Mention Italian food to any Bacoleno and the first restaurant that he or she would mention would be “Carlo: Ristorante Italiano.” In fact for as long as the Bacolod Food hunters could remember,it WAS the first and the oldest italian restaurant in bacolod.
A newcomer has come to dethrone Carlo from the throne, Italia italian restaurant.
Italia is tucked away beside riverside hospital. A bright red tomato sign is the only indication that an Italian restaurant is there.
Once inside, the Bacolod food hunters couldnt help but feel relaxed as the charming decor and lighting really sets the mood.
Martin couldn’t help wandering around the restaurant and to his delight he found an authentic wood burning oven used to cook pizzas.
A cook cooking a pizza.
The Bacolod Food hunters settled for pasta despite the recommendations of the waiter that they try the steak. They had the pasta calamari, mildly spicy with tomato sauce and basil.
They also had some pesto pasta.
Some garlic bread too!
The Bacolod Food hunters enjoyed their pasta. It was al dente, perfectly cooked and the sauces were wonderful. Martin mopped up the remaining pesto sauce with bits of garlic bread. Some salmon was also ordered. It was a bit disappointing since it tasted flaky and dry. You could tell tell the fish had been frozen.
Dessert soon followed. It was a simple braso de mercedes but was made a bit special by some syrup poured on top of it. The braso de mercedes itself is not sweet so the syrup makes a wonderful addition to it.
A late Bacolod Food hunter arrives and orders the pizza supremo! It was wonderful with the crust crunchy and NOT A single bit oily. The black olives were so fresh and the pizza cooked perfectly that every flavor was clear and distinct, from the saltiness of the olives to the sweetish pepper like taste of the sausages and pepperoni.
Italia is an ok restaurant to eat at and the service is excellent! All throughout the meal the waiter (who appeared to be the only one in the whole place) kept popping up to refill glasses of water and to take away empty plates.
Prices are a bit steep though.
Posted in Italia, Italian, Pasta, Pizza, bacolod, dining, fine dining, food, restaurants | Tags: bacolod, Italia, pesto, Carlo ristorante Italiano, riverside, italian restaurant, Negroc Occidental, Pasta, Pizza
