On two occasions, my wife and I have had pleasant meals with friends at Chianti Ristorante in Sarasota.
The first time, in June 2015, is described in my earlier posting below.
The second time was earlier this week when we went for the Tuesday night lobster special for $19.95, which includes lobster and a choice of clam chowder or garden salad. My wife chose the salad and I chose the chowder. We loved the lobster and the chowder was terrific. The lobster shell was cut in a way that made it very easy to pull out the lobster meat. We also enjoyed tasty desserts - tiramisu for my wife and Zabaione for me.
Early this week, my wife and I enjoyed a Savor Sarasota dinner at Chianti Ristorante in Sarasota (http://www.chiantisarasota.com/) with friends. The $29 dinner price included a generous glass of either Chianti or Pinot Grigio wine.
My wife's first course was a tasty Caesar Salad and mine was an equally tasty Calamari Fritti.
We both had the same second course - Pappardelle Pasta with Sea Scallops and Prawns. The pappardelle noodles were perfectly cooked al dente. The seafood was delicious, but her serving was skimpy - with a total of 5 pieces. Mine was fine.
For dessert, we both had the Josie's Housemade Bred (sic) Pudding, which was very tasty.
My wife had the Pinot Grigio and I had the Chianti. Both were nice.
The restaurant was crowded, at least partially because of the great Tuesday lobster dinner special for $19.95 - includes Maine lobster, bread, choice of clam chowder or salad, sauteed fresh vegetables, and potatoes. Reservations are necessary. Our friends have had the lobster dinner there and enjoyed it. We intend to try it.
Many of the customers appeared to be regulars. The service was friendly and enjoyable. The noise was a bit on the high side.
While the restaurant name includes "Chianti," which is in Tuscany, not much of the food menu is Tuscan. Pappardelle noodles are from Tuscany, but other pasta dishes are not. Tuscans are not as much into noodles as southern Italians. In fact, Tuscans are known as "bean eaters" (mangiafagioli).
The restaurant menu does list another Tuscan dish - "Bistecca Fiorentina" (Florentine Steak), but it describes the steak as being served with a spinach and gorgonzola-mushroom sauce. The real thing is served without sauce. The real thing is also typically at least a pound and a half.
The wine list has lots of Italian wines, including a number from Tuscany.
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