Dino’s Ristorante Italiano has been serving Worcester’s Italian appetites for over 60 years. I was looking forward to this stop as I have never dined here before.
The menu is packed with classic Italian staples like pizza, chicken and veal Parmesan, meatballs, alfredo, etc., as well as a respectable mid priced wine list. I decided to look for my “go to” Italian dish, Seafood Fra Diavolo. I was in luck when I found the Seafood Calabrese, a seafood medley of Shrimp, scallops, calamari and mussels served over pasta in a spicy marinara sauce.
While waiting for our dinner the very attentive waitress served the table with fresh Italian bread and a brushetta that was to die for. I had to ask where they purchased the bread, and was told it was delivered daily from Culpeppers Bakery in Worcester. We were off to a good start.
My entrée arrived in a timely manner. The portion was huge; unfortunately, the flavor was not. I had to ask the waitress for crushed red pepper to add to the salt and black pepper the dish needed just to give it a lift. Not good for a dish that is advertised served in a “simmering spicy marinara sauce.” The dish was prepared well enough, but the flavor went nowhere.
Unfortunately, my impression of Dino’s is that quantity outweighs quality. If you’re looking for a lot of food at a low price point, Dino’s delivers. Otherwise, I feel they fall short.
