Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.
Today’s restaurant that we will be reviewing was brought to our attention by several of our loyal readers. Hopefully now they will stop nagging us, just kidding…This review is on Dominick’s Italian Ristorante in West Dundee.
Dominick’s Italian Ristorante
735 S. 8th Street (Route 31)
West Dundee 60118
(847) 551-1310
www.dominickspizzeria.com
Directions: Take Rte. 47 South to I-90 East to Rte. 31Exit North to restaurant.
Estimated Travel Time: 22 minutes
In case you are not aware, Nancy is the Sun City Bocce Club President and has been pulling out her blonde hair by its brown roots due to the tournament and upcoming banquet. Going to this restaurant fit in well with her current Italian state of mind. We decided to call in our resident expert on everything Italian, Georgene, to join us for dinner.
It’s been a while since we reviewed a strip mall restaurant. When you arrive, be sure to go into the “Dine In” door as opposed to the “Carry Out” door. Inside, it felt like a comfortable mom and pop establishment with a steady stream of regular customers. There are four booths and eight tables in this restaurant, and believe it or not, you don’t need a reservation on a Saturday night.
We started with the Fried Calamari ($9.95) with marinara sauce that was absolutely delicious. The calamari was light and tender and enough to share. After we finished our calamari, we ordered dinner. That’s when our warm homemade crusty bread arrived with a plate of olive oil and shredded cheese for dipping.
Jim was in the mood for something he never had before so he chose the Rigatoni ala Dominick’s ($18.95). Everyone knows if they put the restaurants name on an entree, it has to be good! This was pasta with sliced Italian sausage, roasted red and green peppers in vodka sauce. He absolutely loved it. You get to pick one side with an entree, either soup or salad, and he chose the minestrone soup.
Nancy’s eyes bugged out when she spotted the Meat Lasagna al Forno ($16.95). This was prepared with Parmesan, Ricotta, and Mozzarella. It proved to be so cheesy, at one point I had to tell Nancy she had a string of cheese dangling off her chin. To her surprise, this was one of the best lasagnas she has ever had. She chose a salad as her side, and we’ll let you take a wild guess as to what type of dressing she had. In case you’re a first time reader of this column, or are from Mars, we’ll help you out. What stinks and chases away vampires? NANCY, after she has creamy garlic dressing!!!
Georgene ordered the Meat Ravioli ($16.95) with meat sauce. We all shared bites of our entrees with each other to see who won this evening. We have to admit, it was a three-way tie!
Georgene, being of Sicilian ancestry, spotted a picture of a Sicilian cart on the wall. We asked our waitress if the owners were Sicilian, and she replied “yes.” That’s when Enza (the owner) walked over to our table to chat with us. It was like “old home week” when Georgene and Enza compared their neighboring hometowns in Sicily.
On to dessert… We couldn’t decide between the Limoncello Cake ($5.95) or the Homemade Tiramisu ($6.95), so when in doubt, order both. The homemade Tiramisu won, hands down, and should not be missed.
The prices may have been a little bit higher than some similar restaurants, but their sauces and quality made up for it. Best sauces ever!!!
FYI: Handicap accessible.
The price for all three of us was $85.63, heavy doggie bags included.
Jim’s take: Everything this evening was delicious and the homemade Tiramisu capped off a great meal. Nancy’s garlic also keeps me away!
Nancy’s take: Pasta is pasta, but the sauce is what makes this restaurant stand out. The creamy garlic dressing was sweet and garlicy, and keeping Jim away, priceless….
Have comments or restaurant suggestions for the Dining Duo? Send them an email at thediningduo@gmail.com.
