Sometimes nothing but a huge bowl of pasta will satisfy that ache inside for comfort food. If you’re in need of some good, old-fashioned carbohydrates, try Fellini’s #9 on the Downtown Mall.
Although the food is mainly Italian, the atmosphere is not what you’d find at a typical Italian restaurant. Fellini’s is much more intimate with its rustic wood, bricks and comfortable touches. At our table, for instance, the benches were cushioned and topped with throw pillows.
The menu, on the other hand, is authentically Italian, beginning with its traditional Italian structure of antipasti (appetizers), primi piatti (pasta dishes) and secondi piatti (meat dishes). In Italy, most diners would order one dish from each course, but each Fellini’s meal choice is marketed as an entrée from both the primi and secondi piatti.
For antipasti, Fellini’s offers seafood as well as more traditional Italian dishes. My date and I split the bruschetta, which was three pieces of grilled focaccia bread topped with artichoke and tomatoes in extra virgin olive oil and a touch of mint.
The bruschetta was delicious. I couldn’t taste the mint, but the olive oil-marinated artichoke slivers and chunks of tomatoes were a tangy topping for the thick slices of focaccia. With three pieces of bread, the appetizer was the perfect size to dull our hunger but not ruin our appetites.
The most traditional Italian appetizer was the antipasto del giorno, a platter with cured meats, cheese, spreads, marinated olives, mushrooms and vegetables. Meant to be split, this dish was $17.95. The other appetizers ranged in price from $7.95 to $11.95.
Our next choice was among the entrees. The pasta dishes ranged from $10.95 to $19.95 and featured several spaghetti options, two seafood pastas and a baked penne with sausage and peppers. The linguine with clams pasta immediately caught my eye, but I perused the meat dishes just in case.
The secondi piatii — $13.95 to $20.95 — consisted of dishes from burgers to roasted chicken to seafood specialties to steak. The beef tenderloin, pieces of steak skewered with mushrooms and zucchini, looked tempting, but I decided on the linguine with clams for my meal.
I definitely made the right choice. The clams, steamed in wine and garlic, were succulently tender. A fresh, light tomato sauce — you can choose white or red sauce to accompany the linguine — topped the pasta. The portion was also just right — even after indulging in the bruschetta, I finished off all my pasta as well.
My date ordered the baked penne with sausage and peppers and received a heaping portion. A return guest to Fellini’s, he had ordered the baked penne on a previous visit and couldn’t find anything on the menu that he thought could top it.
I tried a bite, and the baked penne was satisfying as well. The sauce, a spicy marinara, was thicker than the sauce on my pasta, but it complemented the heartier sausage and peppers mixture well. Pulling everything together was the melted mozzarella cheese on top. The dish had a bit of a kick to it, but not nearly enough to deter those with sensitive taste buds.
My date and I were too satisfied for dessert, but the options looked delectable. Of course, the dessert menu included tiramisu, one of the most typical Italian desserts, but also other favorites such as cannolis, ricotta cheesecake, Italian lemon cream cake and even gelato brought in from Splendora’s.
The service was almost as good as the food. A knowledgeable server, who was quick to bring anything we requested, took care of us. A personalized dining experience seemed important to Fellini’s — their menu noted that “Chef Chris is happy to accommodate your dietary needs if possible. If you have allergies, please call ahead of time to let us know. If at all possible, we will prepare your meal according to your needs.”
The restaurant is also vegetarian-friendly. The menu clearly denoted each vegetarian entrée and suggested vegetarian options next to some of the dishes containing meat. Our server also explained that Fellini’s offers two soups of the day, one vegetarian and one with meat.
The atmosphere left little to be desired as well. Fellini’s separates its bar from its dining area, which preserves an intimate, mostly smoke-free dining experience. There is also an upstairs area, which was home to a jamming jazz band on the night we dined.
In fact, Fellini’s has live music almost every night of the week. According to its Web site, Fellini’s will feature some sort of live music — from karaoke to jazz — every night except Tuesdays for the rest of September. During the week, the music is free, but on Friday and Saturday nights there is a $5 cover charge.
Fellini’s is a great choice for anyone who wants to unwind with comfort food and live music. If you’re planning to take a group of friends with you, be forewarned: The restaurant adds a 20-percent gratuity to parties of six or more and to any party that asks for separate checks.
Fellini’s is located on the Downtown Mall at 200 W. Market St. It opens daily at 5 p.m., with a happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. A Sunday brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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