Provino's Italian Restaurant - Kennesaw, GA

 Provino's Italian Restaurant is a neighborhood red-sauce joint. The menu is made up of all of the standard Italian American fare you'd expect in this type of place. Standards yes, but Provino's does it very well.

Green salad with house made Italian dressing

Crisp rolls covered with garlic butter sauce. Addictive!

Just like the national chain that many people continue to flock to, Provino's lunch starts with an all-you-care-to have salad. The difference here is that the salad is dressed with a house made Italian dressing, fresh and very flavorful. The salad is accompanied with a basket of garlic rolls. All of this brought to you by a friendly, knowledgeable server who does it all with a smile.

As the Dining Companion noted "This is what Buca tries to be." I can't argue with that sentiment. While I have a place in my heart for Buca, if pushed to chose between the two I would chose Provino's. Funnily enough there is an Olive Garden right across the street from Provino's location. I can't understand why people continue to go there when they could be eating here. I can only assume it's because they are unaware of this awesome option right across the way.

Yum! Fried ravioli, zucchini slices, artichoke hearts and cheese sticks

In addition to the salad and rolls we started with a typical fried appetizer plate: ravioli, zucchini slices, artichoke hearts and mozzarella sticks all served with a delicious marinara sauce.

Pasta Lovers plate with sausage, mushrooms and meatballs

Baked ziti with meat sauce

Following all that lead in we had the Baked Ziti and the Pasta Lovers plate. Both delicious and more food than we could finish. We brought home a take away container filled with enough food for lunch for two the next day. Not only is the food good, traditional and plentiful the prices are lower or as low at what they're serving across the street.

Provino's is worth a side trip if you find yourself in the Atlanta metro area. While there are certainly more high profile places to dine, and the aforementioned chains, I doubt you'll be as well fed or as well taken care of for the money as you will here.

Happy dining!