Scalini’s is a real neighborhood Italian restaurant, whether the neighborhood is Lakewood or New York or Chicago. It’s simply a pleasant place to visit.
Scalini’s, 2021 Abrams Road, has been around for a while, but it’s an easy place to overlook. The pizza and pasta house’s location in a strip shopping center across from Minyard’s is easy to miss while speeding by on Abrams.
Look for the red, green and white Italian flag between a sign nameplate fronting a white-faced building. Inside, you’ll find about a dozen tables, adding to the cozy charm. There’s just such a “laid-back” feeling, you’ll feel right at home.
But the same can be said for a lot of Italian restaurants. What makes Scalini’s unique?
Vegetarian pizza, for one thing, consisting of mushrooms, black and green olives, green pepper, onions, zucchini and eggplant. (Yes, eggplant can be tasty on pizza.)
There’s also the “all the way” pizza, which includes sausage, salami, mushrooms, black olives, green onions and green peppers. It’s both colorful and delicious.
The vegetarian pizza will set you back $5.95 for a small, $10.95 for a medium, and $12.95 for a large. The “all the way” costs $7.95 for a small, $12.95 for a medium, and $14.95 for a large. Plain cheese pizzas are $3.95, $7.95 and $9.95. Additional toppings include zucchini, salami, Canadian bacon, pineapple, anchovies and shrimp, plus a few others.
Backing up a bit, the appetizer selection includes something fairly unique to Italian dining in Dallas: Crab Claws sauteed in garlic butter ($6 for a half-dozen, $11 for a dozen). Or you might try the Scampied Artichoke Hearts with baby shrimp for $4.95.
The salads are pretty typical, except for the Sea Shell Pasta with tuna or chicken ($4.75). The small antipasto salad is $4.25, the large $5.25.
Of course, Scalini’s offers plenty of traditional Italian fare, including spaghetti, lasagna and ravioli. For something special, you might try the Linguine Pesto with olive oil, cream, garlic, basil and pine nuts ($5.95 at lunch, $7.75 at dinner). It’s tasty, and it’ll probably keep the vampires away, too. Except to spend between $5.95 and $7.95 for lunch entrees, and $6.95 to $9.50 for dinner entrees.
Scalini’s has a small selection of house and specialty wines. Imported beers include Moretti and Heineken, as well as the regular domestic suspects. (A twist to the beverage list: Wine and beer are delivered with take-out food orders.)
Give this place a try. I’d take my mother here on a sunny day or clear night. And on a cold, rainy night, I’d order out for her.
Happy eating. See you next month.
Scalini’s is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and closed Sunday. Free delivery is available within designated areas, and at additional cost in other areas (if a driver is available). Catering also can be arranged. Call 821-8088 for take-out and delivery.
