Ravanelli’s vibe and flavor make a great dining experience

JANA HAMADE copy editor

The Italian Steakhouse and Wine Bar located in Collinsville, Illinois, presented us with a warm, rustic interior that featured a wide variety of wines, and even huge Italian cakes on display. The restaurant is extremely spacious and includes a bar which is separate from the large seating area.

Our service was excellent and extremely quick, and the menu had a large selection to choose from. I ordered the rigatoni pasta that was also offered to me baked with added cheese, which I did not opt for. We missed the lunch menu by a couple of minutes, unknowingly, which included several menu items for a lower price.

To our pleasant surprise, each main course is also served with a house salad and your choice of dressing, as well as a soup of your choosing. The salad was generous and filling, and the tortellini soup was delicious. The pasta itself used the same sauce as the marinara paired with our garlic bread appetizer, which was slightly too thick and sweet for the pasta in this case. The pasta was cooked well, but I did find myself having to add lots of salt and pepper to balance the flavors out.

Everything waiters brought out also looked delicious, and the person I was eating with chose a sandwich and fries which they enjoyed. Overall, Ravanelli’s tastes like home-cooked food at a good price, as well as great atmosphere and service.