Category: Food Review

Food Review: Milano’s in Maumelle (take out)

I love Milano’s. It’s the only place in Maumelle you can get a large variety of authentic Italian dishes, where there’s something for everyone. The owners are extremely nice and welcoming as well.

I got dinner for two, to go, since we were in a rush and didn’t feel like getting dressed nicely in order to eat out. The first thing I noticed when ordering online was how this is one of the few places around central AR that hasn’t sky-rocketed their prices these last couple years. I can get delicious pasta dishes for the same price or cheaper than Olive Garden currently offers- and way better!

When I arrived to pick up the order, I noticed the interior has been renovated and it looks amazing! It looks so nice and much fancier than it did in the past. At that moment, I wished we had opted to eat there instead of at home. Next time!

I was very happy to see there were fresh, hot bread rolls with our meals (two per meal), as well as the included side salad with choice of dressing. We opted to try the house vinaigrette. It was tomato based, and was delicious- especially when you dip the bread in it.

For our meals, I got the Veal Florentine ($19.95). I have only had perfect veal from Montana, but have chased that high ever since. Sadly, everywhere I’ve tried veal here in Arkansas, it is flavorless and tough. Unfortunately, the same story was told here. I should have gotten Chicken Florentine instead. Besides the veal, I loved the pasta with spinach and mushrooms. However, I did have to add salt and pepper to really taste the dish.

My husband got the Chicken Milano’s ($16.95), which was both our favorites for the night. The sundried tomatoes added a great flavor, without being overpowering, to the tender chicken and mushrooms and pink sauce. We loved it!

There was more than enough food! We ate until we couldn’t anymore for dinner and finished our large amount of leftovers for lunch the next day. I really feel like we got our money’s worth here, which always makes me like a place a lot more.

Overall, Milano’s is fantastic! I can’t wait to go back and enjoy a sit down meal and try one of their delicious desserts that called my name from the dessert fridge at the front when I went in to pick up the food. Let me know what your favorite dish is so I can try something new next time!

Food Review: Minute Club in Mountain View, AR

The Minute Club is a long-awaited new restaurant that took over Mikey’s Smoked Meats and Deli down Hwy 5. I went in to dine solo after a hike one day and was thoroughly impressed. Here’s the breakdown:

ENVIRONMENT

The bright blue of the outside of the newly updated building does set the perfect precedent for the entire atmosphere of Minute Club. Everything is updated, new, clean, and shiny! With a blue and red theme (your drink even comes in a red solo cup), tv’s playing sports all around, and a digital juke box, this place is fun! While there’s plenty of tables to sit at, there’s also a bar. There’s even a nice patio outside for when the weather isn’t freezing.

What stuck out to me most when I arrived, however, was how genuinely friendly the staff is. The waitress was beyond nice and patient with me as I tried to quickly decide on what to order. She let me know her favorites and didn’t rush me in the least. Then, I believe the owner (or manager?) came by a couple times to answer questions, make sure the food was good, and he was just as friendly as could be! I really appreciated everyone being so kind and talkative, especially when I was dining solo.

MENU

While the menu is typical southern food, mostly sandwiches, they have some unique items not found around the area. They have cheese curds, fried mushrooms, beignets, fried oreos, and daily specials. However, they are best known for their many different burgers, which are supposed to be the best in town. Their pizzas look very enticing, as well!

FOOD

The first thing you see when you walk into the restaurant is this full dessert display case full of at least one thing you’ll want to try. I couldn’t decide, so went with the owner’s suggestion of the strawberry pie to go. I know we should talk about dessert last, but we’re already here.

STRAWBERRY PIE- $5

With a graham cracker crust, a sweet and creamy filling topped with perfectly delicious macerated strawberries, this pie was very tasty!

BIG ROG- $12 with hand-cut fries.

This sandwich comes with fried bologna, cheese, bacon, lettuce, and mayo on a hoagie bun. I got mine without the cheese, but added an over-easy egg, which they did not charge for. Yay! Instead of house-cut fries, I opted for the beer-battered onion rings instead for $2. These rings were delicous! Crispy, not greasy. Dang near perfection! I didn’t even need the ketchup they provided.

The sandwich was the star, however. Was it messy and required me to use SIX napkins?? Yes. But that’s okay- any good fried bologna sandwich is a big ole mess to eat. It was sooo good! There’s the right amount of bolonga and all the toppings. The crispy bacon was a delicious addition I had never tried on fried bologna sandwiches before. The egg, though MADE IT! Perfectly cooked egg with nature’s gravy (egg yolk) running throughout the sandwich. I loved it!

The only downfall was the price. I ate all my food and took home a dessert for almost $20, not including tip. This is a little steep for the area, but worth it for a nice meal out.

If you give this place a try, let me know what I should get there next!