Bites Nearby: Vinny's Pizza

Before I started reviewing local restaurants for Bites Nearby, I had no idea how many delicious Italian restaurants there were in the area.

For a girl who loves Italian food, especially pizza, that’s probably a good thing. But now that I have the oh-so-tough job of sampling the menus at these places, I’ve gotten the chance to visit some local favorites and some uncharted territory.

Many Italian restaurants offer the same menu, and after awhile, it might start to feel like Groundhog Day, reading and re-reading my reviews for pizza. In an effort to try and vary my reviews for these restaurants, I decided to forego my usual pizza order (sort of) and try some of the other menu items. After all, not everyone loves pizza as much as I do.

, located on Iroquois Trail in Allentown, was the perfect spot to start getting a little variety. This family-owned Italian restaurant offers sandwiches, soups, salads and, of course, pizza.

The Dishes: One slice of pepperoni pizza, a grilled chicken sandwich, a serving of garlic bread and two side salads.

What’s on the Plate: A side of garlic bread isn’t a side, it’s a full-on meal. This item is served up on a platter large enough to satisfy a group of three or four. My dinner buddy told me that my pepperoni pizza looked fake because of how perfect it looked -- not too much grease and thick slices of pepperoni atop just-gooey-enough cheese. Our side salads, one house and one Caesar, were served prior to the meal.

How’s it Taste: I can’t possibly say enough good things about my first (and definitely not last) Vinny’s experience, due in large part to the garlic bread. I ordered this side dish as a supplement to my salad and slice of pizza, expecting it to be a few slices in a bread basket that two of us could share. Thank goodness I was wrong. I guarantee had I only gotten a few slices, I would have been going back for more.

Vinny’s serves their garlic bread on the same size platter as an entrée, a loaf of not-too-buttery and not-too-garlicky bread with a side of marinara sauce. It’s the perfect companion to any pizza, salad or sandwich, but it’s highly unlikely you can finish it all yourself. With eight or nine slices per loaf, this is definitely something you’re going to want to share, or at least take home to enjoy a little later.

Enough talk of the garlic bread, as much as it pains me to say it. My dinner companion’s grilled chicken sandwich was delicious and she couldn’t rave enough about the bread, clearly the most important component. We both enjoyed side salads, but a word of caution: if you’re picky with your dressing, be sure to ask for it on the side. I prefer my dressing with a side of salad, but if you’re attempting a more balanced combo, be sure to let them know in advance.

Eat This Because: The best way to describe Vinny’s is that it’s perfect rainy day food. Of course, it would be delicious in any weather, but their menu is the perfect solution to comfort food cravings.

The Tab: $22

Etc: Vinny’s also has carry-out, and during my Sunday mid-afternoon lunch, there were a steady stream of customers in and out. And a little added bonus? The restaurant’s namesake is usually the one manning the front lines.