Sylvia’s adds a touch of class

Inconspicuously hiding in the corner of the Wal-Mart shopping plaza off Hwy 441, Sylvia’s Grille is small and easy to pass by but shouldn’t be overlooked.

Upon visiting Sylvia’s Grille for the first time, I instantly noticed its warm and open ambiance, complete with wine racks and exposed rustic brick walls. I opted for the dining room and was quickly seated in a booth with a larger-than-life table, which was a little offbeat considering I was dining with only one other person. However, I was grateful for the extra elbowroom because I was hungry.

First, I noticed that the menu offered a little something for everyone, but its highlights would definitely have to be Sylvia’s signature Italian fare. The usual appetizers include mozzarella marinara and spinach artichoke dip, but the menu also features homemade cheese sticks, made of fresh dough topped with garlic sauce and mozzarella and served with marinara sauce, and lightly battered calamari of a quality often hard to find in Middle Georgia.

The menu also includes sandwiches, bread-bowl salads, pizza, wraps, calzones and great Italian dinners, such as classic fettucini alfredo, chicken parmesan, shrimp scampi and chicken marsala.

After we were given our menus, our server brought out some of Sylvia’s fresh-made breadsticks. Warm and crispy, the bread was paired suitably with a garlic butter sauce.

For an appetizer, I started with the mozzarella marinara, which had a unique batter-like breading that was a refreshing change from the usual run-of-the-mill mozzarella sticks.

Next, we ordered the Jacksonville scallops entr?e, $12.95, and a chicken calzone, $8.50. I chose to have the scallops pan-saut?ed, rather than breaded and deep-fried.

My dinner came with a great starter salad, which ended up being far too much for me to eat while trying to save room for my main course.

When my dinner was served, I was a little disappointed with my portion for the price, but I had paired my meal with garlic mashed potatoes, which complimented the scallops and filled my stomach.

The calzone was loaded with tender chicken, onions, green peppers, mushrooms and of course, lots of cheese. It was wonderful. We ate as much of it as we could, but it was so large that we had to get a box to take the rest home.

Though Sylvia’s Grille is known for its Italian dishes, its formidable array of desserts is definitely impressive.

The menu lists four different dishes, but there are other desserts offered in addition to those listed on the menu.

For dessert, I tried the banana caramel cheesecake xangos, which consisted of creamy cheesecake layered with caramel, wrapped up in a tortilla and deep-fried. It was the perfect ending to a pretty good meal.

Our service was pretty good, with dinners to match. In the end, Sylvia’s Grille turned out to be a delightful experience in both cuisine and atmosphere.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 14 2005. Filed under Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry