Johnny Carino's Italian Restaurant in Bozeman, Definitely NOT a Disappointment

Bozeman, MT is one of the largest cities in Montana. With a population of almost 38,000, it is the 4 ^th biggest city in Montana. Bozeman is home to many great things such as the Gallatin Valley Airport. It is also home to an array of shopping, as well as, great food and dining. During a road trip to Bozeman, MT from Dillon, MT (which is about 2-3 hours), I only grabbed a Starbuck's Chai Tea followed by a Scone. Although, it did hold me over, I decided to do some shopping before actually eating a meal. By the time I was done shopping, I was starved.

I had a semi-terrible experience with a Johnny Carino's Italian restaurant about 4 years ago in Athens, GA. I always told myself "I will not eat there ever again", however; it dawned on me that it is pointless to judge every subsidiary of a corporation based on one, so I caved in and decided to try it. After all, I was in the mood for Italian food and Johnny Carino's Italian was so close to where I was.

When you first enter Johnny Carino's Italian you are greeted by several of the staff members. The smell of cheese, tomatoes, basil, and garlic penetrated through the air. I had to pee, so of course, I asked them where the bathroom was located before sitting down to actually order and eat my meal. The ambiance is very country Italian, as if you were eating in an Italian restaurant in Tuscany rather than Milan or Venice. Johnny Carino's Italian is country Italian cuisine, so of course this kind of atmosphere is to be expected.

As soon as I sat down, my waiter arrived. He was very prompt. I was so impressed. Not to compare it to my last experience, but so far, there was no comparison. He brought fresh Italian bread, followed by seasoned olive oil. He took the olive oil and put it on a plate, along with fresh garlic, which had been toasted. I think the season in the olive oil was basil. It was rather light and I enjoyed it. The bread was so hot and also soft. It was delicious. When he asked me what I wanted to order to drink, I decided to start out with a "Sangria". Lambrusco is one of my favorite wines, however; Sangria is a great alternative, as it is the closest wine to Sangria. The drink was delicious and lasted quite a while before I decided to order the "Bellini" which was outstanding.

After contemplating and pondering on what to order, I decided to order the "Bruschetta" was an appetizer, followed by the "Baked Cheese Ravioli". The bruschetta was fantastic. The bread came out warm and by itself, so the only thing on it was a little bit of olive oil. The tomatoes, as well as, the fresh basil were mixed together and thrown in the middle of the brucshetta. There was a spoon available, so you could add the tomato and basil mixture to the actual hard bread. I had asked for cheese and my waiter was courteous to let me add my own Parmesan, using the actual grater. Of course, I managed to add a sufficient amount, which truly complimented everything. The ravioli arrived and the plate, as well as, the entree was hot, so you could tell it was fresh. It was very cheesy, but also seasoned enough that it was not tasteless. The balance of the ingredients was fantastic. Truly delicious. There was extras, so of course, I took them home for later.

Although I did not finish my meal, I was in the mood for Tiramisu, as it is one of my favorite desserts. I am a Tiramisu enthusiast and just enjoy it. You can purchase a small one for $2, however; I wanted the full size, so that is exactly what I ordered. I asked my waiter to have the chef decorate the plate, as I intended to take a picture and upload it on Yahoo! Associated Content to go with this review. It was delicious, however; because I could not eat the entire thing, I basically took it home for later.

If you are a vegetarian, you will have absolutely no problems finding something to order at Johnny Carino's Italian, as there are an array of delectable Italian dishes. I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian, so I can tell you this first hand. With dishes such as "Eggplant Parmigiana" and "Baked Cheese Tortellini" . There are also Gluten Free food items on the menu for those health conscious.

Overall, my experience at this Johnny Carino's Italian restaurant was superb, which changed my entire perception of this country Italian eatery. Johnny Carino's Italian restaurant is open daily. Whether you want to dine in or take out is entirely up to you. Would I recommend Johnny Carino's to a friend? Absolutely. Would I eat at Johnny Carino's Italian again? Yes. If you are searching for a great commercial Italian food eatery, you will definitely love Johnny Carino's Italian, as it is one of the best food eateries in Bozeman.

Johnny Carino's Italian
2159 Burke St.
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 556-1332