It has been years since Grand Forks has had a good authentic Italian restaurant. So as someone who was born and raised here, and who loves Italian food, I have been waiting for the day that a restaurant would open its doors to fill the Mamma Maria’s and Giuseppe’s shaped hole in my heart.
Naturally, I was excited, but also nervous upon the announcement of the grand opening for Joe’s Italian Restaurant. This establishment has been open in the old Vinyl Taco location for a few weeks now and I recently had the pleasure of getting to experience it for the first time.
I walked in with little to no expectations. Of course, I was hoping for an authentic and delicious experience, but I also knew there was a chance that it wasn’t going to be anything special. Upon entering, I was shocked to see that the interior looked exactly like Vinyl Taco but with some Italian style décor with red and white gingham table clothes. This meant one of two things to me. Either they rushed to open and this would be made obvious by the quality of the food, or they felt no need to make the interior elaborate as the food was the priority and should speak for itself. I was curious to see which it would be.
I was seated at a table right away. Our server came promptly to ask for our drink orders and soon after returned with drinks and a basket of two large garlic knots and oil. The garlic knots, though served in an unusual quantity, were an unexpected surprise. I liked how they weren’t unlimited. It was just enough to tide you over as you paged through the menu.
When trying a new restaurant, I like to splurge and get one appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert. So, for the appetizer I settled on the fried ravioli which our server shared was seeming to become a fan favorite. Once they were brought out I could see why. They were freshly fried and a generous amount was served on a wood platter with what seemed to be fresh marinara sauce. This was definitely the highlight of my meal.
For my entrée I settled on a classic fettuccini alfredo. They brought out a generous proportion of hot and saucy pasta, and my heart was filled with joy. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was the best fettuccini alfredo I have ever had, in fact it’s not even close. However, I do think it is safe to say that it may be the best in Grand Forks, though there aren’t many other options to compare. It had a classic garlic flavor and wasn’t overly rich, which I always appreciate. I think if I went back, I would maybe try out the cheese ravioli since the fried appetizer version was so delicious.
Finally, for dessert, I asked the server for their most popular option. She brought me out a layered lemon cake with mascarpone and blueberries. Normally, I am not a fan of berry cakes, but I love lemon. I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of overly sweetness from this treat. It had a perfect balance of flavors and was a delightful end to the meal.
As far as service goes, I could tell that some of their new hires were still getting the hang of things, which is understandable considering how recently they opened. The managerial staff seemed to be working hard to support their employees and were walking around checking up on tables as well.
Overall, I had a very pleasant experience at Joe’s Italian Restaurant. It was a quiet and slow-paced environment where I could truly enjoy my meal and felt comfortable to ask questions. Although it is nothing too terribly special, it is nice to finally have an Italian option aside from Olive Garden. I would recommend them to anyone looking for some decent quality Italian food in Grand Forks and hope to return to try a few more dishes off their menu.
Nora Lee is a Dakota Student Section Editor. She can be reached at [email protected].
