Searching for authentic Italian cuisine in any area of the United States is like searching for “Mr. Right” that only exists in a Disney movie. Relax, I am kidding. As someone who can appreciate commercial Italian food, I am someone who just loves and appreciates authentic much more so.
One day my mother and I decided to try Carrabba’s Italian Grill located on Atlanta Highway in Athens, GA. The moment I walked into the establishment, I was impressed. The overall atmosphere was very comforting, as the service was moderately decent, as a result.
At the snap of a finger, the waiter was ready to take our order. As we were debating what to order first, he brought out some authentic Italian bread with some extra virgin olive oil drizzled on the top, with a spice mixture. I definitely recognized Basil as the main ingredient of the spice mixture.
To start off our order, my mother and I ordered a cocktail. I love wine, but I decided to order something new, so I ended up ordering an Amaretto Sour to start. My mother ended up ordering a Sangria. Of course, both were far from disappointing. I was having trouble deciding what I was actually hungry for, so I decided to order what I thought looked good. I decided to order the “Grilled Bruschette” as an appetizer to start.
The bruschette was grilled with extra virgin olive oil and topped with a rather fluent, yet tangy goat cheese in rather rich tomato sauce. The goat cheese was very tangy and combined with an array of spices. I could taste some of the major Italian spices (Basil, Oregano, Garlic, ETC) in the sauce, which made me appreciate it for it’s unique, yet fluent flavor. The appetizer was very plentiful and much bigger than I expected, hence why after about two pieces, I was starting to feel a bit full.
At this point, I was craving pizza, so I decided to order the “Quattro Formaggi” which was a simple pizza that consisted of extra virgin olive and sun dried tomatoes topped with an array of cheeses such as romano, mozzarella, fontina, and goat. The pizza was prepared by hand and wood-fired for that special authentic Italian/Sicilian taste.
It was very good and although it wasn’t super big, it wasn’t little and quite moderate for a gourmet pizza. Because I ate the bruschette, along with a side salad, I had some pizza leftover to take home with me. The pizza was very refreshing and had a rather unique, yet acquired taste that gave off a very authentic Italian/Sicilian feel.
My mother decided to order the “Insalata Fiorucci” which was a salad that consisted fresh eggplant, an array of green vegetables, artichoke hearts, red bell peppers, topped with blue and goat cheese. Although I did not eat the salad, she had asked me to try the eggplant. It was prepared in a different way, hence why I found it truly amazing.
I absolutely love “Tiramisu” and it is always a must have when I am eating Italian food. At this point, I was very full, but managed to order a piece of Tiramisu. I forgot to mention to the waiter that I wanted it to go, so he ended up bringing it out on a very decorative plate filled with an array of chocolate and syrup. I had about a bite and asked to have it wrapped up, so I could take it home. A few hours later, I had the chance to really enjoy it and I must say, it was truly amazing.
Overall, I was truly impressed with Carrabba’s Italian Grill located in Athens, GA and would very much dine there again.
