One of the best things about living in a different part of town than I grew up in?
New restaurants! I live and love to eat, people. 
Even better, Adam and I have been here twice and enjoyed it both times – it’s really close to our home!
[source]
We were there once for breakfast, pre-iPhone, and my photos from that trip are still on my Droid. The highlights from our first time at The Italian Oven were good service, good food, reasonable prices & a nice, clean atmosphere. Adam and I stopped in for dinner last week, and we were both starving, which led to a quick “YES, PLEASE!” when the server asked if we’d like bread and oil.
My husband, ever the light eater, chose cream of broccoli soup and fettuccine alfredo. Seriously.
He was hoping for shrimp alfredo but didn’t see it on the menu, which led to me educating him on the fact that fettuccine was the noodle and alfredo was the sauce, and then dissecting the rest of the menu to determine what kind of noodle each entrée contained. He was so impressed that I’m glad to say the six months I spent working at an Italian place in highschool paid off.
Anyway. I ordered the portabella panini (see a trend here?) and upgraded from chips to sweet potato fries.
Purely for the Vitamin A boost! ;) The sweet potato fries were better than average (and a HUGE serving – I had them as leftovers twice). The sandwich was amazing, with crispy but thin ciabatta, sun-dried tomato pesto, and smoked mozzarella. What is it about smoked cheeses that magically make them taste like bacon? Does craving the flavor of bacon make me a bad vegetarian?
If that doesn’t, having a bite of Adam’s chicken alfredo does – I avoided the chicken, but had to confirm his opinion that the sauce was a bit on the bland side – heavy on the garlic, very little cheese flavor.
At least there were about 6 leaves of spinach in there for his daily veggie intake.
Although neither of us were thrilled with the pasta sauce, we had great service and a really good meal for a reasonable price. They feature different specials each night (a few dollars off a pasta, cheap pizza, etc) and have wine and beer available. We’ll definitely be back!
There was an Italian Oven near me many years ago but then it shut down. I wonder if this is the revamping of the same restaurant? I remember they’d serve bread with olive oil before the meal. And your panini sounds yummy!
beth @ a latte inspiration recently posted..Wedding Feature: Bridemaids
I think they are an independent joint, but it’s possible! The names sounds like a place I remember going as a kid, too!
the chicken alfredo looks to die for. i simply love dishes like that. so amazingly good and rich, it’s a nice change.
Honey What’s Cooking recently posted..California Avocado & Luncheon w/Chef Ivy Stark @ Dos Caminos Park, New York City
that sammie looks awesome – and sometimes hunger makes the best dining companion!
teabagginit recently posted..Unleash the power of the slurpee
Any restaurant that has good sweet potato fries gets a good review from me!! And your husband’s dinner choices are so similar to my husbands, I don’t understand how he can eat that way and still be so healthy!
Alyssa @ fit and fun in third recently posted..Weekend of love!
wow, all of the food looks delicious! i love trying out new restaurants too – so fun!
Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries recently posted..Get To Know Us {Ryan and Molly}
You can’t beat good Italian food!
Matt @ The Athlete’s Plate recently posted..Yumvelope
mmm, this looks so great claire!!
xx
kristina recently posted..irish soda bread
Italian restaurants are always my favorite choice for a night out! This one looks fantastic
I worked at an Italian Oven franchise for like… 7 years! All through college and most of high school! I think the menus were different there, but same concept
Jessica recently posted..Things to Peep on the Cheap