#jamdesigns

REVIEW: PASTA FINA GRILL ::: SEARCY, ARKANSAS "I'm from Bwooklin!" my hostess enthuses in a New York accent as stout and hearty as Arkansas moonshine and with a friendly smile the size of Texas. Having grown up and lived half of my life near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before matriculating to Arkansas, the rich bravado of this woman's brogue was more beautiful to my ears than the eloquence of Frank Sinatra's "I did it my way," playing softly in the background. Welcome to Pasta Fina Italian Grill, an epicure's paradise where the Italian cuisine is as pure and captivating as my hostesses' dialect, and as authentic as the full-blooded Italian chefs in the kitchen who craft each dish according to family recipes imported from the Old Country. My expectations for the food at Pasta Fina are inordinately tall, despite my genetically derived stature: My grandmother, a 4-foot-three-inch Italian lady (and a large part of the reason that I'm short), instilled in me a life-long love for, and devotion to, true Italian fare. I grew up on a steady diet of remarkable Italian cooking, enhanced by ingredients and confections from Philadelphia's Little Italy. So, it is with equal amounts of enthusiasm and trepidation that I will my senses to set sail on their maiden voyage to Pasta Fina, where they are rewarded with a bounty of delights. The sassy fragrance of grilled meat and vegetables punctuates the air around the restaurant and hastens me inside. Once seated, I am promptly presented with freshly baked bread, garnished with Parmesan cheese. As I review the menu over warm slices from the crusty loaf, I appreciate that the entrée selection is broad, the descriptions are detailed, and the prices are reasonable. Reaching a decision proves challenging: There are so many good things listed! Eventually, I select the seafood combination and add to it a house salad with Cesar dressing. My meal arrives with great expediency: At 6 o'clock on a Friday night, my fully prepared entrée is brought to my table in less than 7 minutes. And what a delightful melody of flavors it is! Lobster, shrimp, calamari, oysters, and more harmonize with linguini in an orange-hued bisque, their succulent overtures and colors mingling with the tang of fresh-sliced lemon that conducts this tasty symphony for the palette and ode to Italian heritage. When my napkin finally falls, like a starched, linen curtain at the end of this well-orchestrated meal, I marvel at how blessed the Searcy community and I are now that the owners of Pasta Fina Italian Grill have brought Italy to our town. Especially since Italy tastes like indulgences from my childhood prepared by real Italian chefs and served with an authentic "Bwooklin" accent as genuine as the food itself. JAMDesignFirm.com ::: @jamdesignfirm ::: #JAMDesignFirm