I was served a generous dish of gooey, cheesy, and delicious pasta.  The eggplant had been thinly sliced, breaded, and cooked perfectly.  The pasta was just a touch overcooked, but the cheese and marinara helped overcome that slight error.  I could have easily eaten the entire dish, but I knew if I ate all of the dish, as rich as it was, I would pay later.  I also knew I would enjoy it just as much as a leftover at home...little did I know that my wife would finish it for me :)

I have to say I really enjoyed the contrast in textures between the pasta, cheese, and eggplant.  They came together very well, and I have not had any other pasta dish like it in Anchorage.  I can imagine being served this dish in New York City's Little Italy.

Nino's Italian Eatery:

Address - 831 E 36th, Anchorage, 99503

Phone - 907.336.NINO

Website - ninositalianeatery.com

Reservations - None.  They do cater and you can call in for carry out.

Overall Recommendation:  There are some good Italian restaurants in Anchorage.  Nino's lacks a bit in ambiance, as it reminds me a bit of a cafeteria.  However, I think that Nino's is among the best when it comes to pasta dishes.  Come with an appetite!

Villa Nova Restaurant - Italian cuisine with a special atmosphere

Villa Nova Restaurant is another one of those strip mall gems that Anchorage is known for.  Located on Arctic Blvd, and not too far from the Ted Stevens International Airport, Villa Nova is a very nice "date night" option.

Our Friday night meal featured a classical guitarist who played beautiful acoustic pieces throughout the evening.  We enjoyed the music and began our meal with the Escargot.  The appetizer featured six mushroom caps, each stuffed with snails, fresh garlic, Italian herbs, and olive oil.  The dish is baked and served in the same dish, and brought to the table piping hot.  I love Villa Nova's escargot, and I could have eaten this dish all night.  The oil and herb mixture made a great dipping option for the bread at the table, and the escargot stuffed mushrooms are a wonderful combination of textures and flavor.  The almost sweet flavor of the snail blend with the earthy flavors of the mushrooms and the bold, rich flavors of the oil and herbs.

I also enjoyed my house salad.  I chose the garlic dill dressing, which was new to me.  It is a creamy dressing with highlights of garlic and dill, but subtle and balanced.  The romain lettuce, carrots, legumes, and tomatoes were all fresh and bright.

For my main course I chose the Tournedos Fra Diavolo.  These two, very tender, filet mignon medallions are each served with a delicious sautéed prawn and a mushroom, crushed red pepper sauce.  The filets were so tender I could cut them with my fork.  The prawns were succulent and flavorful enough to stand up to the spicy sauce.  The sauce really brought the dish together, but without overpowering any of the components.  I still got the great flavor of the filets, prawns, and mushrooms, all the while feeling the warmth of the crushed red peppers.

My wife chose the Pate a Choux for dessert.  It is a homemade puff pastry filled with homemade chocolate mousse, all topped with a dark chocolate sauce.  I only meant to have one bite, but ended up having 3 or 4.  Ooops.  The puff pastry was flaky with a little crisp, and the mousse was light and airy.  A decadent dessert for the likes of me.  Quite good.

To my way of thinking, Villa Nova is on par with the best of Anchorage's Italian restaurants.  Definitely a good choice for a night out.

Villa Nova Restaurant:

Address - 5121 Arctic Blvd, Suite 1, Anchorage, AK 99503

Phone - 907.561.1660

Website - www.villanovaalaska.com

Reservations - Highly Recommended.

Overal Recommendation -  Villa Nova is a very good option for Italian dining in Anchorage.  They are the place to go if you are on the west side of town, or coming back from a trip to the airport.

CampoBello Bistro - Mediterranean in Midtown

I have said it before, but it bears repeating :  It is amazing the number of great restaurants in Anchorage that are in strip malls!  CampoBello Bistro is one of those strip mall gems, and it is in the heart of midtown Anchorage.  My wife enjoy the service, wine list, and food at this small restaurant.  We just recently made it back and were not disappointed.

We started with the Bruschetta Pomodora.  Savory grilled seasoned bread with fresh Roma marinara, basil, mozzarella, and parmesan.  Warm, savory, tangy, this appetizer sings on your palate.  This is a great way to start your meal...give it a shot.

Next we had the house caesar.  This is not a bad caesar salad, but it is no stand out, especially when compared to the rest of the meal.  I recommend going with the soup.

For my main course, I chose the Calamari Scallopini.  I have to respect the chef who can cook a fillet of calamari just right.  The calamari are so tender and mild.  They pair perfectly with the lemony caper picatta sauce.  It would be easy to overcook the calamari, or to have the picatta overpower the delicate calamari.  This presentation is just right.  Served with CampoBello's layered scalloped potatoes.  What a combination.

To cleanse our palate we chose a dessert of lemon ice cream.  Scratch made in the restaurant, this is a perfect little bite to share with someone special, and not feel over stuffed.

All in all, another nice meal in one of the best kept secrets in Anchorage.

CampoBello Bistro:

Address - 601 W. 36th, Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99503

Phone - 907.563.2040

Website - www.campobellobistro.com

Reservations - Walk-ins are welcome, but I recommend calling ahead.

Overall Recommendation - This is a nice little restaurant with a tasty menu, nice wine list, and reasonable prices.  I recommend giving CampoBello's a try.

Olive Garden - The Italian Sensation Arrives in the Last Frontier

For years rumors of Anchorage getting it's very own Olive Garden have circulated.  When the latest rumors started, I was dubious.  However, with the announcement for the opening of Olive Garden at Tikahtnu Commons, in north Anchorage, my doubts were erased.  Anchorage has finally arrived!

OK, maybe that is a bit dramatic, and I'll be honest, I am not much of a chain restaurant diner.  I lean toward the local eateries, as opposed to the national institutions.  What do you expect, I am just a boy from North Pole with a love of food.  We never had much in the way of national franchise restaurants when I was growing up.

I have been to Olive Garden before, in the Seattle area, on trips with swimmers (I am a swim coach too).  As a result, I have never really been able to relax and enjoy myself while dining at an Olive Garden.  That changed tonight, and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

My wife and I started with the Stuffed Mushroom appetizer.  These tender mushrooms were stuffed with clams, herb breadcrumbs, and a blend of parmesan, romano, and mozzarella cheeses.  What can I say?  They were delicious!  I am lucky there were only 6 of them, or I could have gone on eating those decadent starters.

We moved on to soup and salad...I had both.  The Garden-Fresh Salad is popular for very good reasons: it is very tasty, and it is bottomless.  The house Italian dressing is bright with flavor, and quite rich.  The tomatoes, lettuce, etc are all fresh and flavorful.  It is not the lightest salad around, but it hits the spot.

For soup, I chose the Pasta e Fagioli.  Now, I love soup.  In fact, I am a bit of a soup snob.  Again, I have to say, that Olive Garden has a nice zuppe.  The fagioli has white and red beans, a bit of ground beef, and tomatoes, all served up with some tender pasta in a nicely seasoned broth.  It is full of savory goodness, and very wholesome.  I had to hold back on getting a refill.

Olive Garden's Venetian Apricot Chicken

With such a rich and delicious start to the meal, I new I had better watch myself on the entree'.  I chose the Venetian Apricot Chicken.  The plate comes with grilled chicken breast in an apricot citrus sauce.  It also comes with asparagus, broccoli, and diced tomatoes.  If you are looking to watch your calories, this is an excellent choice.

The entree' was probably the weakest part of the meal, but it was still pretty good.  The grilled chicken breasts weren't the most tender I have had, but they were cooked properly and were not dried out.  The broccoli and tomatoes were a bit limp and mushy, but the asparagus was just right.  The apricot citrus sauce is a bit on the sweet side, but not cloyingly sweet.  If the sauce were just a bit more savory than sweet, I would say it was perfect.

Speaking of sweet, we decided to share a dessert.  We were both pretty full, so it is nice that Olive Garden has Dolcini.  These little desserts offer up 2-3 bites, but are great way to finish a meal.  We had the Strawberry & White Chocolate Cream Cake.  It was a nice little cake with strawberry syrup, whipped cream, and white chocolate chips.  A pretty nice ending to a very nice meal.


Olive Garden:

Address - 1186 N Muldoon Road, Anchorage, AK 99504 & locations across the country.

Phone - 907.333.1300

Website - www.olivegarden.com

Reservations - None taken.  It is first come, first serve.  The Anchorage Olive Garden is the hottest place in town right now, so expect a wait.  I have heard that, on a Friday night, you could expect up to two and a half hour wait.  If you go earlier in the week, and go after 8p, you will have a much shorter wait.  They also have a Take Out menu, so that is an option as well.

Overall Recommendation - I enjoyed my dinner.  The appetizers, soup, salad (and breadsticks) are very good!  My server was friendly and very attentive.  If you don't like to wait more than an hour for a table, consider a less popular dining time....or their Take Out menu.

Guido's Pizza

My wife recently had a craving for the Guido's Greek Salad.  The Guido's Greek Salad is loaded with fresh mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, sliced Canadian bacon, salami, mozzarella, and feta cheese and topped with pepperoncinis, and it is served with a loaf of piping hot garlic bread.  When your wife has a craving for such a heroic salad...you make it happen.


As it turns out, I don't really mind helping her get her salad fix, since I enjoy quite a few of Guido's menu items as well.  I have enjoyed Guido's pizzas, calzones, strombolis, and subs.  They are all quite good.  My favorite is the stromboli; a cross between a calzone and a pocket pizza, filled with pepperoni, onions, Canadian bacon, black olives, mushrooms, green peppers, mozzarella, and our special sauce. Fresh-baked to order, inside you'll find turkey, ham, pastrami, cheese, mustard, and mayonnaise with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and onions.  It is impossible to walk away hungry after taking on one of these creations.

As a swim coach, I have taken relatively large groups of swimmers to Guido's for lunches and dinners.  It has alway hit the spot with them.  They have enjoyed the items above as well as the lasagna and pasta dishes.  It is a nice spot for children of all ages with a very casual atmosphere.  Having said that, it is not at all my first choice for a romantic meal.


All in all Guido's is a pizza/Italian restaurant that will appeal to a broad range of people...definitely worth a try.

Guido's Pizza:

Address - 549 W International Road, Anchorage

Phone - 907.563.2222

Website - www.guidospizza.net

Reservations - Guido's has a very large dining room, but you can call ahead for a reservation.  They are able to facilitate pretty large groups as well.

Overall Recommendation:  Guido's is not the top Italian restaurant in town, nor is it the best pizza.  Having said that, it is not bad either.  If you are out for a more casual meal with pretty good pizza, calzones, and salad, then check it out.

Romano's Italian & Seafood Restaurant

The first time I went to Romano's, I was with a group of swimmers, traveling from Fairbanks.  We enjoyed the escargot that night, and since then I have always had a special place in my heart for the place.

Most recently I took my wife for a Friday "date night".  We had a very friendly waiter who made us both smile and put us in a great mood.  Despite the fact that we heard a lot of noise from a birthday group in the same room, we were able to have a nice dinner for two.

I started with the minestrone which was very hearty and quite good.  We then enjoyed the stuffed mushrooms.  The fresh mushrooms were stuffed with a seafood dressing and then covered with light seafood cream sauce.  I would have preferred them to be cooked a little longer to blend the flavor of the stuffing and the mushrooms a bit, but they were still tasty.

My wife had the chicken fettuccini and she said it was one of the best in town.  I had one of the specials for the day, the Seafood Lasagna.  With shrimp, crab, and scallops that had first been sauteed with onions and red peppers, this version of Lasagna is outstanding.  The flavor and texture of the seafood shines through and blends perfectly with pasta, cheese, and sauce.  If I was not so full from my serving, I would love to have had a second serving.

While there are quieter, more intimate Italian restaurants in Anchorage, there are not any that show any more talent in blending seafood into their dishes.  The prices are primarily in the $15-$20 range and well worth the cost.  Give it a try.

Romano's Italian & Seafood Restaurant:

Address - 2415 C Street, Anchorage, AK 99503

Phone - 907-276-0888

Website - www.romanosak.net

Reservations - Reservations are not accepted.  First come, first serve.  There are a lot of tables, so I can't imagine having to wait, but there is a bar if you need to wait for a table to open up.

Overall Recommendation:  This is a good restaurant with friendly waitstaff.  This is not a quiet, intimate restaurant.  There can be quite a bit of noise with voices carrying, but if you go on a slow night and are seated away from others, it can be a nice romantic dinner.  Having said that, the food is good and worth a try.

Little Italy Restaurante - Tuscany on the Lower Hillside

A great little "hole in the wall" Italian/Greek restaurant is about a 10 minute walk from my house....Little Italy Restaurante.  It is a perfect example of what is great about Anchorage cuisine.  You can find the most amazing little restaurant in a strip mall or, in this case, what I would swear is an old garage.  My wife and I consider Little Italy as one of our favorite restaurants in Anchorage, and this last Saturday we needed a little time for us at "our" restaurant.

The interior has just the right level of light and mood music playing as you come in and are seated.  There does not really seem to be a bad seat in the place, although I do prefer the booths...for the romantic times.  The service is always friendly, and the recommendations and specials are spot on.  They do have their own bar and, if you are a oenophile, they have a pretty nice selection of wines.  My wife and I always listen to the specials and look for recommendations on wine from the waitstaff.  The staff loves the food and wine they serve...and they make great meal advisors.

I have eaten at Little Italy a few times and love the appetizers.  My favorite is the sauteed mushrooms.  They are sauteed in olive oil, garlic, oregano, and lemon.  Having said that, this time they were a little dry without much jus.  Next time I will ask the waitstaff to check to see if they are looking good before I order them.

We also had marinated artichoke hearts.  I have had artichoke hearts that are too oily or too vinegary.  These were just right, marinated in some lemon, olive oil, herbs, and dusted with little paprika.

Our waiter recommended the R Barbera 2009 of Jeff Runquist Wines.  It was just right for our appetizers and what we were about to have for our entree.  This is one of the things I like most about Little Italy!  They always seem to be able to make the right recommendation for pairing appetizers, wine, and entree.  This particular red was light with hints of mocha and plum.  The perfect balance for our meal.

My entree came with a lemon chicken soup.  It was ok, but far from transcendent.  It didn't matter much, because my entree was on it's way...and it was inspired.  The seafood cannelloni made my day.  It was a special, not on the menu, but as I have said before their specials are spot on.  The crepes were stuffed with crab, shrimp, and scallop.  A light cream sauce covered the two crepes and a spoonful of marinara had been ladled across the top.  A side of fresh steamed vegetables accompanied them on the plate.

I love a creme sauce that does not feel heavy and allows the flavors of the crepe and filling to step forward.  The accent of the perfect amount of marina brought the plate together.  The seafood was sweet and flavorful...the sauce magnificent.  Needless to say, I gobbled up my meal.

My wife had a special as well, linguini with tender slices of chicken in a red wine reduction.  The sauce had capers, pine nuts and my wife loved it.  I was too focused on my meal to get a taste, but I did get a whiff of the aroma as it was placed on our table, and it smelled devine.

Someday my wife and I will have to save room for a desert.  To date, we have been too enthusiastic about our appetizers and entrees to make it to a desert.  It just gives me an excuse to make another reservation to have dinner there.


Little Italy Restaurante:

Address -
2300 E 88th Ave
Anchorage, AK

Phone - 907-344-1515

Website - www.littleitalyalaska.com

Reservations - recommended!  Little Italy's seating is limited and on a busy Friday or Saturday night it can fill up between 7-9p.

Overall Recommendation:  This place is a gem and should be tried.  It is a great little Italian restaurant with great service.  They do not take Visa/Mastercard, but do accept American Express, checks, and cash, so plan accordingly.