Plantone’s Italian Market
Fried Ravioli – Cheese Ravioli, Marinara
Pizza Fries – Steak Fries, Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella Cheese, Ricotta Cheese, Meatballs
Chicken Parmesan with Fettuccine – Marinara Sauce, Mozzarella Cheese, Parmesan, Parsley, Garlic Bread
Pizza Bianca – White Sauce, Ground Sausage, Caramelized Onions, Fontina Cheese, Grated Parmesan, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Nutella, Banana, Strawberry Calzone
Twice visited in the past and thrice utilized for catering it was alongside three adults and a child that dinner service was finally sat down to at Plantone’s Italian Market on Friday, past experience yielding a superior Pizza than those ordered for Take-Out but the rest of a five-item order again showing inconsistency, though nothing was particularly “bad.”
Now approaching 18-months of service and busy on this particular evening, a heavier prominence on Social Media and updated online Menus perhaps finally spreading the word of Glenn Plantone’s tribute to Uncle Tony, it was just prior to 5pm that guests grabbed a high-top before placing an order, the lack of Happy Hour specials admittedly surprising in the setting of a 5/23/18 Instagram post though overall cost remains affordable.
Sticking to counter-style ordering that only serves to confuse first-timers, some thirty feet separating menus from the register, it was shortly after paying the tab that a number and cups for self-service Beverages were provided, items rolling out one-by-one with an entrée of Chicken Parm arriving first, the pounded Breast juicy and light in oil though the Pasta was still too watery which led to Sauce already under-spiced being thinned out and mostly left to waste.
Next receiving six fried Ravioli, the texture fine but neither Cheese Filling nor Sauce doing much to compel anyone to finish one remaining, it was here that a “well done” Pizza Bianca substituting Sausage for Chicken was delivered, the crust still a far cry from Sin City’s best due to a lack of leavening but toppings all mingling well with sautéed Onions playing well off crumbled Pork and Fontina.
Rounding out savories with previously “secret menu” Pizza Fries, the Steak-cut Spuds flaccid even in areas not saturated with Sauce or added Ricotta, it was with far less attention to visuals than the one pictured online that a Nutella Calzone was finally sliced, the cost of $10.95 for “Calzone of Day BYO” as listed on the receipt not noticed till later inexplicably higher than the Nutella Pizza regardless of the suggested “1/2 off Happy Hour” which was nowhere to be found.
TWO STARS: Apparently achieving at least some notoriety as of late, though the odd order of delivery with Dessert preceding Fries makes one wonder if the kitchen can keep up with even a 33% filled dining room, Plantone’s Italian Market simply does not have what it takes to compete with other locals such as Naked City or Metro let alone the likes of Esther’s Kitchen where Appetizers such as stuffed Zucchini Blossoms only cost a few bucks more than the fried Ravioli and handmade Pasta is the same price as Chicken Parm atop watery boxed Noodles.
RECOMMENDED: Asking for Pizzas to be well-done.
AVOID: Pasta, Pizza Fries.
TIP: 11a-9p Sunday through Thursday and open until 10pm Fridays and Saturdays, Happy Hour supposedly 4p-7p daily.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
www.plantonesitalian.com
