Italian food is very comforting with all the cheeses and sauces that cover everything from pastas to meats. After a busy day, I was in the mood for some comfort food. I thought that Palace Italian Restaurant would satisfy that mood.
I had never actually eaten inside the restaurant. In the past I have gotten take out. This time I wanted to eat there. They have amazing murals painted on the walls, many are of famous landmarks around Italy.
Once I sat down my waitress brought over some homemade bread. This was a flat bread that was topped with butter, garlic salt, and Italian seasonings. They also served it with a side of olive oil / chili oil mixture. This gave it a little heat. I preferred the bread by itself because of the great seasoning that it had.
The tortellini soup was the homemade soup of the day when I visited. They change it up every day. The soup was a great chicken broth base that was filled with vegetables, sausage crumbles, and large tortellini. It was a very filling soup; there was a nice comfort feeling to it.
For an appetizer I got the calamari fritti. These fresh calamari were breaded and fried up. The breading was light and crunchy. The calamari were extremely tender. They tasted amazing with the homemade marinara sauce that was served on the side. The bread absorbed the sauce well without making it soggy.
For my dinner I got the Chicken Sorrento. They served a huge chicken breast that was topped with sautéed eggplant, prosciutto, and mozzarella cheese. They covered everything with a plum tomato sauce and fresh leaves of basil.
The chicken was tender and still moist. The eggplant was still slightly firm which made it easy to cut. The prosciutto added a nice salty taste to the chicken, while the cheese added a creaminess.
As if the chicken and eggplant were not enough, this dish also came with a side of spaghetti tossed in their fresh marinara sauce. I tried it while I was there but naturally I could not finish it. It went straight to the doggie bag so that I could eat it for lunch the next day.
I also was able to try my friend’s dinner. He got the Veal Saltimbocca. The thinly sliced veal was topped with sautéed prosciutto, spinach, and fontina cheese. Then it was covered in a white wine sauce.
The sauce was extremely creamy and had an amazing flavor. They also put the same sauce on a side of spaghetti. The veal was very tender. The spinach added an earthy taste while the prosciutto added saltiness and texture. I am really glad I got to try this.
The dinner portions are large at Palace Italian Restaurant. They can easily be shared almost family style. The flavors were wonderful. Next time I visit I want to make sure I try one of their pizzas.
Check them out at www.palacerestaurantlakeland.com
Enjoy!
T
