Italian House & Grill HSV A Keeper

Yea!  We have found a new 'keeper'!  We have been wanting to try this restaurant. Every time we thought about going it was never the right time or occasion.  Last night the stars were aligned and we ate with two friends from the Village.  The atmosphere and the food were wonderful.  We arrived without reservations, but were easily accommodated.  Although the restaurant is small, we didn't seemed cramped. We didn't feel as if we were eavesdropping in the tables next to us or them listening to our conversation.

Be sure and call for reservations!

We had coupons for Meatballs and Spaghetti and a salad so the two guys used them.  They were really a good deal...Plenty of meatballs in a nice red sauce, Italian bread with olive oil for dipping, and a nice fresh house salad with a house vinaigrette dressing. The gals ordered Angel Hair Pasta Primavera in a indescribably delicious white sauce with diced veggies. I couldn't eat all of mine...two meals for one.  I am adding chicken tonight for my next meal. In fact, there may be enough to share with Chuck...maybe:)

Michaelangelo's Thumbs Up!

We met our cousins at Michaelangelo's in Conway before we went to see James Carville last week at the Reynolds Center at the University of Central Arkansas, Conway.

It is located in Downtown Conway. You can get to it by taking the I-40, Oak Street Exit.


We split the Chicken Parmigiana and each had a House Salad with the House Dressing on the side.  We always have the dressing on the side.  Usually, the waiter makes the salad and drowns the lettuce with the dressing.  I like to taste the salad with a hint of the dressing... usually a vinaigrette.  We had more than enough to eat and it was delicious!   It was Monday, raining, and not crowded.  Sometimes I find that if there isn't a lot to keep the waiter on his toes, the service lags.  Not so, this time!!!  The service was good even though our waiter had a "shadow" in training with him. 

Definitely going back...soon! 

The Pizza Joint

The Pizza Joint is the

first stop in the quest.  

Pizza is our favorite "comfort" food, that is, almost equal to the "hamburger".  We have eaten a lot of pizza and have our favorites.  Now we are going to revisit these pizza restaurants with a "review" in mind.

The Pizza Joint is located on Hwy. 10 almost to Chenal Parkway.  It is a long trip to eat pizza so it has to be worth it.  We liked the decor...very "pizza-friendly".  We got the Veggie Thin Crust and a small house salad. The pizza was really good, but could have been excellent with more sauce.  The salad was nondescript: lettuce (not enough), mozzarella cheese(too much) and bacon bits (ok)...rated: boring. 


We will The Pizza Joint on our "TTA"* list.  However, there are so many pizza places and so little time.

*To Try Again

Bravo - Wow Out Two Nights In A Row!

Bella Sera! Friends called and we went.  Bravo is a part of a national chain located in the Promenade at Chenal.  This was the first time for us.  They had been before and liked it.  

We weren't so lucky.  Chuck got the 5 oz. fillet "medium" with a skewer of shrimp and mashed potatoes.  He was expecting a thick piece of meat...not!  What he got was a well-done thin fillet and cold mashed potatoes.  The waiter was most congenial and brought some hotter mashed potatoes.  Chuck didn't ask about the steak.  

I got the tilapia which was good, but a little dry.  Luckily, a substituted angel hair pasta for the potatoes and it was hot so I didn't have to contend with that issue.

For what we got it was a little pricey.  In hindsight, we should have split the tilapia and ordered house salads and maybe a cup of soup.  That would have been plenty for us, as we usually subscribe to the "everything in moderation" advice.  As we have gotten older we find we fill up much faster and metabolize our food much slower.  (heads-up to all of you that love "eat all you can buffets"...your time will come)


For such a large space our table was located by the windows so it seemed more private than the middle of the main dining room.  The service was a little slow, but that may be because it was new and really popular.  The chefs, I am sure, are kept pretty busy.  We will certainly give it another chance.