Visited: Friday - March 12, 2010 5:00 pm
Pestos: a perennial favorite in Valpo for its take on Italian food and a relatively frequent stop for my family when we crave some pasta or other Italian fare. Our arrival beat the dinner rush, but just barely. By the time we completed our salad course a line had formed in the lobby and I knew from experience it would only lengthen. Pestos has undergone a very recent exterior face lift due to the transformation of the former County Seat Shopping Center into its current incarnation and the new look contributes positively to the ambiance.
Each meal at Pestos begins with a loaf of rustic bread, piping hot from the oven--thick crusted with a tender crumb, just right for dipping in the flavored olive oil provided or slathered with butter. Oh, to be able to bake bread like that at home... A generous Caesar salad followed but I did not detect even a hint of anchovies, an integral component of the authentic version. I opted for one of my favorite dishes--one I had avoided for some time so as not to become jaded--their version of Vodka Chicken. The dish consists of two moist chicken breasts, flattened and sauteed, served over a nest of angel hair pasta and smothered in a white vodka cream sauce. Most recipes for vodka cream sauce end up reddish in color due to the addition of tomato sauce or paste. Not this version. It doesn't seem to have even a bit of tomato in it and that's fine by me. The sauce, while very rich, coats the pasta and each bite of chicken in a creamy, garlicky goodness that is very satisfying. The portion size was generous and when combined with the salad and bread, I had no room whatsoever to consider the delectable looking desserts that flowed on by to other tables.
Our server was friendly without being overly so and paid attention to our needs without us having to flag her down like a taxi in the Loop. The dining area and restrooms are clean, as well as the exterior of the building, a point of major concern for this particular diner. I can't tolerate a filthy restaurant! The cost of our meal was fair but I do believe some of the seafood dishes are a bit overpriced for this market considering the net amount of product on the plate. Dress ranged anywhere from jeans to shirt and ties. I did not see a single suit but one would certainly not be out of place.
Summary: A good value for a nice night out or a casual lunch with quality food and service.
1 star = pathetically bad ------- 10 stars = dining Nirvana
Ambiance - 7 stars
Food Quality - 7 stars
Service - 8 stars
Cleanliness - 9 stars
Value - 7 stars
Pestos Italian Restaurant
3123 Calumet Avenue
Valparaiso, IN
219-462-0993
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And maybe, just maybe, a bit of conversation about home cooking... hey, that can be good too!
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