Restaurant Review: A Taste of Italy Italian Restaurant in Russellville, Arkansas

A TASTE OF ITALY, 422 South Arkansas Avenue, Rusellville, AR 72801

479-498-2311 Reservations Recommended

A Taste of Italy is just that...a little sample of what you might eat if indeed you were fortunate enough to be on the other side of the Atlantic. Owner and Chef Steve Valenti prepares culinary delights the likes of which Russellville has never seen before.

The decor is a combination of kitschy Italian chef, quiet, subdued, romantic lighting, and fruit still lifes... Kind of odd, really. It's not cohesive. And then there are the dragon chairs...something I didn't notice on my first visit but did take note of tonight. They look like they came from a Chinese restaurant. There is a subtle pattern of a Chinese dragon down the middle of the backs. Any one of the themes (except the dragon chairs...) would be great, but together they confuse the eye.

This was my second visit to A Taste of Italy, and I was not disappointed with the experience. The service can be a little slow, but the staff is very friendly. When you get your food, you won't be sorry you waited.

Our table ordered spaghetti carbonara, which comes with salad and bread for 8.95, and the Taste of Italy dinner for 2 special which includes salad, bruschetta, lasagna, fettuccine alfredo, chicken parmigiana and 2 drinks for only 19.95.

Let's begin with the salad...ahh. Steve Valenti knows how to select a tomato. These were romas, meaty, rich, and vine-ripened red. You don't find good tomatoes just everywhere. The salad for the special comes in a bowl, family style, and you help yourself. It's extra special when the server comes back with Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper. The purple onions accented the romaine nicely.

Next came the bruschetta...that's broo sket uh, too by the way. More of those juicy plum tomatoes, herbs, and olive oil piled onto slices of good Italian bread. Yummy. And where else in Russellville can you get a plate of food surrounded by snipped fresh herbs?

I kept my server hopping by draining my glass of sweet tea on a regular basis. She kept it full for me...ahh I love a good server.