Italio ignites taste buds

BY MACKENZIE MOCK

Opening on March 6, Italio brought a line of eager customers out the door and around the corner. The modern Italian kitchen offered one free entree per person with complimentary toppings or sauces.

With a spin off of Chipotle, Italio is a create your own meal restaurant. One waits in line to place his order where employees at different stations fulfill one’s request, then pays the cashier. Diners can eat in or take out.

While waiting in line for almost two hours was no fun, it was understandable since it was opening night of a restaurant with free food. Luckily, the food is worth the wait.

From a choice of pasta and salad bowls one chooses a type of meat like chicken, steak or shrimp, a sauce and an array of toppings to the piadina, which is like a wrap with meat and veggies, cheese and sauce. Plus all three meats are affordable, ranging from $6.78 to $8.98 depending on the meat chosen.

There is also a kid’s menu which includes spaghetti and meatballs, chicken alfredo, and a create your own small salad or pasta bowl. One would spend no more than $5 on any kid’s meal including a small fountain drink.

Unique sides include, an Italio stick with a choice of cheese, pepperoni or basil pesto ($1.98) and calamari misto, which is calamari with hot cherry peppers and served with lemon-herb vinaigrette ($4.98). There are also side salads ($3.98) and tomato basil or Italian wedding soup ($3.98). Delicious cannoli chips with sweet cream and chocolate chips are available for dessert ($2.98).

The restaurant itself is modern. With the line of people wrapping around the tables and silver lights hanging from the ceiling, an unbeatable ambiance fills the room. The decor is quite similar to Chipotle’s with metallic tables and chairs and wooden booths.

Overall, Italio’s is the new place to eat. With inexpensive, delicious, quality food one must try.