Tag Archives: garlic

The Best Italian Restaurant in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

When you are dining at “The Best Italian Restaurant”, you expect it to be “the best Italian restaurant”, right?  Who doesn’t love all of the  rich pasta dishes and foods with a doughy crust, melted cheese, garlic and rich tomato sauce?

While vacationing in Gatlinburg, we visited the Italian restaurant as a recommendation from family friends.   They had just returned from their stay near the Smoky Mountains and visited the restaurant three times during their week vacation.

After a short wait, we sat down to a crowded dining room and a very patient waitress.  Looking over the menu, we ordered their “World Famous Garlic Rolls” to start with the deep fried ravioli.  Needing some additional time, we finally gave the waitress our order which included the fettuccini alfredo, spaghetti and meat sauce, a couple of pepperoni calzones and chicken parmesan.

The garlic rolls would have us tasting garlic for the next several days and were perfectly baked and topped with an abundance of parmesan cheese.  The deep fried raviolis were cooked to perfection, oozing with mozzarella cheese with each bite.  The alfredo pasta was rich with a thick, creamy cheese sauce topped on thick noodles.    The spaghetti with meat sauce had the perfect balance of tomato and sauce.  The calzones were doughy with a soft inside and rich tomato sauce with chunks of tomatoes topped with Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese.

We had overly stuffed ourselves, not leaving any room for dessert.  For now, we were just taking up space, trying to manage the energy to step away from the table.  My guess is if we could walk a few miles along the Parkway, maybe we can make room for a small ice cream or sample of taffy.

Have you visited The Best Italian Restaurant in Gatlinburg?  What did you order?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.

Many thanks for reading about my lunch at The Best Italian Restaurant and wishing you many Happy Travels.

Where to Eat:

The Best Italian Restaurant
968 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Telephone: 865 436 4345

What to Eat: 

Everything on the menu and I highly recommend the Garlic Knots.

Garlicky Goodness at La Pizzeria in Little Italy, Cleveland

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It’s early Saturday evening and I am driving around Little Italy in Cleveland in search of an Italian Restaurant for lunch.  My stomach is growling and mouth watering from the smell of garlic and pizza dough.  I passed by La Pizzeria, just off of the main drag where I found a parking spot down the street.  I followed my nose to a cute little pizza parlor with outdoor seating.  Taking a seat along the cobblestone street, this was the perfect stop for a pizza pie.

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The cook behind the counter was busy making pizzas but took a moment to take my order for a small Aglio e Olio pizza. He mentioned that it would take fifteen to twenty minutes as he was wrapping up twenty-five pizzas for a local graduation party.   Watching him place the pizzas in the warmer and the smell of garlic and butter, I knew it would be worth the wait.

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I ordered a medium 8 cut and took a seat alongside the beautifully bricked roads.  Sitting beneath the Italian flags, I reviewed my photos of the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.  I had visited both of these locations earlier to take in a couple of exhibits and before I could finish my photo review, my pizza was being delivered to my table.

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Loaded with a variety of white cheeses, butter, garlic and olive oil, this pizza transported me temporarily into culinary heaven.  Sinking my teeth into the first piece of pie, I was so excited with the thickness of the cheese as it pulled away from pizza.   The perfect combination of garlic, olive oil and spices were divinely decadent and I enjoyed every bite.  The thin crust was perfectly cooked, just as the cheese was broiled to perfection.  I was super excited that I would have to box up a few pieces to have over the next couple of days.

I looked over the menu one last time to take notice of the long list of gourmet pizzas that included Gigi’s Veggie and Nico’s Philly.  There are calzones, pastas, salads, wings, freshly baked subs and an appetizer menu that includes the Salerno Family’s Homemade Meatballs.  If the items on the menu are just half as fabulous as the Aglio e Olio pizza, it’s no wonder the call in orders keep coming in nonstop.

I checked in again at the front counter for a box for my pizza and settled up my bill before heading out the door.  I was tempted by the Italian Gelato and dessert pizzas, but I will be just as happy thinking about my spectacular leftovers that I will enjoy over the next couple of days.  I hope I can wait that long…I may need to break into the box before I make it home.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Little Italy in Cleveland?  I would love to hear about the restaurant(s) you visited and what you ordered if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!   Many Thanks and Happy Travels!

Where to Eat:

La Pizzeria
2188 Murray Hill Road
Cleveland, OH  44106
Telephone:  216 229 9050

With so many restaurant choices in the Little Italy district of Cleveland, La Pizzeria is one of my favorites!

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Little Italy, Cleveland, Ohio