Today, as I was leaving the Fantastic Sam's in Orem (thanks, Laura, for the cute hair, by the way), I glanced across the street and saw a sign for an Italian bistro. Deg loves Italian and "bistro" sounded lighter than the typical Italian fare (which I love but then feel super guilty about) so I went home with the idea that we might try it. So we did! We had no idea what we were headed for, which made us prime candidates for a pre-conceived nutrition free experience. When we walked in, we immediately recognized the set-up and menu style: this was definitely an Italian Cafe Rio. They offer homemade pasta (which you can watch them make), sandwiches, salads, and pizzas, all of which come with their handmade flatbread. Deg opted for a pasta dish and I took on a salad. The ordering was similar to a Cafe Rio style, but seemed a bit more formal and less hurried (though they were just as busy as any Cafe Rio) than their predecessor. They also offer gelato (Italian ice cream), but we passed this time.
How was the flavor, you ask? Well, we each tried some of the other's dish, and having tried both, I will firmly state that I will eat there again. It was delicious. The pasta had a wonderful, fresh flavor and the sauce had a full bodied flavor without feeling greasy or heavy. The salad came topped with fried yams and was loaded with delicious veggies and chicken that I inhaled at an alarming rate. I didn't totally love the dressing (I got the spicy mustard), but I usually eat my salads devoid of dressing, so no big deal - I'd just get a different one next time. And the flatbread it came with? Oh my gosh, if they could have made me a blanket out of one of those, I would have rolled myself into a Jessica burrito right then and there. Soft and pillowy and delicious and... I think I just started to drool a little!
The price? Comparable to Cafe Rio. The taste? American/Italian fusion. The atmosphere? Light, open, and happy. If I could rate it out of five stars? I'd give it a good four and a half. Seriously. You need to go and you need to eat there now. They've been open for, like, a week or two, and this is their flagship store (I personally hope they open a bajillion more). You are bound to find something you like, and wouldn't it be fun to be one of the first to jump on the newest trend boat? Why are you still reading this? Go check it out! They are located on the southeast corner of State Street and Center Street in Orem. Wanna know more? Well, check out this neat article about them from the Daily Herald. And if anyone wants to buy me lunch there, well... sigh, okay, I'll do it. My life is so hard...
No comments:
Post a Comment