March, 2009 & August 2010

Rating : 10 out of 10

Tariff : Lunch for 2

• 1 sandwich
• 1 individual pizza
• tip
• $25

Atmosphere

Tuscany Grill is replacing Los Panchos (before that it had been the Cracker Barrel). It seems to be a convenient location downtown at the North end of Grant Ave.; let's hope they have better luck than the last two businesses.  It has been completely redecorated and is a comfortable place to dine. Tall tables are in the window. A small patio seating area is out front.

Service

Our server was friendly and helpful. The next time I visited with a group of friends we had the most charming young man for a waiter--not only was he knowledgeable about all the offerings but he was also funny and personable.  That kind of service makes a meal so much more enjoyable in my opinion! More than a year later, this same waiter made our dinner for two a pleasure with his ease of style and sense of humor.  He gave us wine suggestions, entree reviews, and pleasant banter.

Food

For our first visit we tried the Panino Florentino.  This vegetarian sandwich was grilled portabella mushroom with spinach, caramelized onion, mozzarella cheese, and sun dried tomato pesto.  The flavors complimented each other well.  Our other choice was the roasted garlic sauce pizza (white sauce only) with three toppings: mushroom, sundried tomatoes, and onions.  This pizza was simply superb. My dining partner said it was the best pizza he'd ever had! In addition to pizzas and paninis, the menu offers antipasti (appetizers), insalate, zuppa, pasta, and carni (meat dishes).  There is a  lot more to sample at Tuscany Grill and I highly recommend it to my fellow Novatoans.

On a subsequent visit we tried the white pizza ($12.85) with mushrooms and proscuitto on our waiter's suggestion and it turned out to be a great tasting combo. We had the eggplant parmesan, which is a soft layered lasagna-like creation, more healthy and hearty than the common deep fried patties topped with sauce and cheese.  The bistec panini ($10.95) is a rib eye steak, caramelized onions, mushrooms and mozzarella cheese; as if that isn't enough flavor the homemade lemon aioli turns it up a notch, as Emeril would say. Our waiter recommended a delicious cabernet, which I loved.  Several of us enjoyed Peroni, an Italian beer.

Tostato Aglio Insalata	White Pizza

Another dinner we tested a salad,  Tostato Aglio Insalata ($9.95), roasted garlic, chicken breast, gorgonzola, grapes, and mixed greens-- a healthy meal that was full of flavor. It was a nice contrast to the richer, heavier pasta dish Pollo Florentine ($15.95)--smoked chicken, sautéed mushrooms, onions, spinach and angel hair pasta with alfredo sauce.  This was so delicious and creamy that we were glad we chose it over risotto, but half a serving was all I could eat!.

Tuscany Country Grill
1516 Grant Ave.
Novato, CA  94945
415-898-2800