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| - I am sorry, I have no idea where the other reviewers on here have eaten Italian before, but this was the worst I have ever tasted in my life. I will get straight to the point--the food:
Appetizer- Fried Calamari- The large photo next to this appetizer in the menu shows rings and tentacles with what looks like a nice, light breading...BUT THIS IS NOT WHAT THEY SERVE! The waiter brings us a plate of the thickest tubes of calamari I have ever seen and NO tentacles whatsoever. The breading was not light at all, but extremely thick. The meat inside was very chewy and the marinara had no flavor.
Salads- Ceasar: Huge, limp pieces of romaine lettuce with bagged shredded parmesan cheese, soggy croutons, and a side of bottled Caesar dressing. They do not even dress their caesar salad!
House: Brown, water-logged iceberg lettuce with a translucent piece of tomato that was half-frozen, soggy croutons, and bagged shredded mozzarella. The italian dressing had been in that ramekin for weeks because it was congealed to the point where it wouldn't even pour out. I really wanted a salad, but I couldn't bring myself to eat even a bite.
Entrees: Veal Marsala- Imagine salisbury steak with mushrooms and some cheap marsala wine thrown on top...
Chicken Parmesan- Chewy, tough chicken, soggy breading, the same flavorless marinara from the calamari, and bagged mozzarella melted on top. If I was starving I could eat it...maybe.
Side- Sauteed vegetables- Microwaved green beans, cauliflower, and round carrots that were very overdone and then drenched in butter.
Chid's meal- Chicken fingers and fries- Heavily breaded chicken fingers and shoestring fries. The fries were actually my favorite thing out of it all!
All in all, I will never go back. I wish I hadn't gotten my hopes up for quality Italian when I saw the reviews. I don't usually like chains, but Charlotte is making me look at Carraba's and On the Border in a whole new way ever sine since I moved here. In my opinion, the private restaurants are so BAD except for a very select couple of places, but they are nowhere near Matthews. This was by far the worst, however.
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