Taste of Italy at the Avalon

By Jeni Hill
Staff Writer

Recently, Jake and I were provided with a gift certificate from Taste of Italy, inviting us to dine at their location in downtown Fargo. Taste of Italy moved to the other side of 1st Ave North into The Avalon Events Center. 

To reach the Taste of Italy, you must walk around the corner from the banquet room to the elevator entrance. At first glance, we were confused by the empty dining room until we noticed the sign directing customers around the corner. The elevator took us to the second floor and we walked through a beautiful entryway into the restaurant. The space was incredibly open, tranquil, and decorated with greenery. I was reminded of sitting in an Italian Villa. Not that I’ve gone to Italy. Or spent time in a villa, but you get the idea.

To begin, I ordered a glass of house red wine and received a generous pour of Bellagio Chianti for $6. Jake ordered lemonade and while it was reminiscent of Country Time’s powdered brand, he was given multiple refills at no extra charge.

We ordered the Pesce Fritti appetizer, $12, to begin. This appetizer of fried seafood consisted of two shrimp, two small scallops, calamari, bits of green pepper, and a lemon flavored aioli. The portion size was noticeably small, just enough for two people, but the seafood tasted extremely fresh and was cooked perfectly. In contrast, batter was a little soggy and did not stick to the seafood too well.

After we finished the appetizer, we were brought a basket containing nearly half a loaf of French bread, steaming and hot from the oven. We were directed to the cruets of olive oil and balsamic vinegar perched on the table. The bread was truly wonderful. The firm crust, once cracked, revealed airy and moist bread.

Next arrived the salads. Jake’s small house salad, $3, included fresh greens, homemade croutons, grated cheese, red onion, olives, and cherry tomatoes. The vinaigrette was bracingly tart in the most complimentary way. My caesar salad was equally fresh. The creamy dressing was skillfully applied, and tasted of garlic and anchovy. Of all the caesar salad dressings I have sought out or attempted to recreate, Taste of Italy’s version most closely resembles my gold standard, Spoonriver. A squirt of lemon would have pushed the salad over the edge and I enjoyed the slices of red onion. Red onion is not found in most versions, but something I add to my own caesar salads at home.

For an entrée, Jake ordered Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken, $18. The sauce was rich and creamy without being overwhelming, and the pasta was not overcooked. The moist, boneless-skinless chicken breast had been coated in herbs and seared in a hot pan, rendering the exterior crispy.

My Chicken Cacciatore, $22, was modestly portioned but tasty. The chicken was fork tender and coated in a well-balanced tomato sauce, thick with stewed vegetables such as bell peppers. The flabby chicken skin left me with mixed feelings, though, and I am unsure if this is typical for chicken cacciatore, of which this was my first taste. The menu mentioned the chicken was flavored with capers. I did not taste their briny flavor, but had no complaints about the sauce, which tasted well balanced.

In summary, we enjoyed our experience at Taste of Italy’s new location. The interior is tranquil and beautiful, and service was pleasant. Although the portion sizes are modes and entrée prices spendy (we ordered two of the more affordable entrée choices), the food tasted delicious. 

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IF YOU GO

Who: Taste of Italy at the Avalon, 
Where: 612 1st Ave N., downtown Fargo
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 9 p.m. for dinner, Monday through Saturday

Contact: (701) 365-0608