Everyone’s looking for a bargain these days. But eating on the cheap doesn’t mean you have to eat cheap food.
Take, for instance, the lunch specials offered at Ciao Italian Restaurant off West 7th Street downtown. There’s a nice list of possibilities served up for $5.45 – a Caesar Salad, Fettucini Alfredo, Cheese Tortellini Pesto, Linguini and Meatballs, Cheese Manicotti Marinara, Fried Cheese Ravioli and Fried Beef Ravioli. Now, I’m a big fan of T-Ravs (toasted ravioli) so the Fried Beef Ravioli caught my interest. These come out almost too hot to handle, crisp on the outside and surprisingly juicy on the inside. They’re served up with a liberal application of marinara sauce in a long ramekin, a stew of rich tomato, onion and spices. Perfect not just for the raviolis but for that awesome soft white bread you get with any meal.