Vinnie’s Pasta Bar
5361 Inglis St.
Halifax 425-4435
Rating: *** 1/2
Dinner for two with drinks: $60
Signature Dish: Linguine and Meat Sauce
Signature Drink: Red Wine
There’s nothing pretentious or trendy about Vinnie’s. It’s an ol’ fashioned casual restaurant where the friendly server brings you a warm loaf of bread on a cutting board and you’ll still find Fettuccine Alfredo on the menu.
We share the Garlic Shrimp ($9), six tiger shrimps in a garlic cream sauce. The shrimp are cooked nicely but could be fresher. The sauce is tasty, loaded with garlic.
Our main dishes come with soup or salad. I have the day’s special soup, Cream of Asparagus. It’s hot and creamy with bits of asparagus. My pal has the salad — greens with cucumber, large tomato slices and a pile of grated carrot on top.
He tries the Cajun Fettuccine ($15). The tomato sauce, with peppers and chunks of Italian sausage and chicken, has a bit of a kick. I dig into the Meat Lasagna ($13), nicely flavoured and extremely rich and cheesy.
Both servings are huge so we take half home for the next day’s lunch. Maybe not fancy, but Vinnie’s is fun and filling.
Dining out
CAFÉ CHIANTI RE-OPENS Café Chianti has re-opened after a fire forced them from their South Street location. The restaurant, featuring Northern Italian and Eastern European cuisine, is now at 1241 Barrington St. Call 423-7471 or visit www.cafechianti.com for more information.
LOBSTER SUPPERS ARE BACK The Shore Club at Hubbards Beach is again serving its famous lobster suppers Saturdays and Sundays in May and Wednesdays to Sundays starting June 2. Call 902-857-9555 or visit shoreclub.ca for more information.
In brief
Wine Check out a New Zealand wine tasting tomorrow at Bishop’s Cellar from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets $10 at the door. RSVP 490-2675 or info@bishopscellar.com
Market The Lunenburg Farmers’ Market is operating in a new location at the Lunenburg Community Centre at Victoria Road and Green Street.
