Johnny Carino’s -- 4.4

My dad has been waiting for a good time to take the family up to this great italian place he and my mom ate at a few months ago. Obviously I'm game for any restaurant that people are still talking about months later and tonight was a perfect opportunity to run errands in Salt Lake and try it out!

It's got a great vibe inside. Like a cross between a sports bar (huge TVs, neon bar signs) and your classic homey italian restaurant (red cushions, old pics of uncle Vinny on the walls). Plus, it was really bright inside. (I hate dark restaurants--why do people do that?) Where we sat there were 3 big screen TVs, the small ones were showing hockey and basketball, but the huge one was showing Hollywood Game Show and Amy Pohler was playing. Well played Johnny Carino.

Whenever I order at a new place I always ask the waiter "what's the most popular?" or "what's the best thing here?" so I can be sure to get something delicious. My family hates it when I do that--because they hate attention--and then they make fun of me (shout out to the supportive fam). But if you knew what the best thing to eat was wouldn't you get that? KNOWLEDGE IS POWER PEOPLE. Our waiter, Jayson, said that the Skilletini was his favorite so I went with that. Great choice. Spaghetti in a hot skillet, sautéed green chilies and onions, grilled chicken, in a spicy marinara sauce.

Definitley worth trying is the ribs. HOLY CRAP. One bite and my "stank face" was on (only happens when I'm suddenly extremely happy--good food, short lines at Disneyland, sale on shoes, when my jam comes on the radio). They're not quite fall off the bone but the sauce makes up for it. Sweet, tangy, great kick. Topped off with grated parm and parsley(?). I give the ribs a high 5.0 on the goodness scale. yum. We also tried the nachos, yes Italian nachos. Weird, but weird is usually good. Covered in alfredo, pickled banana peppers and jalepenos, chicken or sausage, on homemade not-so-mexican-chips. It might take another visit and another try for me to say I love them, but I'm half way there.

Johnny Carino's is a gotta go. A+. Trust me, I'm not one to lie about food.


Kayla