JOHNNY CaRiNO’s HEats up J

“It’s called a fire show,” explained Berg, as she gestured towards the open kitchen where kitchen leader Keith Goldsmith’s hands were a blur in a rolling wall of flame.

“They line up all the sauté pans on the range, heat them up really hot with oil and then just keep them moving. It’s like a constant fireball. You can hear it and see it in the whole restaurant — and if you’re close enough you can feel it. We do it when we’re busy, especially on Friday or Saturday nights, but all you have to do is ask! It’s so much fun.”

This flair for the dramatic, combined with friendly service, fresh ingredients and a focus on the needs of their customers have helped Johnny Carino’s build a passionate customer base since 2005.

Johnny Carino’s may have restaurants nationwide, but the Fargo location aims to “go beyond the chain experience,” said Berg. “It’s great food, great service and just a lot of passion for what we do.”

The cozy restaurant, with its exposed beams, rustic wood and the tempting aromas of rosemary, garlic and fresh bread, attracts a variety of customers.

Monday nights bring in families and large groups for half price family style platters, while Wine Down Wednesdays are popular with professionals and groups of women who gather to enjoy half price bottles of wine.

At night, the restaurant — especially the semi-private tables draped with heavy tapestries – takes a more seductive turn. “It’s very romantic in the evenings,” said Berg. “It’s a good place for couples. We get a lot of couples and a lot of engagements here — and we’ve actually had people get married here!”

Berg said that customers are often attracted by the atmosphere, but the quality of the service and the food keeps them coming back.

“We spend a lot of time making food that’s fresh,” she said. “Until I started working here, I never realized the difference between actually making something fresh versus warming something up in the microwave,” said Berg. “Every dish here is made to order.”

Johnny Carino’s recently unveiled a new menu to complement local favorites like Spicy Shrimp and Chicken, Chicken Penne Gorgonzola and Lemon Rosemary Chicken.

But the new menu isn’t all the restaurant has planned for spring and summer. The warmer weather means that things kick into high gear for the Johnny Carino’s catering department.

“Catering is huge for us,” said Berg. “We do weddings, graduations, groom’s dinners – everything. We’ve catered just about every kind of function you can possibly have. And we can do it with pretty short notice!”

And when the weather heats up, Johnny Carino’s will debut the new patio on the south side of the restaurant. “As soon as it’s nice enough, we’ll have it open,” Berg said. “It’s such a short season here, you have to just get out and enjoy it while you can!” [AWM]