Viola’s Pizza, Pasta and Seafood, 6149 A1A South, St. Augustine FL. 904-471-2981
By Irene Merenda
After couples golf on a recent Sunday, our group of 8 decided to go out to dinner instead of our usual post-golf club dining. We chose Viola’s because we all wanted to stay in our golf attire, remain on the island and Italian food was the group consensus. We had made a reservation and they seated us promptly. Frank and I had not been to the restaurant in several years, following a not-so-great experience, but as we had heard the ownership had changed since then, we decided to give it another try.
Our drink orders were taken quickly by a friendly waiter, who thanked me for requesting separate checks in advance. We ordered Garlic Knots and the house Meatball Appetizer for the table to share. The knots were buttery, steaming hot and very garlicky. The large portion of meatballs was plenty to share, and was covered with Parmesan and was delicious.
Salads were not included with the entrees, but some of us ordered the side Greek salad and others ordered the side Caesar salad. Although ingredients were fresh, one of us commented about the lack of anchovies. I was disappointed in my Caesar salad which was served with a plastic container of dressing instead of being mixed prior to serving. I don’t think the flavors blend as well and I think plastic ware should be reserved for take-out. There was nothing particularly special about either salad.
Our friends ordered a variety of entrees. The Eggplant Parmigiana was fried perfectly with crispy edges and a good amount of sauce. The Eggplant Rollatini was described as “perfect.” The Chicken Parmegiana was well prepared with a generous amount of sauce and cheese. The large side of spaghetti was al dente.
Two friends shared a Margarita thin crust pizza which they said was delicious. The Lasagna entree, which was very cheesy, did not have enough sauce. Shrimp scampi was very tasty and not “overly garlicky.” My spicy Seafood fra Diablo (shrimp, clams and mussels) was wonderfully spicy hot, but not too spicy to enjoy. I had asked for it to be served without mussels, and I am not sure there were any additional clams or shrimp to take their place as I would have expected more seafood on the pasta. The flavor, however, was excellent.
As we had asked for separate checks prior to our meal, I was a bit surprised when the waiter asked us to confirm what each couple had eaten prior to bringing our checks. Despite that slight slip, the service, especially for a large group, was efficient and friendly.
The portions at Viola’s are not overly-large, but also not skimpy. That is likely how can keep the prices reasonable. House wines, most appetizers and salads are under $10, and entrees are under $20. When our friend asked for a small container of sauce to accompany his left-over Lasagna, which was lacking sauce to begin with, he was told that there would be an additional charge of $1.50. That seemed like a tacky policy, especially for this large group that spent a significant amount of money this evening.
Thank you to Bill and Susan Abare, Linda and Joe Sabatella, Karen Hontz and Steven Horne for their contributions to this review.
Viola’s is awarded 3 and 1/2 Spoonbills.
