OK so perhaps it wasn’t the smartest idea I’ve ever had to eat out at an Italian restaurant the day after I decide to go back on my diet and drop those nagging five pounds. But hey, if you’re going to blow your diet on day two, might as well do it right.
We’ve been to Lino’s in Libertyville, IL before (http://www.linosristorante.com) and have readily enjoyed it. So when we discovered that Austin’s steak house (our plan A) down the road had a fully packed parking lot, it was an easy plan B decision to drive the two blocks east and dive into some hearty Italian food. Truth be told, we’ve recommended Lino’s to Guy Fieri after past visits, but have yet to see it show up on Triple-D.
When you get there, take the door to the right. The left one leads you into their pizza and carry-out counter, but the right one heads you into their full-fledged sit-down. We haven’t actually had their pizza yet – we usually enjoy their full menu too much to go for a pie.
One nice touch on their menu is that you can pick any pasta you want and pair it with any sauce that you want – from marinara to meat to vodka and others. If you’re picky but slightly adventurous when it comes to sauce, you’ll have plenty to choose from. The pasta itself is pretty average and straight down the middle of the road. Don’t expect a lot of surprises, which, if you’re a picky eater, you probably don’t want anyway. The marinara was a bit watery tonight, sadly, but that shouldn’t turn you off to the other choices.
Where Lino’s excels is in their meat dishes. I had the Italian giambotta – a lovely sausage dish that I’ve had before and was looking forward to again. It’s not a sinus-clearing spicy sausage but neither is it mind-numbingly mild. You get two, served with sauteed tomatoes, peppers, onions, and mushrooms in white wine. I actually paired it with a Shiraz (one of my favorite reds) and they complemented each other immensely.
My wife had the chicken piccante. Despite the typo on their website (it’s $13.95, not $3.95), It’s a pair of well-done chicken breasts in white wine (I sense a theme here), lemon, and capers. Given her distaste of overdone, dry, or rubbery chicken dishes, she was quite pleased.
The picky sons both had the good old stand-by: ravioli. One had the meat ravioli, the other cheese. Again the marinara was a little thin but neither left any on their plate.
For a Friday night the service was well above average. We were not wanting for bread and oil or beverages at all. The food was served surprisingly quickly. We were attended to but not hovered over. We’ve had iffy service even on slow nights before at Lino’s, but they seem to have improved markedly in that area.
Their dessert menu, while appealing, we skipped, for reasons one part diet, one part budget, and one part desire to free a table for the line that had formed eight-deep by the time we finished. Next time we’ll avail ourselves of the standards: tiramisu, cannoli, or cheesecake. Grumpingly, they don’t offer gelato at this point, though ice cream, spumoni, and Italian ice grace their menu.
When (not if) you go, make sure to bring your wallet. Lino’s is not cheap. Most dishes are in the $12 – $20 range. The four of us left $86 (with tip) poorer but with happy stomachs. The quality of the food is very good, but not stunning, so we get the impression that they’re a little overpriced. But for picky eaters like us, who budgeted the evening out, it didn’t detract from the experience.
See you at the next table!
pickyeaterseatout 